New-York tribune., 1878-03-02
Tyr GOSprL OF.NOy cPOIKTYG.


Nothing, we think, could be more timely than
the PRONUNCIATION Of Mr.. EmCisOn's opinion,
that in spite of many shortcomings and lail-
urcs the country has still great career be-
fore it. For 1t is easy, III these DAYS OF catas-
trophe and misconduct to lose heart altogether,
and 10 lapse permanently into the ranks of
the croakcrs and the pcsSimIstS. Mr.. Emerson
shuts his eyes 10 none of the bad signs of the
tlmcs-the power of an inferior class ot poll
ticians the sudious cX lusiOn OF character III
the scic non Oi candidates, the cquVocal, m
tcrcstcd and vicious measures ordained by
Legislatures and Congress, and the lmbecllity
of the trustees of power. He admits that the
standard OF our political life is low and de-
graded that we pcrpetually sacrifice men to
measures and that we elect rogncs to Office,
as a matter OF course, when they are the can
didatcs of the dominant party. and because
they are the candidates. Mr.. Emerson
ignores none of our faults or foihes, but
when he has admitted them all. he looks
chccrlully forward, and thus sets good ex-
ample 10 many men of ability and education
who seem to have lost the power Of doing so.
Ii is much to keep lively faith IN de-
mocracy in times like these. Mr.. Emerson
finds compensation for many evils IN the IN
tcligcnt interest taken by the people IN gov
cInmcnt: in the universal diffusion OF education;
in the Congress which is " a. standing inSIirrcc-
ton; in the recognition by the people OF
moral distinctions in the remedies which the
fault, of our system sugg st. We wait, and cor
rect important mistakes with energy. The
general tendency Is to advance, and our great
need is of men who can and viii follow this
tcndcncy-mcn of originality, "ot moral anu
"ciIstic minds" Of ideas wider than tiIcr
nationaIiiy' Very beautifully Mr.. Emerson
spoke of the light that is breaking in all di
rcciions. and Of the material and spiritual
prosperity which are yet within our power.
COMPLAINT that thc best men of the Rcpnb
lie leave the management of its affairs to the
worst, is not new. For some years tins ten
dcncy has been Il recurring theme at college
commcncemcitS, and "A standing topic in the
most respectable quarterly reviews. We have
been seriously alarmed because our scholars
declined 10 20 to Congress, even when at rare
intervals they were asked to do so. "Ihe
honest, aii, ctionate, noble gentleman spoken
of by Mr.. Emerson will not be Il can
didatc, and thinks il much If he consents to
vote, so that il is no wonder II there Is SOME
times unanimous choice of rogue or burg
liar" But this tendency OF the StudlOus, the
thoughtful. the fa,tidous to isolation will
be considered of less Importance if, while
we are quito sure that there can be
no "levcling down. the diffusion of edu
cation makes Icvellng up practically GER
tain. When "rcason, the noblest af-
Election and the purcst religion find
"thcir abiding home III Onr institutions"
as they promise to do, there will be nothing
to tempt the cultivated to neglect their politi
cal duties, while the uncultivated will cease
to color politics and control affairs. Mean
while, however dishcartening may be the con-
dition of public affairs, despair is not merely
mhcroica but.grcatly unwise. Nor shall we
be the worse for little of the complaceucy of
patriotism, which by some is held properly
to have gone ont Of fashion altogether. Mr..
Emerson said, with quiet irony, that
"the passion for Europe casts out the passion
g. for America; but they for whom London
"or Paris have spoiled their own homes,
"can well he spared to return to those
"cities." The dcstnics of the country are not
in such hands, but in those of a people which,
in spite of all hindrances, naturally advances.