New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-28
A Rebels Outburst
Nietzsche's Lifelong Antipathy to Christianity
Concentrated in 1.-THE Antichrist"
\RIEDRICH N1ETZsCHE is ono
II Of the most discussed and
most misunderstood philosoph-

\RIEDRICH NIETzSCHE is ono
II Of the most discussed and
most misunderstood philosoph-
ical thinkers Of all time. Pos
sessed Of an extraordinarily complex
and finely wrought intellect and Of =
remarkable faculty for literary express
sion, his work is characterized by the
double subtlety of the seer and Of the
poet. To understand him even meas
urably well is an achievement Of no
little distinction: 1t requires charity
and broad knowledge and freedom from
prejudice.
Unfortunately most Of Nletzsche's
critics have been neither charitable
nor learned, nor free from prejudice.
Unlike most philosophers, Nietzsche
had habit Of expressing provocative
ideas in a provocative manner. AS a
result his works have attracted great
deal of unintelligent praise and great
deal Of ignorant and malignant ami
madversion. One of the most wide
spread misconceptions about the trend
and significance of Nietzsche's thought
is amusingly illustrated by the follow
ing anecdote told by Mr.. H. L. Mencken
in his introduction to new edition Of
"The Antichrist" (Knopf);
The Monster, Nietzsky"
ION the strength Of the fact that l
had published book on Nietzsche in
1905, six years after his death. was
called upon by agents Of tho Depart
mont Of Justice, deliberately QUILTED
with badges, to meet the charge that
vas IN intimate associate and agent
II The German monster, Nietzsky.'
quote the official process verbal, an In
dignant but often misspelled. docu-
ment."
Probably most educated Americans,
unlike the Department Of Justice. know
that Nietzsche has been dead for some
twenty years and know how to spell
his name. But many people who ought
to know better still insist, perhaps for
the sake Of euphony, on grouping him
With the two conventional apostles of
Prussian militarism, Treitschke and
Bernhard. Now, 1t is doubtful whether
q man ever lived more devoid Of ma
tionalist feeling than Friedrich Metz
sche. Far from being proud Of his
German origin, he did his best. in
spite Of the genealogical records. to
provo himself Pole. He lived most
Of his life in Switzerland and Italy.
He never for q moment shared the de-
fusion that tho modern Germans were
a superior race, fitted to conquer and
dominate tho world. On the contrary,
his writings abound in bitter structures
against German stupidity, and he de-
German and French culture, much to
the disadvantage Of the former. His
infrequent references to his supposed
colleague, Treitschke, are couched in
anything but complimentary language.
From the viewpoint Of Anglo-Saxon
morality Nietzsche has enough sins to
answer for without loading him down
with an association with Prussian mill
tarism, which he would be the first to
repudiate.
Not Wholly Greek
Mr.. .Mencken describes Nietzsche as
"a Greek born two thousand years too
late" This Is true, but 1t Is not the
whole truth. The Greek element in
Nietzsche was very strong, and accounts
for his hearty contempt for such Chris
tfan doctrines as sin, redemption and
the publication Of the soul through
the modification Of the body Among
the civilized races of antiquity the
Greeks were perhaps the most intellect
ual, the least spiritual, the least in
clined to console themselves for the
misfortunes of this life by conjuring
up visions Of other worldly bliss.
But no Greek Of the fifth century
B. G. would have been likely to dis
play Nietzsche's fanatical intensity In
attacking religion. By a curious para
dox the philosophers long line Of pious
ancestors CHS forefathers for several
generations were Lutheran pastors)
may fairly be held responsible for his
most violent diatribes against Christi
anity. Take the sentences of wild de-.
nunciation that appear near the end of
"The Antichrist":
Il condemn Christianity; bring
against tho Christian Church tho most
terrible Of all the accusations that an
accuser has ever had in his mouth. It
49, to me, the greatest Of all imaginable
corruptions; it seeks to work the ulti-
mate corruption, the worst possible cor
ruption. The Christian Church has left
nothing untouched by its depravity: It
= has turned every value into worthless
ness. and every truth into lie. and
every integrity into baseness Of soul y
This Is not the language of a con-
vinced skeptic, but Of perverted
evangelist, turning the batteries of his
moral earnestness against something
which he believes to be false. DESPITE
all his expressed contempt for Chris
tian asceticism, Nietzsche, In his own
~ay. Is good deal of an ascetic him
self, st. Simon Stylites Of atheism.
He Is never more sincere, more impas-
stoned than when he is setting forth
the dangers and hardships Of the intel
lectual life. So, denouncinp faith "a an