New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-08
TIE FORCE or CHAR4CTER.


Mr.. Thomas CARLYLE is neither a man of
wealth nor of political position, nor yet of
noble family; he is only "a writer of books"
as he described himself long ago in petition
to Parliament upon the Copyright question;
and yet his letter to The London Times con
corning the Russian-1urkish war, and the posi-
ton of England toward the beligerents, com
mands respectful attention. There are few
private persons whose warnings against a par
ticular political action, whose censure OF a
British Minister would be listened 10 so respect
fully. The men of England who occupy
perfectly independent position in politics, who
are of no party, and who are nevertheless
respected by all parties, are not many. Among
them is Mr.. RuSkin, who is still power,
though perhaps not 80 great power as he
has been To be listened to by the thinkers
of nation, TO be patiently heard even when
rebuking public vices, and to maintain repn-
tation all this time for perfect disinterestcd-
ness, is the fortune Of few. For a man to
speak ~ Mr.. CARLYLE does would but make
him a laughing stock, if nc had not won the
right to ccnsure error and folly by the good
literary work of lifetime. He writes as one
having constituency. lie has not labored all
Ills ne against NlldinS III Ndtn'
It may be proftablc-it certainly will be in
terestinc--to consider the achievements by
which this great influence has been acquired.
Half a century ago Mr.. Carlyle was only
clever writer upon The EdiEbOr0' Rerier and
in Frasers Magazine. He then introduced to
the British public the master minds Of modern
German literature, and he was still regarded
only as a clever writer. HIS books, his pam
phlets, his lectures, before the appearance OF
"The Life aud Letters of CROMWELL were
hardly popular; but since that time he has
gradually acquired high and firm place as
writer and a thinker Yet we cannot help feel
ing that somehow the man is greater than
ANYTHING which he has done To many his
manner of writing is exceedingly distaseiHl,
while TO others his arrogance IL positively re-
pulsivc. His views OF American affairs hardly
commend him to American readers, and yer
he has great many Of that sort. His doe
trne of "heroism" is all wrong if the Chris
tiamity and the accepted morality of The world
are right. Half his utt6ranccs strike the ord
nary mind as paralOxes. He Is puzzle and
a perpetual disappointment and yet no man is
more respected, and we might almost say rev.
crcnccd.
W q Hdlul huoN Nh'lt W Aiit 'hc '''i't VI
the feeling with which Nh. Carlyle is regarded,
unless it be in thorough conviction of his
honesty and camcstncss. lie may be right or
be may be wrong, but We are sure when we
read him that he says exactly what ho thinks
that he is above nattery and above purchase,
and wholly and literally sincere In our day
Of bargain and sale he is not in the market.
Burke said, after his great domestic affection,
that nc would not give peek of wheat for
all which the world calls fame and honor. If
Mr.. Carlyle should say the same thing every
body would believe Rim. And yet he is no
cynic in the ordinary sense of the word for
all his readers know what depths of tender
ness and love are in his writings. He in lis
tened TO because ice may be right and no man
is more SO when he is right at all; because,
having given a large consideration to human
affairs of all ages, he has brought from his
studies an intense love of truth, if not always
a clear discernmcnt of it, Often utteIing para
doxes he is paradox itself. No one to-day
should, by all the rules, be less esteemed in
money-making England. Caring nothing for
name or for fame, he has won both, and is
likely to keep them, now and hereafter.