New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-19
THE NEW ENGLANDER. March.

The number o ems with a paper on MI
Mailock and his American critic presenting an impair
tial estimate Of each writer, and weighing ther merits
and detects in an even scale The English essayist Is
said addresses his audience with some prestige as
brilliant contributor to periodical literature
but in the present work e. Is Life Worth LivngD he
has carried his argument far he has underyaued
PosilIysm aud used some dllaclOus asonncs IN sup
port OF thesm The Reply" on the other hand, by an
anonymous writer, shows the hand OF one WHO Is eVl-
IDENTITY no stranger TO acne thinking ana vigorous eA
preston But Mr. Mal0ck is guilty OF sophlstrY MS
opponent often fails into exravagancc If not misrepre
sentaton though probably uuintentonal Each OF the
books s described especially interesting for its Illus
tratIOus OF certain facts characteristic of the age one
of those Is the reaction from dOgmaiic atheism. An
other the recOIl from scientific negaen by one WHO
evidently appreciates the force OF much OF lis reason
ing and felt something OF IFS despair 1his gives
a kind OF pathetie interest TO Mr. MallCcRs book in
spite of many Inconsistencies He appears to under
stand the wretchcdness donbt at which he directs
the force OF his rhetoric. He has been himself well nigh
drawn within the fatal vortex. His recantton there
FORE may be regarded detection from the ranks oi
scientific sccpticsm On the whole the writer con
cudes that thcr Maoc his crilic has presented
a satisfactory solution of the problem IN hand The
reader VIII be disappointed in the pcrusa of their
books The subject should have been treated from a
broader point Of view The controversial character OF
both works though favorable to vigOr and pquancy,
limits their useful eff ct. There is good in Posi-
tiyism IN Professionalism. in Catholicism; bat neither
exhaSts the DEPTH and riohne and variety Of life all
systems and all truths in their combined harmony,
reveal something OF its divine significance and beauty
and the true eclectic Will discover attractive flowers
and wholesome gnIt every land and under every sky
CHAPTER Of Maine History" by the Rev. George T.
Packard is timely and singulariy valuable
papsr describing the tricks OF leGerdoman in The
politics that state ami presenting the practical in
ferences TO be drawn from the grOtesque spectacle
After lucid instructive exposition OF the course Of
events the writer concludes with rebuke TO the sell
righteous conccit that the soil Of New-England is
empt from the influence OF political dcpravy. " The
sober study OF the transactions in Mane Mr.. Packard
remarks must teach the most unwilling son OF
gland that political organization is free from
bad men that election frauds possible In the land
Which bears historic monuments Of high fame and
chertshes the memory Of noble that revolution
may be advocated, planned, attempted in regions
remote from the great centres aud by bred
TO quiet pursuits; that the original soil OF
Massachusetts may be essayed schemes 10
jnvaIdate the express Will of the people, 10
overiurn n State government legazed by the
decision of the highest court. and undermine the
fabric Of the Republic" The Maine development. nc
foreiby suggests teaches lesson which 1t would he
well for the country TO take in namely hat depTavIty
has fOrsaken the realm of politics. aud shat the
ultimate ground Of safety is the indwcling OF that
and lawlessness."