The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-03-07

only the incidents and prospects Of his own
llfc, butthe very subieclsof which he treated
received their eolorng and appearance from
! his gloomy reyerlei, II seems 10 have do
3 pended enllrelyupon tho caprice Of tho mo-
; ment, whether vice Was TO be pal
lated by tho most aHful apologies, or
virtue eKtolled with an ardor bordering
on enthusiasm. 10 that bis descriptions
exhibit alternately, pleasant or forblddlng
aspect, as the author waa influenced by the
galoty Of hope or the gloomness Of despair
Z While no professos 10 yenerale the sublime
morality ofthe christian religion, no attacks
? with malignant yehemoneo and aHlul
sophlstry, tho very prophocles and miracles
which attest Ia authenticity, There Ia u
certain brilliant but unnatural coloring, which
renders virtue itself dangerous, and truth DO
cepiIyc In bis descriptions,
In fine, We may consider Rousseau NJ u
dangerous and deadly enemy TO the interests
Of virtue, For, while vice was rendered
fatally attractive under his pen, aIraycd as II
was In all the graces OF language aud sonti'
mcnt, tho evil was In no degree impaired by
biz ardent but hypocrillcal encomiums upon
virtue, since tho Influence Of his words upon
the public mind would bo determined, prln'
clpally BY those opinions which coTosponded
too well with the abandoned prc1igOcy Of his
character
Yet, there 10 little doubt that
tho cause Of virtue hw less to ioar
from enemies who aro openly profit
gate than from thoic who con.
ccal tie tendency Of icentious principles IN.
der mn oppoarancooi virtue In the writings
OF Rousseau, we regard him rs holding un-
limited sway over tho passions, and danger
GUS In the same portion rs hc h powcrluli
but when we turn TO his character, our ad
miration and our dread disappear in pity and
contempt. For who that remembers the
pltiable condition into which his vices do.
graded him-who, that can cstmntc tho
agony Of romorsc, and the wasting influence
of passions rendered morbid and unnatural
by indulgence that prcycd upon the vitaIs Of
this unhappy man, would willingly bo gov
crncd by his prncples' But there was
another who, possessing his genius without
his follies, was, in some respects, more dan
gerous, and perhaps a less generous enemy
to tho Christian religion. DAlcmbert no.
ceved from nature every quality which was
requisite TO form great writer and great
man. His vast scientific attanmcnts and
brilliancy asa writer, have justly secured a
shining and permanent reputation in the
world of letters. To such mind, one would
suppose that the sublime aud wonderful OK
libitions Of wisdom and benevolence which
appears in the works of nature would have I
,ointed TO the existence and worship of their
Author. But unhappily, 1t was otherwise.
10 appears to have adopted that system of |
Deilled nature which bereaves the world of
designing cause and presiding intelligence" ,
his attempt to disarm providence of its /
lights and powers-to enshrine and idolize
ature, in the place Of natures God, is
peces Of !dolatry more refined, but not less
rminal, than the disgusting rites of heather
upcrstitoD. What is there so elevating 10 j
he human mind, so enpobling, as the worship
f GodG What so animating as the hope of
ternal blessedness in this communion? Who [,
YER, therefore, would boar up this refuge of II
nc unfortunate, is guilty Of treason against ~
ne happiness of his species, and deserves "
OF that any other quality, however engag- "
'g, should protect his memory from disgrace l
Ve cannot conclude these imperfect re- II
marks without mention of ,Noltaire. To O
elineate the character of this singular man "
would be to describe all the vagaries a
It capricious and volatile tenn :,
'erament without the restraining influence 4
If moral principle, and all the workings Of Il
lark, malignant passions which can agitate ;
! powerful mind, delivered over to their do. !
ninon. With regard to his intellectual at 4
ailments there can be but one opinion; as a
poet and dramatist he has almost attained
o the rank of Racine and Corneile. Bat
literary reputation was insufficient to satisfy
4 restless and aspiring genius, who was I'M
der no restraint from the love of virtue or v
he fear Of punishment; for to love and fear q
he was alike q stranger. And with his
,austic wit and scathing sarcasm he dashed /
alike friend and foe, not even sparing royalty
he venom Of his sharp tongue. lie was the
'stronge and ilercest spirit that fought in
Inc ranks Of infidelty. With the ambition {
Of Satan, the malice of Moloch, and the arr
Of Belal, nothing seemed too great for him
10 attempt, nothing too difficult to accom- +
plish. He was undoubtedly one of the great
est sinners that Christianity ever encountered; {
for he was well acquainted with the human
heart and familiar with every artiice of !
moral contamination. He placed much de-
pendcnce upon sophislry and ridicule, the le-
climate weapons of error, and these he WELD
ID with skill and management peculiar TO
himself. Nor do We find one redceming trait in
he character of this splendid but malignant ,
yenius Even Satan ia representtd MS ween. ,