The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-05
SOME NEW BOOKS.

ENGLISH MEN On LErrERs Edmund Burke.
by john Morley.
The interest that attaches 10 tho personality
of the men who have been conspicuous In tho
worlds history varies infinitely. A striking
Instance of this fact Id found Iii the group III
eminent men who Iii literature or politics
were the recognized leaders In the several
currents Of thought that divided the English
people IA the latter half Of tho eighteenth
century. The interest W. feel In DIR. johnson
Vi wholly of The peracnai sort Of Hume or
tshbon we care TO know little more than what
we can nfarfr their writings. The younger
PItt, who stnped the course Of hls country ut
memorable epoch sa human affairs. liz almost
lmpersonat. Burke stands from every point
bfview inGharp contrast with Pitt. The later
Is merged and forgotten In his work, as TO
which msn etill differ widely In tho approha-
lion or disapprohstion they beat0w OMIT. We
admireHthe man'r splendid abilities. but we
hre little concerned to know the story of his
life DIS an Individual. Our feelings toward
pitt's great rival are of.a very different sort
In the case III burke W. cannot separate the
man from his opinions and aims. III his an-
teeelents and education; In the circumstances
that attended hts rise from obscurlty, and In
bis connections and surroundings In later life
Ms Hind the explanation of much that would
otherwise DO ineaplicable In his conduct and
doctrines.
Though In popular estimation Burke Id
ranked as one OF highlands greatest states
men and orators, his title to such III honor
Id seldom examined and but vaguely Under
stood. His speeches are not nuch read now.
F.aA~t 4.
were delivered. His political writings were
nil suggested by and designed to deal with
topics of theday. From his hrst appearance
tn political life, Burke was with singular
fatality On the losing side. His name Is not
associated with the achievement OF any great
national success, nor with the inauguration
LOT any new national policy. He was the
most determined opponent Ut the measures
which led to the rupture between England
and her american colonies. For fourteen
years he devoted himself to the affairs OF
India with mn energy and zeal never sur
passed Iii any cause. The result was signal
failure Hewas defeated both imhis attempt
10 transfer the government OF india from the
company To the parllamentand Ill tho attempt
to bring to justice those servants OF the COM
the cruel abuse 81 their powers. The close OF
his life was ,embittered by controversies to
which the French revolution gave rise, and
which allenated him from ltfe-long friends.
Aud In this matter the verdict OF posterity
condemns alira his opinion md his conduct.
Why, then, do we accord him 80 high place
rs an orator, as statesman, as a,politieal
WRITER A full aud satisfactory anEwer can
not well be given In less space than, Mr.. Nor
lev's short biography takes, and better an
ever cannot be given at oil.
Mr.. Morley deiinetttes the character of the
great orator with admirable clearness and
fairness. Theman lib shown to us MS he was,
In ell the exuberaat Q trength and richness OF
his wonderfully gifte d nature but without
paillation of the Anllr, mites OF his temper or
Justification of the Of seasonal Inconsistency
OF his conduct and t,bliquity or his judy
ments. Burke failure as an orator to inn
press his auditors IL traced Ito that very
breadth and fullness 81 mind which enrIehes
his speeches with the N est profound specula-
tlons. the most gorget ms imagery and the
most varied illusions, d nd to a certain moral
stateliness and grandeur that could not brook
10 descend ~ .reasoniniy that was based on
prejudice or low lntere SITS. Even to follow
such q speaker, remarkal ,le, too, FOR his rapid
and vehement delivery. required In the stis-
tener strong and WE'LL !rained understand
ing. The eause Of his fall ure la the practical
conduct of affairs waslless creditable. A cen
temporary says OF him That he was SO v.o-
lent, 20 oVarbearlng, 10 arrogant, 80 intracta-
BILE, that TIA have got on wit b him In d cabinet
would have been utterly and absolutely i'm.
possible.
We most heartily commend Mr.. Morley.s
book TO all who would like to get q just idea
OF one, who, all allowances made, will ever
be regarded. both intellectual y and morally,
~ one Of the greatest Of tie syreat men that
have figured In English history.
MANUAL OF INTERNATIONAL Law. BYE. Al.
Gallandet, ph. n. From Lathrop N VII
kins.
Mr.. Gallaudet has given lis a very readable
book On very dry subject. It would have
been inconsistent with the popular character
OF his work to attempt entire accuracy al
detinition. Whoever ID disposed. therefore,
may lind much TO object to in the definition
which Mr.. Gallaudet has given of his subject,
and OF some OF the subordinate parts OF 1t.
But as all the publicists disagree one from
another In their definitions, Ii could hardly be-
expected that Mr.. Gallaudet would III this
particular satisfy any one besides himself.
The merit of his work consists In presenting
q clear outline OF the leading and settled
principles OF International law In n remark
ably small compass. The exposition OF the
abstract principles Of the science is skillfully
illustrated BY the events Of recent history In
such manner as to make the subject atlae
interesting and to give very good idea of its
practical bearing on the intercourse Of nations
with each other.
Flowers and Faces.
Sacramento Record San Francisco letter. |
/ wonder sometimes at the way people in |
Eplre me With a thought Of flowers. The most |
are dull and dead and colorless, and would |