The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-27
Victor nuuo's Latest Poem.


float above his grave.
Victor Hugo's Latest Poem.
In notice OF lie Pape" we dwelt on the
dual interest attaching to the utterances Of one
who Is at the same time the foremost OF contem-
porary poets and the most conspicuous advo-
cate Of republican ideas. We find the same fu-
sion Of aims. the same striking coalcscence Of
artist ana statesman In VICTOR HUGo's latest
work. La itiS Supreme paris. Calmann Levy
While parts Of II undoubtedly vibratc with the
most piercing strains Of lyrical eloquence. this
remarkable poem will be naturally regarded in
some quarters as a political manifesto. From
this point OF view the singular mildness and
beneyolence OF its tone. its exhibition and in
culcation Of placable and moderate spirit.
is fact Of large significance. 1t means
that man OF the ripest experience
and the keenest insight. placed at the
focus Of affairs. and commanding the
widest horizon. esteems republican institutions
impreGnaby grounded in France; that in
other words. the hour Of partisan conflict has
passed and the hour OF sage and sober counsel
has arrived. 1t is the lesson Of this poem that
class hatreds are anachronisms. and that the
injuries which rankle In tho memories Of so
many French Republicans should henceiorth
be rather studied AS historical phenomena than
avenged as crimes That such doctrine should
be preached b. the author Of "rAnn6e Ter
rible" is Of itself kind Of revolution. Per-
haps nothing that has been said or written in
France since the collapse OF the empire is more
calculated TO dispel the apprehensions and in
sure the confidence OF friends Of order than
such change OF front on tho part OF the patriot
poet who has heretofore ranked with Milton
among the most rancorous opponents Of priest
and king.
There aro indeed some curious points OF
likeness in these two men. whether we consider
their relation 10 the literary or the political
movement OF their times Both evinced In youth
some instructive leanngs coward the interest
ing and romantic associations which 10 "A sensl-
tiNo ianNJ ia'Nut .~si-o i,r'.-ti---- ..s.L
a species OF glamour. Both promptly shook of
such illusions as tho power OF insight was
quickcned and the habit OF judgment asserted
It's regnant function. Once become republicans
by conviction. they were impeled by the In
tensity OF the poetic temperament toward
sweeping reform and headonR revolution. The
Long Parliament was not progressive enough
for Milton: the Assembly OF As was too slow
and clrcumspect for Victor Hugo. Each saw
his dream Of commonwealth broken by the
incubus Of Cpsarlsm. and the diverse action Of
the two men in somewhat similar juncture
was dictated by the obvious difference OF cir
cumstances. However shocked and disen-
chanted 10y tho usurpaton Of Cromwell. the
Puritan enthusiast could afford TO serve one
who was himself the outcome OF the republican
upheaval, who upheld. upon the whole. the
principles OF civil liberty at home. and
who stood forth the champion Of religious
freedom throughout Europe. The French
patriot. on the other hand. could not stoop to
compromise with sham Caesar. who was to
Cromwell what chicken thief is to pirate. and
whose dynastic. religious. political and literary
credentials were all equally counterfeit. The
fourteen years which Milton passed in blind
ness and seclusion after his hopes were ship
wrecked by the restoration of Charles H.. may
be compared with the two decades spent by
Victor Hugo In Guernsey. when he was. as
swinburne called him. the greatest exile, and.
therefore, the greatest man OF France 1t was
in these analogous periods. when the field OF
political energy was no longer open. that each
poet gave himself with undivided mind to lot
tiers. and produced the works by which their
names will be longest known. 1t was not given.
however, to the creator of Paradise Lost to
witness the pacific revolution 10y which part
OF the gains won by his republican CONDUCTORS
were recovered. and forever assured 10 Eng
land. More happy than his Puritan counter
part the author OF " Les Miserables and Les
Chatiments lived 10 see France emerge from
the slough Of political and social corruption.
and rear once more. and this time on broad
and firm foundations the fabric OF q free State.
II we may trust his own estimate OF the future
implied in the book before us he has lived TO
soc those reactionary forces, which Milton eyed
with well-grounded dread and vigilant ami
mostly, shrink into objects OF philosophic re
| view and thoughtful pity.
Kings mobiles, the rich. the lucky. all those
who are born or drift into splendid opportuni-
| ties deserve. we are told. compassion rather
| than envy and the keenness OF our sympathy
should be exactly proportional TO the extent OF
the temptation. This view Of mans surround
ings. and OF tho corporations inherent in
social inequality. is trlte enough to u.s. and no
doubt 1t is familiar on the lips OF village curates
in the rural districts OF France. But we may be
sure II is a strange paradoxlcal. and repugnani
statement to the operatives Of Paris. Lyons
and the other great cities who constitute the
vital nucleus Of the Republican party. AS a
rule. the French artisan has ceased to read the
Bible and as yet he has only learned the rudi.
ments Of the evolutionary philosophy lie has
acquired the catch words "heredity" and en-
vironment" and no finds them useful to OK.
plain. ms they unquestionably do. the ntellec.
tual shortcomings and the vices OF his class
He has heard that inherited tendencies TO pau.
perIsm, drunkenness. insanity. and crime car
be checked and gradually eliminated in an i'm
proved social medium. and he holds that every
community owes such facilities OF Moderation
to all its members. But 1t seldom occurs tc
him-certainly he is never reminded Of Il
by his Spokesman in the Legislature OIL
by tho writer's for radical newspapers
that the Objectionable and odious traits
OF the once privileged classes. OF th'
arlstocrat and the capitalist. may b.
easily accounted for by the same simpl,