New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-23
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Holm MORLEN'S ESSAYS.

IN ,Lo forms cf literary expression. The rapid /
Growth in importance of periodical literature ana
cspccallv the establishment OF the practice OF
discussing in reviews and magazines topics "hch
were formerly left to the more lelSurcly' carei'l
aad ,bo,onch treatment of books has tcndcd 10
crcouragc the preservation in booE-form OF many
writings the occasion and intent Of which We're
oliLo onhcmeral That the papers originally ap-
,o,ring in the old Quarcllics should subsequently
10 collected and published in a more permanent
form was quite natural and justiiiabc, since N
1hoec cases the extent and often the weight OF the
articles gave them the chief characteristics OF
IRE literature. But no such limits are rrcoS-
uizcd TODAY, as Nj MOrlcy's new volume very
clearly shows for here find. together with |
some real studies in literature which certainly
merit rescue from the oblivion OF unrcciahne"
reviews various articles on matters OF passing
political conccrnmcnt, lacking in the elements
Of vitality that even to-day some OF thcm nav
lost their connection with active life. All the
papcrs in the volume have been pnDllshed DE-
fore. ond not all of them deserve 10 be published
again, even trough they are me WORK Vi '''
interesting writer.
But there is another consideration growing oCt
Of this collection which obtyu1es itself per-
sistentlv In one Of his essays here reproduce
Mr. Morley expresses doubt whether engage
roent in active politics is not detrimental
10 literary expression. He says: Il have s'idNcu
from literature into the region OF politics "h"
am not at all sure that such journey cohu"ooS -
the aptness Of ones judgments on literary sun
iccts. or adds much TO the force OF one ar3u-
ments on behalf Of literary study. lie procecuS
10 give reason for this doubt Politics. hc
observes ARE field where action is one long
sccond-best and where the choice constantly HcS
between two blunders. Nothing can be more un-
DIN in n
than are literature and politics. Now. we THINK
that some of the articles in this volume cNemph'N
and illustrate Mr. Morleys words Just quoted III
quite an impressive way. The volume opens WIN
q paper on Wordsworth. IT is the adnIraDlc CRU
cism which was written for the recent slngle-Nol-
80 odition of Wordsworths Complete Poems. In
this tho man of letters is seen at his best. Ills
Judgment is discriminating, his taste Is Inc anu
delicate his views broad. his dlc'loh Is III
once supple and strong. Pass on To tAe paper
e,,1lod Maine OH Popular Government Here
politics enters, and there Is a marked chahgc III
the manner. but not change for the better.
Controversy over political dogmas and doctrines
has apparently lowered the writer's standards
generally. The aim is no longer to express thc
truth only 70 estimate the value of thoughts, To
noint out the beauties OF fine verse il is 10 Obtain
n dialectical advantage over an adversary III
nursuinr this aim qualities displayed which !
challenge admiration. Wit, adroltneSs OF torcc'
force of rcpartee hold the attention OF the reader
II is all very bright and lively and clever, IN
short: but it is on distinctly lower level than
the paper upon Wordsworth.
4 brilliant article is A Few Words French
Models" in which Mr. Morley defends hlnseu
AGAINST the imputaton of Jacobnism, and very
handsomely turns the laugh upon his accuNcrs
the wildness of whose suggestions renders them
;o,I,. Ia nevertheless
feels that after all Mr. Morley has not quite met
the charges: that while the line of his defence
would certainly be accepted in House Of Com
mons debate there is another tribunal, ana one
more appropriate TO a man 81 letters, Ii "ih'H
some at least of his pleas might be dlSalIowea'
When "a man has once accustomed himself TO
kind of action where every step Involves a cholce
between two blundcrs,' it is perhaps lnevl'anlc
that his ethical perceptions should become
little bluntcd Once established a habit Of dealing
in halttruths and the treatment of whole truths
is ant to he found difficult Nr. Morley IS al
ways ingenious and dcAterous; but III his semi
nolitical writings we fear il must he said that
lie is not always and altogether ingenious. Even
the cst-balanCed mind admits certain element
of rancor perhaps when it enters into polItlcal
controversy. lust as the most religious minds
notoriously impcril their equilibrium by entering
into theological controversy. 1t would not he far
q that the WRITINGS oil Mt. JOnn NoIlcS "hl'h
exhibit the bias referred 10 are undescrving of
presentations hut the effect of putting them side
bv side with those other writings which are purely
literary is To illustrate, has been said in quite
n striking way. Mr.. Morlcy's expression of
doubt as to the reaction of politics upon literature
The papers in this collection, as already IN
timatcd, arc OF various qualities and degrees OF
interest The review Of Victor IIugo's Ninety
Three" seems rather out Of date at this distance
Of time. but will he welcomed by such en-
1huSiastic admirers OF the French author. Another
very appreciative criticism is that on The King
and the Book" which should satisfy all rational
believers in the genius of Browning, though 1t
may fall short of the expectations of the I'M
cosonabc adorcrs of the poet. The next review.
namely, that of the Life Of Macvey Napier, long
editor of the Edinburgh Review" offers pecu-
larly interesting points, from the circumstance
that the reviewer in this case writes from the
point of view of experimental knowledge, he HIM
self having been editor Of the "FOrtnlghtIy Re
view during fifteen years The most important
Of his observations have reference To the effect
upon periodical literature of the recent practice
OF signing articles. Experience has evidently modl-
fed Mr. Morlcy's views upon this innovation, and
lc does not appear to bc by any means certain
chat the change is destined to have the conse-
ouences so confidently predicted by its advocates.
On the whole, he says experience perhaps leads
10 doubt whether the gains of the system of
signature are very considerable as some Of US
once expected" And again he observes " There
is inonstrous charlatanry about the old editorial
We but perhaps there are some tOicraby obvious
openings for charlatanry Of IA different kind under
our own system. The man who writes in his
own name may sometimes be tempted TO say what
he knows he is expected from his position or
character 10 say, rather than what he would have
said il his personality were not concerned. AS
far as honesty goes. signature perhaps offers as
many Inducements 10 one kind Of insincerity as
anonymity offers to another kind. And on the