New-York tribune., 1879-05-10
THE LATEST IMMORTAL.
REMAIN AND THE FRENCH ACADEMY.

new academician, Ernest Renan, his reception
speech at the Academy the sharp criticisms OF the
German press on its reference 10 Germany, and the
brilliant letlor he has published in the journal des
D6bais in reply to his take it for granted
that this letter is too long be translated by the
American papers. II has created 30 mueh interest
here however, and 1t eloquently and forcibly eX-
presses the disappointment which all friends OF
Germany. whether of 1eutonic blood or not, feel at
her failure TO realize the expectations formed when
the unity of the Fatherand was accomplished, that
feel sure q summary of its salient points will in
teTest your readers.
NJ Renan begins his letter by acknowledging the
great debt that France and the civilized world
to the Germany of sixty years ago, porsonfed by
the genius of Goethe and represented by the mar
veous reunion of poets. philosophers, historians,
writers and thinkers who added new domain 10
the riches Of the human mind to that broad. intel
liqent and profound Germany which taught ideal
ism by Fichte. faith IN humanity by Herder, the
poetry of the moral sense by Schiller and abstract
dntv by Kant lie then speaks of the desire felt in
France after lSI8 for united Germany which
should be new individuality in the con-
cert of peoples, bringing with il a rational
Professionalism absorbing itself in phioso-
phy q high sentiment of humanity applied
10 the conduct Of affairs. and an element
of ripe reason minglng in the general movement of
Europe and preparing bandage' for the wounds
which the grand and terrible French Revolution
had still left bleeding. Great was the grief of
French Liberals TO see the apparition of German
Nationality they had themselves invoked appear on
the ruins of vanGuished France, indssolubly
Joined to the disasters of their country. They con-
soled themselves. however, with the thought that
Germany become all-pOwerful in Europe. would
plant high and firm the flag of civilization of
which she had given them SO elevated a cOncep-
tion.
La qraRde,r oJ'ige says VI. Renan. victorious
Nation has great opportunities and great duties
and cannot shut itself up III the cares Of its own
interests and refuse the perllous glory of humani
tarlan roles The whole world looks to it as
leader. If it fails in its prOyidential vocation 1t is
punished by what il does not do, by the exlgencies
winch it has not cOntented, by the hopes which it
has not fulfilled and above all, by the exhaustion
which results from force not employed, and ten
sion without result. Besides, q victorious Nation
has the right to find at home recompenses for its
heroic efTorts-comfort, riches, cOntentment the
reciprocal esteem of classes, the joy Of glorious
and peaceful country. In politics it has the right
to the first of benefits, the fist Of recOmpenses-
those fundamental liberties of speech, of thought
and of the platform--,laugerous things in feeble
State; possible only in strong State The great
social questions which agitate century can only
be solved BY a victorious nation using the prestige
of glory to impose on all parties concessions sacri
fees and amnesty Victory must be gratiied and
maintained by benefits. 1t was the duty of Ger
many. and her safety. too, after her great triumph
10 give peace, rs far as peace is possible in this
world, TO continental Europe, which has not yet
found its equilibrium TO found representative gov
to approach frankly social prOblemsj to
elevate the lower classes without inspiring them
with jealousy Of necessary superiority; to diminish
the sum Of suffering and suppress unmerlted
misery, to resolve the delicate problem of the
economic situation of woman, and 10 show by
grand example the possibility OF facing at the same
time opposing political necessities.
How much Of this programme imposed by the
force Of things has Germany realized demands VI.
Roman Are her people more moral, more happy.
more copteuted with their lott Clearly not ON
the morrow of trumphs such rs had NOT been wit
messed for sixty years Germany hnds herself IN the
DresenCe of profound dlscOntent, and Is con-
stantly preOccupled with measures restrictive or
liberty. Her statesmen regard the State rs chain
and not a. n benevolent force. They have made of
the German people nation organized for war. ana |
like the mailed knights of the sixteenth century, |
thew are crushed under the weight OF their arma- |
ment II is TOO much TO expect that a people carry
,,,, such a load will have the suppleness necessary
for the arts of peace. VI. Renan goes on to IN |
oulre what progress Germany has made to-
government, ana wherein IT'S paIila1entary |
life is more brilliant more free and more !
fruitful than that OF other countries. instead OF
broad beralty, which Is the property ut the strong,
ne sees restrictions TepresSlous and cOeTclYe regu-
latiOns. Suppose ne says that while Gernan states
men are plunged in thelrgnQrateful task OF esrict-
ing popular liberty, the French peasant, with his
rnde common SENSE his politics by no means refined,
his ol aud his economies should succeed In iound- |
ing a regular and durable republic! After speaking |
of the faults of German social life, ana the lack OF
rreat names IN German literature 10 succeed Goethe,
Schiller and Hene, N. Renan crit cises the Prus- |
sian scheme of craftsmanship which thinks II can |
d,spcuse with pleasing the world and gaining II by |
benefits. and wraps itself in cold calculation and |
ostentatous egOism. He refuses TO recognize the |
men of this schOo-hard, rigid detractors OF glory.
affecting a vulgar and positive commonplace, pre- |
tandIup dlSdain of pOsterIty realizing the an
c,ent German ideal. The Cenlus OF Germany" |
Se ssvs m conclusion is grand and graceful. and
remains one of the most essential OF the human |
mind but you have pat it In wee, and n suiterS
You are led astray by dry and cold school, which
brushes more than 1t develops. We are sure yon
will recover yourselves, and that one day we shall
agan be colabOrers the search Of a that can give
grace gayotY and happiness to life.'
AprOpos OF NJ. Remains election 10 the Academy,
there is GOOD anecdOte in FgarO which proves that
he is q man of WIT as well as Of erudition. Some
time ago he was candidate for admission to the
called upon NJ Naudet to ask for his favorable vote
NJ Nandet was a tine-lOOking old man OF
lofty stature, but of awkward manners, at
which he was however always the first
to laugh. While accompanying his visitor
IN the door he stumbled and fell against NJ. Renan
with so much violence as to knock him into an
armchair which fortunately stood close by. With
admirable presence of mind the candidate eA-
claimed, " Ah. ". Naudet you have seated me in
the fauteu and you surely will not have the cOur-
aye TO pull me out of It," It Is needless to add that
NJ. Renan got NJ. Naudets 5 vote IOr the vacant Idu-
teuI az the Academy.
Another bit of chit-chat before take leave of NJ
Renan You will remember that II was VI. MczereS
who opposed his admission to the Academy, but you
may not have read that of the charges he brought
against his literary work was that ne had invented
a personal description for st. Paul and had no au-
thority for sketchiug his face and figure NJ. Renan
did not project his picture of the great Apostle to
the Grntles from his inner consciousness. re can
fall back on the excellent authority Of 81. Clement
OF Alexandria who wrote about the year 200 that
u -Ln.t NHlLh LAll LnLL ILI-k