New-York tribune., 1896-11-18

the word "casuistry" be ignored Butler was the
greatest casust that Professionalism has ever
given to the world. His system was stricter
perhaps than even the Jansenism OF the Gailic
Church. but 1t was broad enough 10 give stand
ing-room TO the most astute OF politicians In the
person Of Mr.. Gladstone. Now. cases OF con-
scence-tO the technical phrase-are IN
numera bic in politics Lord Bacon spoke OF poll
tics as the science most deeply immersed In
matter: and Mr. Gladstone, out of greater ex-
perience than Bacon's. defines this to mean that
it is the branch Of knowledge In which 1t Is
hardest to sever the true idea from environ
ments not properly belonging TO II so as to Dring
it "as near to the truth our weakness. our
passions and the urgency OF circumstances VIII
allow" Thus this branch Of knowledge dis-
plays to the utmost all that uncertainty when
Butler found in every department Of human
activity. Nowhere else can IL be said with more
force that indeed. the unsatisfactory nature OF
the evidence with which we are obliged TO take
up in the daily course of life is scarce to be ex-
pressed" Here least of all, can men await eb-
solute certainty before they act. They VIII act
upon such evidence as they have. Probability
must be their guide; If they exaggerate H. woe
to them. Such seems to be Mr.. Gladstone's view
Of politics. He is a past master In the craft ana
it is as expert that he praises Butter not
merely as the philosopher OF belief, but as the
philosopher of life. who at first sight seems to
be dealing with the sceptc, and is really deallno
with us all. 1t would be possible with these con-
sideratons in mind to test Gladstone's practce
at importan: turns in his career by the theory
Of life which he lere draws from Butler ana II
would be task worthy of a mind as subtle as
De Quincey's to solve some Of the problems he
leaves to the world with the key which he has
furnished
In applying Buffers Science Of the Indeter-
inmate" to political life in way which Butler
himself hardly contemplated. Mr. Gladstone is
conscious that he encounters new perils lie
has to concede that there are times when man
is in duty bound to act against probabilities.
but aside from that he that without rigid
watchfuness, the doctrine Of probabilities, as
he applies it, suggests the probabilism and the
probabiliorism of the Latin Churchmen. Both
of these are in his opinion fatal to the correct
idea of duty. In the practical affairs or life' IL
is only the comparatively few things that are
Immediately distinguishable as either right or
wrong AS to the rest, the evidence for ana
against may be weighed AS Mr.. Gladstone
represents the views of the Latin Church, 1t Is
possible for one in doubt to choose. not the
course indicated by the greater mass of proba-
bty, but that for which the probabilities are
less. Against this opinion he protests strenu-
ously. and he interprets the meaning of Bishop
Butler to be that the smallest real and clear
excess Of presumption on the one side over the
presumptions the other side, determines the
reason in matters Of speculation and absolutely
binds conduct in matters Of practice.
When comes to these refnemcnts, one Is
relieved by the fact that with most men. par
ticularly in politics. enthusiasm so largely re-
places colder thinking. The casuists leave no
room for human instincts in these matters but
fortunately the instincts find place for them
selves Taken altogether the essays In this
volume will be found more useful for the study
OF Mr. Gladstone's characteristics as a thinker
Butler