New-York tribune., 1879-06-05
JOHN MORLEY AND HIS WORK
TUF FORTNIGHTIY REVIEW.

SCOPE AND PURPOSH.
IrRox TUE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE tribune
LONDON, April 30.-0ne of the most remarkable
collections ever printed of social and political lite
rature may be found in The Fortaghly Rerlcc Tor
March. This periodical is always an able one IL
deals a rule, with subjects of very great concern
TO mankind either of immediate interest or OF
universal interest. The editor, Mr. John Morley IS
not only one of the first living writer's of
English, but ono of the most conscientious
students alike of political and literary his
tory, and of the burning questions Of the day.
He is ons of the few Englishmen holding pen III
these days, whose range of accurate Knowledge
reaches beyond the island IN which he lives. AM be-
yond the Empire of which that island Is the heart
whose opinion IS worth having, not only on EnSish
affairs bat the affairs of the world III general
You fad him discussing one month hait-forgotteh
French moralist of the eighteenth century; the
next writing ON the most essential interests OF the
labOring classes In his country ald our tllhe'
the next treating of Imperial policy ana lts latest
outbreaks in Afglanistan or South Africa win n
power a courage, an exact acquaintance WIN l"''S
such as few speakers in Parliament take the ifou
bic to display Aud he has about hin pAhd VI
writers inspired with something of tue
spirit of their chief. lie requires or them
nothing like subordnation 10 his own views OF
acquescence in q particular line Of policy. lie is
quite aware that able men eau only be had on thelr
own terms, and that the first condition of efficient
collaboration is complete independence lhe result
is that The Fortaghty presents from month TO
month such q body of opiIiOn, OF learner ana
sagacous opinion as the most learned and sagAclous
reader rejoces to find at his disposal the conrlou-
tions of writers sworn to obey the laws OF no master
making full use of their intellectual freedom; but
tending on the whole toward an enlightened pro-
gress and cultivated liberalism. THIS Is true III
respect to politics. to sociology, to religion, ana 10
purely historical or literary discussion Aud 1t
never was more striking than in TINS cur
rent number.
| should perhaps add that neither this
nor any other number of The Fort
uighHy can be recommended to people who
dislike free handling of very grave subjects. Mr.
Morley is a Radical: his magazine is a Radical
magazine he has but limited respect for old
fashioned prejudcies, whether religious or other;
bis reverence for dgnItaries is not deep
enough to hinder plain speech about Ia
grant abuses, and he has far less respect for
authority than for reason. But to reach the
climax of his merits at once, he is one OF the best
Of journalists. He knows extremely well what are
the topics people want to read about at the moments
and though The FOrtaghtty, spite OF Its tite' APP
pears but month"; 1t is as fresh as to-day daily
NOW
tively EASY TO saw to-day what people will care to
read tomorrow. The telegraph, the mails, your
contemporaries of the evening before, and the
talk of the man in the omnibus and street-car
make that pretty clear to the dullest editor
But a monthly periodical is matter of previous ar
rangement. Its articles must be written, generally
speaking, more than month before they appear
they must be actually in type week or so IN ad-
vance, and it requires a keen view into the near
future to perceive just what will seem freshest and
most urgent on the morning of Issue, or during
that first week when a monthly periodical is read,
if it be ever read. 1t is the possession of this essen
italy journalistic gift which strikes me as not the
least among Mr.. Morleys qualities as an editor MI
Knowles, the editor of The Nineteenth Century pos
sesses similar perceptive power, but with
difference Mr. Morley makes it work in harmony
with clear purpose of his own; with an unswerv-
ing determination to cd ucate his public as well as
interest them.
Out of the nine articles which make up the March
number Of The EOrtagkHy six at least are on ques-
tons of the most pressing kind questions TO which
every man who cares for public matters is seeking
an answer. The Zulu war comes first, naturally.
You are so used in America to what the Brton in
his proud way, calls " little wars" that doubt
whether you have sympathized fully with mm In
this which he suddenly found to possess quite
exceptional importance. Ever since the day when
the news of the Isandula disaster burst upon this
country, the Zulu war has been the preoccupation
of every Engshman; of the lounger in club win
dows, of the i'll the white hat, Of Mr. Bnghts
twelve Cabinet Ministers in the Strand; of
smoking-rooms and dInner-tables not less
than of Parliament and of the Ministry.
Mr. Morley has taken it up from the
beginning. He has told the Plain Story of the
Zuln War - as il had not been told before He has
told it from a thorough study of blue books; from
q thorough knowledge of Sir Bartle FIeres dis
patches aud of all the official literature on the sub
iect and his article is at once plain story,
philosophical study of the causes that brought on
the war and judicial condemnation of its utter
iniquity. l can attempt no abstract of its twenty
pages can only commend IL to the American land
Canadian) student of British colonial policy, as
mastery exposition of a casein which Imperial
principles have taken their highest flight; and
quote Mr. Morleys declaration that the English peo-
pie should see written in letters of flame that
this war is one of the worst crimes that has been
perpetrated IN our history" Let me quote this spr-
tied perOratOn also:
We shall be told that this not patriotism. There
has been enough within the last three wears OF that
cautng and iusOent nonsense We are as goed patfos
as they are. We have much pride as they IN the
greatness OF England because II has been IN the main
the greatness of humanity and right. We exult as
ardentiv as they 90 IN the immense realm which, as
they boast sets; hut we exu init only be
cause we insist that the length ana breadth OF hst
realm there snail be perpetuay shed the beams OF The
far more radiant aud glorious OF human justice and
sovereign Oenehcence.
Mr.. Frederic Harrson's First Impressions of the
New Republic" follows. The Republic is
France dating from that memorable 30th of jan
uary last when Marshal MscAIahon finally threw up
the sponge and when for the first time during eight
years of nominal existence the Republic found 1T
self administered by q truly Republican Govern
ment possessing not only majority IN the country,
but President and Senate representing that major
ity, and disposed to do 1t we'll Mr.. Frederic Harri-
son has just been paying a visit to Paris. He