New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-27
LITERARY NOTES.

While Mrs. Toynbee is bringing out her monu-
mental edition OF walpole selection from the
immortal Letters IS being made with view 10
publication IN popular form. Mr.. c. B. Lucas
has the enterprise IN hand, and his volume VIII
be published in the Newnes Thin Paper Series
circulated in this country by the Scribners. We
could not ask for better news. Why, we wonder,
has pocket edition OF Walpole never been
thought OF before?
There have been few sales at the exhibition OF
the International Society in London This fact
has led some one TO send to The Morning Post"
a story which we reproduce IN this column for
the reason that * has moral for the author as
well as FOR the painter. The story runs as
follows:
a very distinguished impreessionist artist vas
picked Up by successful popular painter and taken
fnto his carriage. Said ne: ''Can you explain. why
;n mis- grand carriage while ! am almost starving
The popular artist pointed out Of the window TO a
lectual enough buy clever pictures like those OF
t.e ,ty Wen re3oined the popular man the
clever buy from you; all the rest come to me-
Under the title Of The Republican Party: A
History Of Its Fifty Years Existence and
Record Of It's Measures and Leaders" Mr. Fran
els Curtis has published through G. P. Putnam's
Sons two stout volumes Of great timeliness
and interest They traverse the development
OF the party in abundant detail. the authors
systematic narrative being expanded as
TO include an immense amount Of documentary
material He has endeavored TO preserve an
attitude OF strict impartiality. and points out
that those who may look IN his book for
the usual campaign document Will be dis
appointed They VIII find instead he says
"a work Of reference, and it is hoped OF per
rnanency. The publication comes on the eve Of
Hath
anniversary Of the partys birth is coincident
with this" President Roosevelt writes a brief
forezvord for the book, Senator Frye contributes
three more Introductory pages, and another short
preface is supplied by Speaker Cannon. por-
trait Of Lincoln serves as frontispiece to the
first volume and one Of President Roosevelt is
given in the second. There are innumerable
points in AIr. Curtis's book on which it is tempt
ing 10 dwell from the passing Of the famous res
oluticn at Jackson. Mich, in 1854, which is
dealt with in the opening chapters to the history
Of the Republican elephant, given at the close
Of the second volume. but We must content our
selves for the present with this fragment OF
President Roosevelts forewOrd:
In its essentials human life does not change; or.
least. the change Is very slow N me SuccesslNe
natl4iaI ulSs, slea' ale ~ a., hsIf a century
ago. when the Republican party began ITS career
the same qualities have inevitably been displayed-
the qualities of strength and weakness, OF WISDOM
Rnc folly. Of evil and good. and IN each OF these
crises we have done well or ill., about in proportion
have shown the qualities which made Us 90
well ill IN the others The problems shllt from
generation 10 generation. but. after al, IN each
case the danger IS due fundamentally the same
only by the exercise Of wisdom and courage, en-
ergy and hRhmindedness. This is the reason why
the history of the Republican party IN the past IS
not merely Of abiding interest 10 the student, but
IS OF present Importance to every man VINO seeks
sn practical fashion actually TO apply the principles
of civic righteousness.
II IS Of course the merest truism 70 say that a
party is OF only so far as 81 serves the nation
and that he his party best who serves the
nation best In 1856 and in 1850. the party was OF
use because Il stood against the extension OF
as well as against the destruction of this Union:
sn 1865 because il stood against those who wished
TO undo the results Of the war. These are now
dead issues but learn how 10 face the live
ISSUES Of the present by studying in good faith
how men faced these dead issues OF the past We
enuSt with wisdom else our adherence 10
right viii he mere sound ana fury. without sub
stance. and act hghmindedy or else
our wisdom viii in the long prove 70 be but
policy must be such viii secure material pros
peritv TO the nation: for exactly as man cannot
% a good citizen unless by his work he Is able TO
kpep himself and those dependent upon him from
want "A nation count for little until II mas
the power which is based on physical weUbeing.
Ne: ii is an eNl thing for the nation. as Tor the
Individual Il material WellhcinC Is accepted In
itself all sufficient: such wellheinE Is worthless
save rs a foundation which TO build the higher
life ID a good thing Tor the nation as for the