New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-07
CENTS AND MORALITY.

The ancient question Of the amenablity OF So
called genius to the ordinary moral law energies
once more in the columns of THE National OBJ
server end British Review" Observing the
readiness of people TO gloat over the moral de-
linouencies of men of genius. the writer thinks
the fact arises from several reasons-such as
,be satisfaction men take in proof that their APP
,orent snpcriors are no better than themselves,
the pleasure others take in proclaiming them
selves free from the Obligations which rest upon
their fellows and the pleasure many take In
contemplating the paradox presented by men
who should be the best proving to be the worst
An these. he holds. are based upon the common
error of supposing that man OF genius Is
morally different from any one else.
With that view of the case there is no cause
TO quarrel 1t is well, indeed, TO emphasize IL
and to keep constantly in mind the fact that So
called genuses are aftel all men OF ike pas
sions with their humber fellows Some OF thelh
shockngy disregard the moral law, just as the
most unintellectual clod might do, ana they 90
so not because they are genitlses, nor IN spite OF
that fact, but because they are. apart from thelr
genius human beings in whom passion pre-
dominates over conscience or Will: Tor eAactl!
the same reason in brief, as their lowlier Dreth-
ron Some of them, on the other hand, strictly
observe the moral law, just as and for ex-
octlv the same reason as the simplest minded
and most unimaginative of commonplace NOR
tails The condemnation of the former and the
commendatjon of the latter are neither to be
losscped nor enhanced because of the fact OF
so-called genius Shakespeare and Hodge stand
IN exoctlv the same level Of accountability TO
the moral law.
II is curious to find, however. in the last para
graph of the article in question an attempt 10
explain If not actually to defend the ''immorhil-
ties Of the great man" on the ground that there
ore 1.-TWO moralities" One Of these consists IN
observance of the Ten Commandments the
other in the achievement of great pubic WORKS
The latter. argues the writer is the larger ana
the man who practiscs it may naturally disre
gard the former. That is an amazing state
mcnt. Literally applied. it would mean that
the man who makes good laws is, entitled 10 DC
personally pro6igate; that the emancipator OF
his fellows from slavery may properly DE
thief: that a great scientific dscoverer may not
nnnaturally be q murderer. No notion could
no more mischevOus and none more untrue III
practce What is 10 be seen with increasing
clearness is that the bad man is not, as n RUE
a good statesman. and that he who Is raise III
priyate and personal relations is not true III
publjc affairs. There are exceptions but the
rule holds good The man who Is unjust 10
the one neighbor who is nearest TO MN Is not
AM TO be lust TO the multitude VINO are lur'
Their away Duties TO humanity are potent anu
the right performance Of them is commemorate.
But each individual is in himself and IN his I'M
mediatc environment microcosm OF the race,
oud 10 no he false to il be Is not likely 10 De
faithful to the whole.