The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-16

ioOOo ouSSSSuch Cdubtb uHllOEUlly anu lneAOTh-
bly, without intermission or interruption. and
that tales OF wonder were as little the true ac-
counts Of real occurrences as the theory Of
epicyces was q correct explanation OF the
movements OF the planets.
SO far his thoughts on this subject did not
differ widely from those OF his skeptcal con-
temporaries. but his further conclusions not
only were not their conclusions. but were op-
posed to them by whole diameters. The mate
realistic theory Of things. the hypothesis that
intellect Ia phenomenon OF matter, that
conscience is the growth OF social convenience.
and other kindred specuations. he utterly re-
pudiated. Skepticism on the nature Of right
and wrong. or on mans responsibility to his
Maker never touched or tempted him. While.
accordingly. he rejected the literal narrative Of
the sacred writings. he believed as strongly as
any Jewish prophet or Catholic saint in the
spiritual truths OF religion. The effort
OF his life was to rescue and reassert
those truths which were being dragged down
by the weight with which they were encum-
bered. He explained his meaning. we are told
by a remarkable illustration. He had not como
ESQ far as he knew his own purpose, to destroy
the law and the prophets. but TO fulfil them. to
expand the conception Of religion with some
thing wider. grander. and more glorious than
the widest enthusiasm had imagined On the
broad facts of divine government of the uni
verse he felt himself as well assured as Calvin
himself; but he based his faith. not on sup
posed revelation or on fallible human authori-
ty. He had sought the evidence for 1t where the
foundations lie OF all other forms OF knowledge
in the experienced facts Of things interpreted by
the intelligence OF man. Experienced fact was
to him revelation, and the only true revelation.
Carlyle conceived that revolution precisely
analogous TO that which Calico had wrought
in our apprehension Of the material heaven
was silently in progress in our attitude toward
spiritual phenomena. II the conceit of the rel
ative Importance Of man was diminished. mans
conception OF the cosmical system of which he
was part had become immeasurably more
magnificent while all phenomena which had
been actually and faithfully observed remained
unaffected. Sun and moon were still the earth
ly timekeepers. and the mariner still could
guide his course across the ocean by the rising
and setting Of the same stars which Ulysses
had watched upon his raft. Now. the spiritual
universe, like the visible. was the same yester
day, to-day. and forever. and the le
gends and theologies which deal with
1t WERE like the astronomical theories Of the
Egyptians. the Babylonians. the Greeks. still
true so far as they were based on facts which
entered largely into the composition Off worst
Oh IUeul-tTub 80 lar db IO6y represented inc
honest efforts OF mans intellect and conscience
and imagination to interpret the laws under
which he was living. and to regulate his life
by them. Underneath or beyond all these
speculations lay the facts Of spiritual life. the
moral and intellectual constitution of things as
it actually was in eternal consstence. The
theories which dispensed with God and the
soul Carlyle utterly abhorred. 1t was not
credible to him. he said. that intel
lect and conscience could have been
placed in him by Being which had none Of its
own. God to him was the fact OF facts. He
looked on the whole system of visible and OF
spiritual phenomena as a manifestation Of the
will Of God in constant forces-forces not me-
chanical but acknowledgements and
controlling all existing things from the utmost
bounds OF space to thesmallest granule on the
earth's surface. from the making OF the world
to the lightest action OF a man. Gods law was
everywhere; mans welfare depended on the
faithful reading of it. Society was but higher
organism. no accidental agreement OF persons
or families to live together on conditions
which they could arrange for themselves. but
a natural growth. the conditions of which
were already inlexibly laid down. Human life
was like garden to which the will was gar
dener." and the moral fruits and flowers or the
immoral poisonous weeds. grew inevitably &C.
cording as the rules preappointed were discov-
cred and obeyed. or sighted. overlooked and
deied. Nothing was Indifferent. Every step
which man could take was In the right direc-
ton or the wrong. If In the right the result
was as it should be; II in the wrong. the excuse
OF ignorance would notavail to prevent the in
evitabe consequence.
Carlyle saw that practically men no longer
really believed these propositions which he sup
posed it to be his mission to enforce. They be-
lieved in expedency. in the rights OF men, in
government by majorities. in their power of
making laws for themselves. In Carlyle's view
on the other hand the law. did men but know
1t. was already made: and their wisdom. if
they wished to prosper. was not to look
for what was convenient to themselves
but for what had been long ago decided
in natures chancery. From this creed. which
to many persons will appear essentially
illogical. chmerical. and msguding. GER
tain corollaries followed which constitute
the distinctive and strangely paradox
zeal elements Of Carlyle's teaching. He
| declared, for instance. that the rights OF
man. properly understood. meant the right Of
the wise to rule. and the right of the ignorant
to be ruled According to his friend,
Mr.. Froude. who softens. as far as pos
sible. the ugly aspects of the doctrine
the gospel Of force" whereof Carlyle made
himself the evangelist merely meant that when
man has visibly exercised any great powor
in this world it has been because he has truly
and faithfully seen into tho facts around him !;
seen them more accurately and interpreted
them more faithfully than his contemporaries.
He has become in himself, as it were, ono OF
natures forces. imperativcly insisting that
certain things must be done. Success may
blind him and then he nis-sees the facts and
comes TO ruin.
As We have said. the great architectonic
opinions of Curlyle-cal them his religion. his
philosophy. or what you wil-are not articu-
lately expressed in any Of his published writ
ings; and this exposition by Mr.. Froudc is the
first tolcraby successful attempt to give them
definite and coherent form. II the success i,
hut mediocre. it is probably because the
subject matter was capable OF nothing bet
tor The truth is that Carlyle was a
mighty man Of letters welding as one
Of his instruments an imagination per
hars moro powerful than any which has been
applied exclusively to prose composition. But
IA time moves ON, his pretensions to sway