The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-08

his critical acuteness and ability of
analysis, was able to draw line that
was generally accepted as conclusive
as to what is to be considered great
in literature, and such expressions
when found in private letters give
even to Mr.Arnold's greatest admirers
an unpleasant revelation as to char
acter, and in general lessen the de-
gree of kindly interest in his own
creative work.
Another instance where posthum-
ously published letters have still
more notably revised general opinion
as to the character of the writer is to
be found in the recently published
"Life of Cardinal Manning, Arch
bishop of Westminster" by Edmund
Sheridan Purcell, member of the Ro-
man Academy of Letters. This life,
with the correspondence included,
leaves on the whole painful impress
sion of the famous cardinal whose
apostacy from the Anglican church
to that of Rome furnishes, with that
of Cardinal Newman, one of the most
interesting incidents in the religious
history of the passing century. Of
Cardinal Manning's ability and ambi-
tion the public never had a doubt;
but this life is painful revelation of
the way in which he used his great
qualities of mind to further his own
ecclesiastical advancement both while
yet connected with the Anglican
church, and after his conversion to
Rome. His double dealing during this
period was well characterized by Mr..
Gladstone few months ago when he
first learned of it, in these words: 81
wont say Manning was insincere; God
forbid! But he was not simple and
straightforward" 1t is to be feared
that to the majority of intelligent
readers of this life Mr.. Gladstone's
words will seem mild indeed. I'm
scrupulous ecclesiastical intrigue, a
readiness always to sacrifice anything
and everybody to forward his own in
terests, his duplicity and treachery
toward Newman whom he regarded
as rival, his assiduous efforts to
promote his standing at Rome, all
these things furnish painful revela-
tion of character and lack of disinter
estedness and noble aims, in strong
contrast to that of Cardinal Newman.
Judged by the result, his strenuous
and unwearied efforts to advance his
own interests were eminently success
full and practically his position was
that of Pope of English Catholicism,
the strong right hand of Plus TX,
without whose Jealous and strong
championship the doctrine of papal
infallibility in all probability would
not have been promulgated by the
Vatican Council. It is true that in
his latter years he welded great
personal influence and allied himself
with the cause of the laborers and
poor of London, and for this he
should always receive credit, despite
the conviction forced upon the reader
by perusal of this "Life" that in
whatever Cardinal Manning did dis
interestedness was never a striking
trait, and that he never attempted,
much less did, anything that would
in his opinion tend, however slightly,
to injure his own prospects of eccle-
siastical preferment and influence.
One would not care to affirm, as has
been done by writer of ability and
character, that "there is no record of
his ever having done a noble and
disintsrestei deed," or that "his whole
life was spent on the low level of self
seeking and intrigue" but one would
be at loss to answer such assertions,
at least, from the material furnished
in this "Life" of the distinguished
prelate,' written, evidently, by one
who was aiming to set forth char
acter which commanded his respect,
and especially his allegiance as
member of the Roman church.
CHICAGO, Feb. 8.