The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-21
OIItp.
BIZ MS W. $. Whitaker. Atalor u "Al6et
Hastings" rtG.
aEOllltE ELlNT.

GEORGE ELLIOT
George Eliot" It Il said "hns retired
from the field Of letters. Hers III II brilliant
intellect but alas her moral ohIiquties set
Mt naught all that force Of language aud spc
Cious augmentation which proved her ahil-
ity. She entered on tho arena Of literature as
Stunning a masculine eaguomon, which was
perhaps polite rs there aro those who anncl
ut female authorship. Her realistic philusn-
ply was inculcatcd hy spencer ana Doves
was the companion with whom she spent her
life. VIZ olrer no excuse fiji thn drnndgul
errors into which she was betrayed by
these mon and their teaehings; on
the contrary. we regard N u strange anomaly
that one so largely gifted 10y nature, and 50
intensely alive to the beautiful, If not 10 the
good, should for4ako her woman's instinct
and embrace vice while abjuring religion. An
thors, like the rest OF mankind, ara largely
indebted To circumstance for the recognition
OF genius. The world or letters II controlled,
to an incalcuahle extent. by certain reviews
and publishing houses George Eliot was for
tunate III securing the good Offices Of both,
consequently she has had the benefit of every
atom Of fame to which her powers entitled
her. We cannot see, for our own part, that
her desertion from literary occupation will
cause society 10 dcplore an irreparablo loss.
"MlGHT IL RIGHT"
This savage doctrine does not lose It's ap-
ploatlon as time advances. hence heiniustiec
and tyranny which stalk over tho world III
open daylight. Brutn force il tn" last arga
ment of those who command II, and uniorti@
nately they are, for the most paTt creatures
elevated Ivy circumstances - thN lottery II
HAT. is NM ~
ixation of this fact IL such ~ being over
borne by destiny. realize, IN all It's awful sig
nihpanee, this domuntac axiom. Might IL
right
only In history's peopIod page but speak
from the tomb and thrill M awe would pos
sess us rs WE contemplate the disastrous TO-
suits Of compulsory ohedia4aa rNaCted from
feeble spirits by fear ~ t'mt'fsrtv Wing policy.
ALI manhood dies independence Il laat for
ever. when men fear 10 speak ~ they think.
and to think as conscience prompts. 1t Is
crushing down the Impulse If natural. lrGiti-
mate feeling. tho scIt-drrived power of judE
ing In any human creature, when he cannot
avow an honest opinion and maiutatn the
same. That is the slavery which cmascuGtes
mems minds rnhs them Uf their hithright.
and sets over then heads Il government they
despise.
Ii II truly maEuantmous to maintain an
upright and undertaking course through life
0ilnweu DN threats, llI1ilult'd ny ptttpFtlH I'll
reward. Only great minds and truo hearts
arc able to resist the eyil-wnrkng power III
policy. SO powerful pfryeFtcr Of virtue in
man Is this regard for sef-inerest that the
world gazeS on such all one as entirely lack
Ing in common sense. titus installing true
manhood for folly ami coafouaiing rigid
principle with lmhncittN
How grand Is the aspect OF that man. who,
long having stemIlei the tide az adNer@itN,
having heheid tho sun of his prosperity 70
down and incurred IN secret over the strange
elevation Of niauitv t. high places yet held
on with death grip IL hc faith that WA In
him and could not to hpuEht hy any esrthiy
consideration to ahan Ion truth for sophistrE.
legitimate government for eXpedieney, or priu-
cinle for pelf Had We an army ~ such, how
tho Understanding waves nf deSp0tsm and 0nn-
man power would smooth their audacihus
erests and retiuent. retire before the majesty
of true magnanimity and unsEeTvng ntcE
rityt Men love not to hear long hnmtltea On
subjects like this, and an unperVerted Judg-
ment Goes not require Heightened discussion
10 establish n set-eytdnnt postnIate Let us
re3ect. WHAT IL trse mdgRdEtRdgs
POETS, MUSICIANS, PAINTERS.
What aGmirer of art or lover Of nature Is
insensible to thu Impressions produced hy
pictured scenery. Il say nothing OF glowing
battle-f8lds, or lineaments Of the human face
divine on canvas. whether old or new We
bethink Us now Of glorious old portrait,
painted BY the C4rracei. which we have noted
and studied, where pictured semblance took
the form Of life It was the taking down from
the cross Of our divine Redeemer. That