New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MORLEY'S ROUSSEAU.


strange charm by which he fascinated many enthu-
elastic friends was equaled only by his talent for
creating lmpacable enemies. His evil qualities
were conspicuous on the surface of his fe his better
traits were concealed in the depths of subtle and
seeretive nature. In many points, slave to low
aud vulgar propensities he TO have lost
sight of high and generous ideal. The passion for
humanity, as 10 has been termed, found
IN him the most sincere and ardent
preston. While defying the laws of social
custom in the complexion of his private
life he was one of the first to recognize the claims
of universal manhood and to give utterance to the
sentiment of equal rights which has impaired so
strong cOloring to the whole fabric of modern his
cory and literature. A character of such mold
never receives Just appreciation from its own age
The influence of time necessary to place its traits
IN true perspective
The present work indeed is the first attempt to
treat the genius of Rousseau in the light of positive
philosophy, and submit it to the same searching
analysis and austere adherence to facts winch are
the conditions of in the researches OF pnyscal
science Mr. Morley possesses rare gifts for the ac-
somplishment of this task Among the younger En-
gsh writers of the day he stands alone for the purely
intellectual force with which he grappes with the
subject of discussion. If he does not make an IDOL
Of truth il is because he clothesit with the attributes
the presence of the warmest sympathies OF the
heart: the ROSY flush of health which animates his
pages reveal the pure and ELOQUENT blood" that
courses in his veins but he never permits his reason
10 be mastered by his feelings; and if he borTows
light and warmth from the Imagination, he is seldom
seduced by its encl annents from the path of reality
His sense Of the .arrow limits of human knowledge,
sometimes gives IAN air of sadness to his reflections
dissolution Of problem of mortal life is frightened
by no Fictitious colOrs but he never INDUCES in
auerulous complaints an unfriendly destiny or
sences the voice Of duty by the walls of discomfort
With such mental and moral equipment, Mr..
Morley cannot fail to command respect in his treat
ment Of the complicated and delicate themes that
are suggested in the discussion of his subject The
point Of view from which he considers Rousseau IS
that of the pioneer of the modern revolutionary spirit
This term represents the reaction against the re-
hgious and political ideas of medIeval Europe. 1t is
the genuine offspring of the Protestant Reformation
This movement is founded on freedom of thought
and the sacredneSs of private opinion, and nence
is without creed dogma. Ii holds to the sincere
love of fellOw-men, steadfast faith in justice
and humanity and an Unsuitable thirst for improve
ment but does not attempt TO give form
and body to ideal speculatOns. Among these revo-
Iutionists Rousseau holds a foremost rank. He was
the first to proclaim the need of a new social order
founded on the natural wants of man. His writings
kindled the glow of enthusiasm in France, which
inspired the sympathy of that country with the mo-
mentous struggle for freedom by the American col
onists. They were the fountain from which the
patriots OF &c drew the ideas and phrases of their
great charter. Itwas largely owing to his influence
that France arose from the decay that had seized
her whole social and political system.
Besides being the first revolutionary thinker
in politics, he was. moreover the most
powerful of reachonists in religion. He was
the creator not only of RObespierre and Paine, but
also Of Chaeaubrand not only of JacObinism, but of
the Catholicism of the restoration. He thus gave
direction to the first episodes of revolution, and
force to the first episode of reaction He of
the teachers whose distinction is fervor of feeling
rather than correctness of thought moving the soul
with love of truth and enthusiasm for excellence.
Rousseau took this place among those who prepared
the first act of that revolutionary drama whose fifth
act is still covered with the darkness of the future
At the heart of the revolution like torrid stream
flowing undiscernble amid the waters OF tunbng sea-
desired by the various assaants the old order
only the expression Of deeper charge IN moral idea
simpler This is at the bottom Of all great re-
lidOus and moral movements and the revolution en-
phaticay belongs To the latter class Like such move
the breast Of the individual those which stir
dsehtancement Of life This Impulse to shake off in
trcacies is the mark OF revolutionary generations, and
ii the starting point OF all Kousseaus mental habits
and OF the work IN which they expressed themselves
His MIND moved outward nom TINS center, ana hence
that he dealt principally with government and
education the two great agencies which, in an old civil
external life and internal character with completely
SimphfcatiOn OF religion by clearing away the over
equality Of literature and art by constant return TO
nature of by industrious LONELINESS and
thrift-this the revolutionary process and IDEAL and
il rs the secret OF ROusseau hold generation
was lost amid the broken maze Of fallen systems.
MI Morley does not undertake to gloss over the
repulsiye features of Rousseaus personality In his
axrbic hoor
ceived from the more rational of bis judges There
is none in the history of the famous men who still
"rule our spirits from their urn" which makes
more constant demands on our patience and our
pity He cannot be described in single propO-
sition He is not the subject of absolute approval
or disapproval But no who cOmprehends the
laws Of historical sequence, overlook his power
an quickening the germs of new thought, and
shaking the quietness of the earth"
We may forget much in our story that is grievous or
hateful, In rejecting that If any man now deems day
basey passed in which he has given thought to the
hard life of garrett and howell TO the fororn children and
tTampled women Of wide sguald wildernesses in cities
trumpet note for one more Of the great battles
SAID some Of his cotemporaries followed the sane vein
of thought, shall see and he was only continuing
work which Others had prepared he alone had the
gift Of the golden mouth 1t in Rousseau that polite
Europe first hearkened TO strange voices and faint
reverberation from out OF the vague and cavernous
shadow in which the common people move. Science has
TO feel the toward light and solution to prepare to
organize but the owes something TO one who not
only helped TO state the problem and wrote up IN letters
flame at the brutal feast OF kings the rich that
civilization is yet only mockery, but filled genera
non and women with the resolve that they
would rather perish than live in world where such
things can be.
The childhood Of Rousseau was nodded by his
birth in Geneva. The conditions of that colony of
foreigners introduced into Europe fresh type of
character and manners. 1t said thai the men of
Geneva exhibited neither French vivacity Ital-