The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-29
On the Cucking Stool.

Mr.. CHARLES ELIOT NoRToN's speech n
AshGeld Inst week showed that he has
not gained in knowledge or temper since
his previous attack upon the United States
As he had no sympathy with the humane
enthusiasm that carried the country into
the war, 30 he looks with doubt or despair
upon the great and widening opportunity
and work which the war has brought to the
United States. 1t seems strange that the
imagination Of a man whose life has been
spent In the study OF the masterpieces OF
art and literature Is not touched by the
awakening OF a people to q sense OF the
splendor OF the part which they are called
upon to play in the world and by their re-
solve to spread freedom and commerce and
civilization In the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The contact and conflict Of Western and
Eastern civilization, the inevitable inter
play OF national character and institutions
In q world which steam and cables have
made 30 small, are lost upon Mr.. NORTON.
The shock OF battle between the Greeks and
the Persians and the growth OF the Greek
colonies interest and move him, but Of the
vaster contest of the East and West In his
own day and Of the inlperious national in
stinct of expansion ard commercial adven-
ture, the same In ytinct that compelled the
Greek to Massiiia or the sioEos of the
Euxine, he kno VS. nothing.
Mr.. NORTON has translated the New
Life" OF DANTE. He cannot read a line Of
the new life which is beginning fer the
United States. He is familiar with the ex-
ploits Of VAsCo "a CANA Is sung In the
"Lusiad." Yet when GEORGE DEWEY dis
covers the East Indies and adds a part Of
them to the United STATES, Mr.. NORTON not
only does not see the vIIlue and significance
of the achievement, but seems to lament It.
AS q poet and q friend Of poets and q stu
dent Of poetry, Mr.. NORTON ought to have
been able to appreciate the uplifting Of the
national imagination. Evidently he cannot
comprehend facts, but he should not have
been dull to a fine side Of national life.
Still, patriotism itself may be said to be the
poem Of a people, and Mr.. NORTON appears
70 look Upon American patriotism as mere
nysteria. We hate to have to accuse him Of
lacking something which Is much moro
important than patriotism to gentlemen Of
his fastidious isolation. He doesn't know
the best poetry when he sees it.
1t is proper to say in apology for this 40
SoiilIiAoiiOu PloiCooOl " biIO OIL vi LulDuuuSl-
standing his c~ountrymen that he has been
an intimate associate Of two distinguished
literary men who possessed-one Of whom
may still possess-a peculiar faculty for
Scolding and for being absurd In their excur-
sions from literature into politics or political
economy. We mean THOMAS CARLYLE and
JOHN RUsKN. From these instructors, and
especially from the p~essimistic and Shrek
ing author OF Shooting Niagara" Mr..
NORTON may have derived his incapacity to
believe that the world Is not going to the
devil. He must have had a p~redisposition
to M~ugwumpery, and he was exposed to the
contagion at a comparatively early age.
"The war;" said President ELIOT in his
address to the members of the American
Association for the Advancement Of Science,
" has enlarged the moral outlook Of our coun-
try" Unfortunately, it has narrowed the
moral outlook Of CHARLES ELIOT NORTON.