The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-05
AN IDOL OF THE FOOLISH.
LFrom the London Athenaeum.1

From the London Athenaeum.1
Such reputation as Nietzsche possessed
in this country is a growth only of the
last decade. A proposal was recently set
on foot to present the whole Of his writ
ings in an English dress, with all the
advantages that were likely to attach
to volumes of imposing exterior and an
apparatus of notes and introductions.
but although two or three volumes duly
made their appearance, further publica-
ton was stopped, apparently owing to
the lack of any considerab BILE interest
In the author, even among those who
might be expected to take with avidity
to anything new and strange. He was
the subject of few stray essays In mag
azines; his writings supplied material
to aspiring members of literary societies,
or formed the theme of lectures in clubs
and institutions anxious to be known as
advanced. His philosophy became for
moment at dinner parties fashionable
substitute for political or theological
scandal But of any serious or abiding
interest in him, any deep impression that
he had seen truth in new aspect. there
was little trace
Nor is there much real call for criti-
cism upon his achievements. If there is
any feeling that is appropriate, II is one
of pity that a man who possessed some
thing of the equipment of genius should
have gone so far astray and Jared
miserably. His wr1tings-in general so
harsh and chaotic, so full of conflicting
ideas. so vehement in tone. but flashing
out mere ana there IN luminous dDlOrlSfn,
or striking, as it were by accident, a note
of the deepest human sympathy-speak
for themselves. Possibly the subject
upon which he wrote best was art. With
a prOfounder insight than was displayed
in the definition OF IL as "a criticism Of
nfe," he proclaimed 1t as the great in
centive to life"
On music, too, he said some memorable
things. But the ideas and arguments
with which his name is chiefly associated
are to be found in other fields-in the
philosophy of ethics, in speculatiOns as
to the nature and constitution Of sOci-
ETY., or in the theory of religion. In this
wide domain it is not too much to say
that he was an anarchist. For him so
ciety and all it's sanctions were de-
vice Of the weak for mi tuai protection
against the strong, the invention of the
stupid as a means Of warding or the
assaults Of the wise. Civilization was
the greatest obstacle to progress and
Christianity the greatest blot on civili-
cation. The hopes Of the future lay
with the ''Uebermensch,' the man Of
force, nay, of violence, determined to
make his own personal will prevail, and,
irrespective Of others and regardless Of
their interests. to succeed in the "strug-
gle for life"
Nietzsches opponents appeal to what
they are pleased 70 call the doctrines OF
Darwinism in support OF these views,
and contend, in fact. that he is only
carrying those doctrines to their logical
conclusion. They appear to suppose
that because the fittest survive under
the free play Of the conditions in the
physical world the fittest in the ethical
and social world would also survive II
there. too. the play were free; to all
appearances perfectly unconscious Of the
faliacy involved in suppOsing that what
is Attest" in physics-which means only
what is best adapted to the environ