The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-27
AN ENGLISH sUp-AcurE cyNIc.

AN ENGLISH sUB-ACUTE CYNIC.
Under the curious title "Meditations in the Tea
Room" by NJ. p. pickering Co.. London), we have
received little book whose set purpose or quaint
ness is made known by its antique type with the
long .S" and Joined letters of couple of centuries
ago. This. with heavy ornamental top and bottom
borders largo black initial letters and other devices
known to book fanciers. may be described a sort
of typographical mise scene Of cynical refec-
tons things governmental in England, more or
less the model Of Swift and Of order of bitter.
would. for want of better term. style SUBJ
acute. The author states that he is q member Of
Parliament and that, finding he never fix his
mind on the subject in hand by listening to
the debates. he withdraws to that pleasant
resort of the House of Commons, the Tea Room,
wnere he is gradually enabled get back to the
subject by meditating. Hence the title. The "med-
itations' are naturally discursive; but while we
would not allow them the incisiveness of the great
Deans cogitations. VIC cannot deny them caus-
ITCHY and wit. To run counter to every day plat-
tude. to talk Of INSCRIPTIONS statecraft with the
nairee OF Machiavel. to consider political problems
without any reference to what is termed political
morality. is not so uncommon a habit of mind as
this writer perhaps believes. 1t is common in the
House of Commons and commoner still in the
House of Lords; but then it seldom finds words out
side those circles where tho political high priests
and augurs meet. and looking in each others faces
laugh after tho public ceremony Of looking ut the
entrails of the Bull is This NJ. p. may not be
in the "circle. and hence gets into print with the
idea that he has discovered or rediscovered some-
thing. Freedom is o hgment to him. He says
Now, it is the merest affectation to speak of the
State the means OF securing liberty however that
word be defined; for, MS there be State with
subjects, IL is plain that freedom is exactly that
which all States are designed to abolish.
He likes the British constitution, it has .his
supreme merit -
tits founded on mutual jealousy and distrust.
and not upon any of those refined but false theories
which have dazzlod and deceived many other ma
TONS
Hc does not think duplicity degrading, but on the
contrary, when advantageous, virtue. Ho thinks
..Ia perfide Albion just title because inconsis-
tency is inevitable in limited monarchy. ITO be
unjust to most zen is to appear generous to the
smaller number. To act fairly by friends is tho
surest way to fail to satisfy them. But less than his
due will satisfy an enemy" He thinks when the
English practise the theories of Mill and followers
they may be very worthy people "and play small
part.in the world" We cannot follow M. Z. far
but hero is thought that probably will nnd an echo
in many English Breasts
The country which deprives us fairly OF our com.
will recreatc terrible horde OF bandits. We
shall hardly admit that have no right to prefer
our own interests to those the great family OF
nations--as we have lately beca taught-when we
fairly perceive that our philanthropy has lost us
some material advantage.