The Saint Paul globe., 1898-05-08

this needed recreation. Last year Ok
ford paid him the compliment-an un-
precedented one to a journaliSt-of con-
ferring upon him the degree of d. G. L.;
that of M. A. had been conferred by
Harvard in 1891. While abroad he talks
little of American problems and poll
tics, save to the initiated few who de-
sire some particular information. In
tellectual contact with economists, pol
iticians and men of letters, gives him
the change he needs, and sends him
home again keen to contend with thoso
whom he regards as the enemies of So
ciety. Every season, his intimates are
surprised afresh at the zest with which
he begins to roll the old stones up the
same old hills again, with fresh hope
of victory at last 1t is obvious to all
that he relishes the fray!
1 began by saying that Mr.. Godkin
could hardly have been classed
among authors so recently as three
years ago. In 1895 appeared reflections
and Comments" compiled from thirty
years contributions to The Nation.
Problems of Modern Democracy"
made up from the authors essays IN
the magazines, followed a year later;
and now comes Unforeseen Tendencies
of Democracy" consisting of recent
papers in the Atlantic. No one who
reads these volumes will wonder at the
impression the writer has made upon
the present generation of Americans.
There have been few reforms of ma
tional Importance accomplished in this
country since 1865, which have not been
either initiated or most effectively sup
ported. in one or both of the period
icals in which his mind has been the
dominant force.
Mr.. Godkin has brought to his profess
sional tasks a we'll prepared intellect,
kept in perfect training and constantly
nouriShed by a wide range of reading
The result is that his earlier writings
on the tariff and currency questions,
ballot reform, and the reform of the
civil service-to name but these-are as
timely and suggestive today as they
were when first written. The same is
true of his social essays and editorials
The variety Of subjects on which he
has addressed the public within the
past three and thirty years, is only less
remarkable than the vigor and cogency
with which he has handled them. His
writings for the magazines and re-
views have been done under the same
pressure for time that has attended his
daily editorial writing, Saturdays and
holidays being. in fact, the only hours
at his disposal Much work of this
kind he has been forced regretfully to
| decline, for this reason But he has
| done enough to make his name widely
known and his personality a subject f
popular interest, which might not, per-
haps, have been the case had he persist
ed in yelling his identity behind the ed
| itorial we In all this work he has
maintained the highest editorial level
In this generation, making a standard
that has been an inspiration to MANY a
man in his craft. His appearance as
an author may be said to have been
made tardily, despite the Hungarian
history, but not too late to enable him
to win an assured position among the
producers of permanently helpful books.
The portrait which accompanies this
article is regarded by Mr.. Godkin as
the best he has had taken. 1t shows
the face that an artist might have
painted, who had never seen the man.
but knew him through his works.