The sun., 1895-04-07

Abouinable CoterIe VIII ne Arrested
and Sent to Prison-wiide and His
Friend Taylor Committed for Trial
without Baii-wiide Much Depressed
After n Nights Confinement In n Cell.
Special Gable Dcspatch TO THE Sun.
LONDON, April 6--Most observers OF English
character would have declared 1t impossible to
arouse the phlegmatc conscience and emotions
of the nation to such pitch of intensity as is
to-day manifesting itself in all classes. The
horror. the loathing the anger which the reve-
lations in connection with the Wilde-Queens-
berry case have caused can be compared only
with one OF those whirlwinds Of passion which
once in few decades suddenly sweep over
nation and by their very violence restore conf
dence in human nature Not until to-day, APP
parently. has the country realized that moral
pestilence In the atmosphere has long been
doing deadly work.
Already there are signs that the popular re-
vengc and reform will be indiscriminating and
urreasoning In their work. The finger OF sus-
pcion Is already carrying condemnation wher-
ever 1t is pointed. Many will suffer fearful So
cial penalties who are absolutely innocent: but
the general effect of the great onslaught Of pub
lie opinion which has now begun will be salutary
and for the purifying Of the nation.
The best sign of all is that Englishmen are
ashamed. 1t 10 the first time have ever seen
the manifestation Of this emotion among them.
They feel that deep. black, national disgrace
has been uncovered. and the feeling is the more
poignant because new to them Their anger
against the human reptiles who have brought
this shame upon them is irdescribable. 1t not
only demands the swiftest and severest punish
ment. but It has been instantly turned against
every nrt. every fad, every innovation with
.A~l l,r,-, hAAr
identified. To-day's newspapers are unanimous,
for instance. in pronounclng the doom OF
esthetcism and everything connected with that
cult. Thus the Telegraph correctly voices public
opinion when 1t says:
If the general concern wero only with the
man himself, his spurious brilliancy, inflated
sgotism. diseased vanity, cultivated affectation.
and shameless disavowal of all morality, the
best thing would be to dismiss him and his
deeds without . word to the penalty Of universal
condemnation. But there is more than the in
dividual himself to bo considered in the matter
The just verdict of yesterday must be held to
include with him tho tendency Of his peculiar
career. the meaning and influence of his teach
ing, and all those shallow and specious arts by
which he and his like have attempted to estab-
lish n cult and even to set up new schools of
literature the drama. and social thought.
ITO the fantastic beginnings of the new school
of ethical literary principle no particular OBJ
jections could be urged Nevertheless. these
men. linking certain real sense Of beauty with
profigate tastes and profane mockery, have ex-
ercised visible influence upon the generation
cursed by their presence. You may trace them
to-day, We are ashamed to declare. in the out
lying regions Of the press, where certain class
of publications strives to exist which has for its
ipsniration the salncious impulse to 90 perpetu
.lIv "a close az can he to In. limits OF public do
corum and to show its smartnSss by irreyer
.ncr veiled indelicacy md IA far n. IL
dares- by violation of the sacredness of
private life The trail of this fetid fashion has
penetrated to our theatres The shame and dis
orace of IT. have invaded art md we are asked
IN admire nowadays specimena from the i'm
pressionist and feshly galleries which are OF
true and serious art merely q burlesaue and
mockery II has passed with heavy damage to
good taste and rightful amusement into the do
main of fiction. SO that we see novel after novel
aspire to o moments popularity mainly on the
grounds of prurient sexuality or of ignorant
disbelief"
The Chronicle recognizes, the wide extent of
the evil and saws: For long time mast London
life mr. let us saw a small and obscure section of
#. has been under the shadow or a blacl: cloud
Everybody has suspected and feared; nobody,
no decent person. has known that there was some
centre whence most deadly infection spread.
It was apparent in certain class of
literature. Now a Jury has declared that
even n man of upattractiye character has
done a public benefit in branding one of the
most prominent figures in our drama. our litera-
ture and by no means an unfashionable section
of society. Suffice It to know that, as some re-
turn for the undamming of the putrid stream.
our life is rid forever of q pestiferous poseur
The WAY has been cleared for the increased
vholesomeness of life. Public opinion has been
30 sharply screwed up in the past two days
that certain things in current art and literature,
no less than in conduct, will be intolerable for
Mt least long time to come"
Regarding the measures which society, now
thoroughly aroused and exasperated. will en-
nlov for dealing with tho evil it may be said
that the Government has wisely decided upon
sharp. rapid, and severe action. Evidence has
accumulated in the last few days ample for the
condemnation of several leaders OF the abomina-
Bile coterie which has its ramifcatons through.
out Europe They will be arrested. and, in Now
York police parlance railroaded as fast AS posi-
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