New-York tribune., 1879-09-19

enabled them to interpret the hcN"iutlOh III ""'-
mony with their usual ideas and their tempcra-
ment.n The excitement was as great among the
ruling classes Oh the Continent oi Europe as 1t was
nj home. Louis WI. is said TO have trans
lated the hook into French with his own
hand. Mr.. BurkCs structures on the levity and
prccipitancy of the first of actors in the revoln-
ionarv drama the author afiirms. ratified by
history. Rut he judges the Revolution as the soln-
tion of a purely political problem. The question,
however. wa much deeper. II was n social problem
that burned under the surface of merely external
arrangements. Burke did not see that the key to
The events which called forth his asionishment ana
| indignation was 10 be found IN the fact tnat the
people most nearly concerned had taken the prob
lem INTO their own hands, and in fiery earnestne7s
had set about their own dchvorance. The simple
! truth is that Burke dli not know enough OF the
subject ON which hc was writing. HIS assertions aS
TO the political condition of France previous to I'oJ
were rcokies,ly ill-consdorod and untrue. His it,
formation with regard to the social state of the
country was stil wo Sc. He saw the dangers oi
the new system. hu he had little perception OF the
more cruel DANGERS and disorders Of the old. lie
dG not look the state Of things steadily in the face
His imagination broke loose Iiis practical reason
was mastered by something that was deeper IN nun
than reason.
II WAC a singular trait in the character OF Burke
Mr. Morley suggests, that with all his practical
sagacity. there was certain mysticism III his ideas
about governments and communities. To him
there WAS an element of mystery in the cohesion
Of men in sorictios In political OBEDIENCE IN the
s1nctity Of contract in all that fabric of law, ana
charter. and litigation, which Is the bulwarh be-
tween civilization and baTbarsm.
Mr. Morley, sun ming upof tho literary character
o. Burke cyiuces bis usual breadth of perception,
rs of ifrft
end ap'ncss Of expression. Hc describes Nr. Burke
as entirely uufcltercI lev the narrow spirit OF
formula He valued words al their proper rate. He
knew that some ~ thc rcut,st facts in the life and
character OF man and IN fhe institutions Of society y
admit OF 30 verbal measurement ct description.
A. an orator, although Bark" was transcendcni, he
failed 40 The immediate Influence on his hearers
viii p is commonly supposed 10 De Tie sian Oh
orstor,cal success. Ills gestures were clumsy :
his tones were sonorous but harsh; he
never lost q strong Irish acconti aud h's
ut:crance was of - hurried and eager lie
was not skilled in lie use Of the higher forms Of
CO. mouYacc, which prove so powerful spell WIN
many eminent orators. Bughc's mind was not read
ily set g. these Tunes. The love Of wisdom was the
emotion to which ho commonly appealed. His
thoughts ana knowledge were combined In such
wise aud weigh. propositions, rs, for the moment
ali his hatred of tie book-Inan IN politics Burke
owed much of his distinction to the richness and
depth Of Judgment which had been ripenod by the
practice of htera re. he showed that books are
better preparation for siatcsmalshp than early
trimming in the subordinate posts and among the
permanent oAc..is OF "a public department. Bat his
works display no copiogsneSs of literary reference
Nor il there much of the tact which literature is al
legged to confer on those who approach 1t in
Just spirit aad n thc true gdt The influence oi
iioralur, on Burke We, partly in The emancipation
from ,hc ochllici formulas of practical politics.;
partly in the associate which 70 produced between
politics aud the moral forces OF tie world and,
more than al in opening his mind 10 the perception
Of the manv conditions and possibilities in human
charscte aud situation. But this h,xibiity j. not
to be found i'm lis manner and compos tion. In that
respect his power is derived from other sources.
from passion. intensity Imagination. Iuth cogcncy
Of logical reason. OF the charm produced 10y a WIZ
ming st lle suhtle harmonious. and exquisite sug
gesion. Mr.. Burke was destitute; he Is often
stiff and overcoloredi his banter is ungainly,
his wit blunt and often unsoa enable; but
the varieties of his rhetorical method are
striking. Even in the coolest and dryost Of
his pieces there is the mark of greatness, of grasp Of
comprehension. Ills style is always noble, earnest.
deel flowing, because his sentiment was lofty and
tervld, combined with To'ound slncciIty ara rig-
orous discipline Of Judgment. His style was III
keeping with his subjects Ii had the amplitude
the weehtnoss, The sense. the grandeur proper 10
imperial themes. the freedom of nations, the for
tunes of great societies, the sanctty of law.
III style and manner in gravity Of thought, in So
brictg of suCqesl on, aud IA dignity of illustration,
it may also be afirucd Of NJ. Morcy's essay that it
is in harmony with the exalted subIcc 10 which il
Is devoted. IL Is composition pregnant with IDEAS,
clothed i'm a dicion irss remarkable for rhetorical
than :or masculine strength. and chalcn ging
serious aud profound study instead Of superficial
pcrusal.