New-York tribune., 1873-04-08
DIR. RRowNsoNs CONFESSIONS.

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BRowSsoYs QUARTERLY REVIEW April. Pr Psstet Co.
The current number of this remarkable peri
odca In connection with ts vigorous and eloquent as
cussions OF some Of the great problems of philosophy
religion and politics. contains series of personal OF
autoiopraphical "reminiscences OF the editor, whlch
are not only Of peculiar interest 10 the wide circle OF
his private friends but deserve the notice OF larger
audience ~ illustrations OF the progress Oh
Thought during the epoch in which he has
occupied 80 prominent place. In re'lo"
Of "Geradine,"a once exceedingly popular Catnonc
novel and not entirely obsolete at the present day as Is
shown by n new edition having been just Issued Dy
leading Catholic publisher OF this city, Dr. Biowhsoh
makes some frank disclosures in regard TO his own con-
version to the Catholic faith; 81 am convert" ho
SAYS but I confess myself utterly unable TO synps-
tbze with the long and painful struggle poor Geraldine
is said TO have gone through III becoming Cathohc
and 10 me that struggle is wenigh uninteiglbe Ihero
,s TOO much senmentalism int and we cannot Dnt
think that the writer, If giving her own expert
ence has labored TO highten its interest by drawing
argelv ON her IMAGINATION The Rcrue de DeI hondes
in critic sing my Convert or Leaves from my bApe-
Renee published in 1857 isneerngy says hat my con
version. as | described IT, was a conversion
L ADericdiue very reasonable, very logical Dut ho'
very interesting indeed. rather duh ahair'
II was attended by no violent moral shocks
no breaking up OF ones whole interior me-
and conyulsng ones whole nature;' ior lhten-
tionaIIy suppressed what purely subjective. Inc
criticism is very just far the history OF my con
version was given had indeed no very tender TIES 10
break for had always lived very much apart and my
social connections were not many. very close ana
those best loved felt would go with me IT, In fact
their convictions should precede mne as In the case
of my wife they did gave up nothing for the church
that valued, but gained everything longed TOT lhs
makes grant difference between my case and that
OF Geraldine Darlington; but | never engaged III
that long, painful search after the truth Which
detained her for such length Of time
never had any painful anxiety 10 know
the truth simply as an object OF the intellect Inc
o,estion with me came not in the shape, What shall
believef but in this other shape, What shall do to he
saved, or who what Will deliver me from my sins
suffered less anguish OF SOUL no doubt but less
to know the truth, than 10 know how should OBTAIN
strength to obey it; not so much TO know the law as 10
attain the power 10 the weakness of my Will
and my nGrny of purpose resist temptation to sub
due my passions. and to maintain an upright walk l
never had any purely intellectual difficulties to overcome;
and all my doubts 10 the ability OF the church To
help me TO a deliverance from sin and DEATH ana 10
place me in communion with Christ, INV only Hedeemer
ItSseems TO an outside reader like an excess OF hu-
mty, when DIR. BrownsOn speaks as follows OF MS lg-
norance and other manifold defects when he commenced
his career as writer under his new ecclesiastical rea-
tions 81 have always regretted that circumstances
NOT under my CONTROL seemed 10 compel me 10 appear
as a Catholic reviewer the morrow OF my reception
into the church. while almost totally ignorant OF Cath
olic theology, and still more ignorant OF Catholic NE
and usages and have often admired In later years,
the charity Of the Catholic bishops and clergy
IN overlooking the crudeness and neXperence, II not
the overweening confidence, Of the neophyte and In
giving a generous support 10 his Review, nOtwith-
standing the manifest neptness OF its editor IL
is true, | studied hard day and night for
several years, under able master to sup
ply my deficiency; and, also, that published very
little which previously examined and revised by
one OF the abest and sOundcst theOloans have ever
personally known; but 1t q great drawback upon
the usefulness of the Review that its editor aud principal
writer had had leisure previously 10 make his course
OF theology, and TO place himself en- rapport with the
Catholic community that he had in every successive
number write up to the very limits of his knowledge,
if not sometimes beyond them had always to write as
an apprentice, master. Very different would
have been the and influence OF the Review, had
its editor known thoroughly his religion in the outset
have not made much progress in the knowledge of the
o0gy and still less of spiritual life, have also forgotten
much Of what had aequired but have learned this
much not to venture beyond my depth. and not TO
broach questions that l have not mastered. or at
least think l have mastered. II l could have
done so in the beginning, 1 should have spared
myself and my friends many Notifications"
Dr. Brownson gives some suggestive sketches OF the
different phases in his political showing that the
abest do not always feel bound to stick TO their
early opinions During late civil war IL was al
most proverbal to call government the best govern
ment under heaven and whoever in the loyal states eX
pressed an opinion 10 the contrary risk Of be-
ing sent Fort Lafayette, Fort Warren. or to some
other Federal place of imprisonment l defended the
government during those fearful times aud stood by
when many stout heart failed, because II was the
government of mp country and owed II the allegiance
due from the citizen but never since the Hard-Clder
campaign have / believed it practically the best gov
ernment under heaven superior 10 almost any other
civilized government Tippecanoe and TYLER too upset
my democracy by showing how easily the people he
humbugged and carried away by song. Till then had
believed democracy, though believed in little else"
He refers the definition which he offered 'the
supremacy OF man over his accidents, meaning that
democracy regards the than his pOssessOns,
social position anything separable from his man
hood In spite OF the dicue which received he held
fast long time to tue doctrine. He ascrbed the de-
focts Of bad legislation TO the obstruction Of the demo-
cratic principle and contended that the will OF the peO
pe should enjoy its full and free expression. Every
thing that placed check the popular will should DO
swept away without mercy. "Ihe Ilard-Cider' cam
paign Of 1910 In II took an active part the
democratic side behalf of Martin Van Buren, the last
hst-class that sat- probably that ever will Sit IN
the presidential char the United States aud my party
was as all the world knows, woluly defeated. 1t
the first presidential campaign IN which had taken
an active part and almost first experience In prac
tical politics. 10 was enough. What served To
dispel my democratic illusions, 10 break the
Idol / had wOrshiped, aud shook TO It's foun-
dation my belief In the divinity OF the peo-
plr or ia their Will the expression OF
eternal jnstce saw that they could be easily duped,
easily made victims Of the designing and carried away
b Irresistible passion in the wrong rs easily as IN the
right / wa- forced by the shock my convictions re-
ceyed to review hrst logc and then TO examine tho
premscs which had taken on trust from my dcInO-
cratic countrymen, which had not hitherto thought OF
quesuouing found them untennhle and absurd l
ceased henccfOrh TO believe IN democracy but did not
cease to bc a loyal citizen, nor did deem It neces-
sary 10 abandon the democratic party called,