New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-09


Strauss is the essence of religion. t
The distinction between man, as the masterpiece
of Nature and the lower animals. Strauss continues
| imposes upon him peculiar duties He must not
be an animal repeated, he must be something MORE
| something better Sensual enjoyments are already
exhausted in the animal kingdom. But it Is not lor
the sake of them that man exists In fact no Deing
exists for the sake of that which has been aireaay
attained in lower stages of existence put ior 'ia'
which has been newly conquered through iisei'
| Hence man must rule the animal in him by the
| higher faculties which distinguish him from the
brute The wild savage struggle for existence mas
already had abundant play in the brute world Man
cannot entirely avoid it, in 80 far as he Is sti mere
product of Nature But in the measure OF ms noper
qualities and IN regard to his feliowmen ne shouiu
soften its action by the consciousness other khoieu
and the mutual obligation of race. The wild turbu-
| ence of Nature must be appeased in mankind NOT
should he be content with the mere knowledge OF
| No+ure He il her legitimate sovereign, but he
| should rnle like a man and not like tyrant In
connection with this point Strauss offers some
singularly humane suggestions with regard to the
relations of man TO the lower animals
Part OF the Nature whose forces he consiralns 10 n
service consists of sentient beings Inc pirate j.
the brute. because. although having very stronr ds
tons OF is own hunger fury, il has not an eqa'Y u
hc conception of the pam lts n,inn or AZ
,f T. canabe of possessing It, He knows that the
animal is much sentient peng Is vs., nc n rs we con
sler-hat order maintain his position IN te WIN
he cannot do otherwise than infct pain ON SOME am
mails Some ne externinate pecause tneS
dangerous or offensive; Others ne mus mus, Ell
be requires their flesh food, their skins ior ciohE
Others again. must su0iugate. and compe 10 manlou
tolls. because he cannot dispense WIN ther @
IN his traffic. his labor As being however WIZ - 20
INFANT of the pain which the animal suffers IN te pr
and who can reconstruct II IN h,e r ns 40 asio
he should endeavor 10 bring all tnis upon ~
involve possible amount of suffering In one case
therefore. he should eAledite saugnte' ~ a ne nav
sibe; in the other render serye as toeid,'e $3.50
be- MN paws heavily FOR the VIOLATION OF Ihese uuies,
bunts his feeling Criminal history SHOWS Us nom
many torturers and murderers have hrst bceh
suturcrs of animals. The manner IN which hation ~
the aggregate treats animals, Is one chei measure vi s
real civilization. The Latin races, as we Know come
forth badly from this examinations we Germans; NOT
half well enough Buddhism has done more III hs lreG
tOn than Christianity aud SchOpenhauer more imam All
ancient and modern plos Ophers together Inc warm
sympathy with sentlent Nature when psfVaues M the
aspects of his thoroughly intellectual, yet ot'eh uh
healthy aud unprOhtable philosophy
a considerable portion of the VOLUME is taken mp
with the discussion of forms of government, the
relations of capital and labor, and other pohtica
questions OF current interest. On these topics.
Strauss is as strongly conservative he is inclined
to innovation in the domain Of religion. He be-
lieves that the time has not yet come for republic
IN Europe 1t may be suited for the United states
in the boundlesS of the continent, where the
chief danger is from the internal conflict oil parties
or switzerland whose neutrality is shielded by III
mountains and perhaps guaranteed by the interests
of the neighborIng States. But IT might prove per-
nicious to Germany, hcmmed in by grasping Russia
and restless France. now also brooding over her
revenge But If the question were considered III us
relation TO the nature and destiny of man, it does
NOT follow that if would oe decided in favor of re-
pnblicanism Mankind. rs Strauss interprets the
lessons of history have not advanced towards their
highest development with more certain progress
in republics than in monarches The republics OF
antiquity cannot be taken into account for by Iea-
son of the slavery that formed integral part OF
the ,ystem they were in fact Oligarches OF the most
exclusive description. The remarks Of Strauss on
the influence of republican government IN the
United States have pungency, not to say bitter
ness, which affords an agreeable relief to the pre-
vaiingdryness of his discussions although they har-
monte as little with public feeling i'll this country
as bis speculatons on the pTinci pies Of religion
His charges are founded mainly the practical and
| utilitaI1an character of the American mind, the
initiative tendencies of American literature, and the
| plebeian and prosaic tone Of American culture.
The German rauspantcd to the soil of the United
States misses the subtle spiritual atmosphere which
| he hreathed az home. To one familiar with the
social conditions of both countries, this is simply
amusing or rather ridiculous. Nor is the author
any nearer the trath when he asserts that the air
of the United States is infected by corruption OF
It's leading classes only 10 he paralleled IN The most
abandoned parts Of Europe unless he confonnds
the leading classes" with the horde of proligate
political and financial spectators which would be
an egregouS bunder. The precious wine is not to
De Judged by the scum which rises TO the top in the
process OF fermentation.