The Dominion. MONDAY. JUNE 24, 1912. THE SPIRIT OF TOLERATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1474, 24 June 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY. JUNE 24, 1912. THE SPIRIT OF TOLERATION.

Alongside the bitter feelings and deep-seated animosities which largely characterise political life, for example, in New Zealand, there is apparent in nearly every otnar phase of present-day activities a healthy and promising spirit of toleration. To be exact, that spirit, we should say, is conspicuous mainly in the regions of tho intellect. Religious feuds, rife even fifty years ago, are to-day, in English-speaking countries, practically non-existent. _ Differences there are in religious ideals and in the forms of the sanctuary; but the clay has passed, probably for ever, when persecution can bo the policy of any majority. Tho recent amalgamation of two great ecclesiastical bodies in Scotland was the outcome of toleration, just as is the present proposal for the union of the United Free and the Established Churches of Scotland. __ Scotland since the days of John Knox huo been punctilious to an almost extreme degree with regard alike to Church government and forms of worship, and the recent and the present movement in that country speak of a vast shedding of the old narrow and somewhat intolerant conceptions held concerning religion. In the Church of England also there is appearing something like a new vitality, along with a concentration of fresh forces which threaten many boundaries fixed in former, less tolerant, sterner years. Literature, too, fully displays the milder manners now prevailing. Rarely is a really harsh or cruel criticism met with in the pages of the higher class of journals and reviews. The desire to "slate" unfortunate authors is less keen than formerly. • It is questionable if the public greatly enjoy the spectacle of authors belabouring one another in print. While the public is more tolerant, it is also far better informed generally than it was when Macau lay subjected Southey's Colloquies on Montgomery's Poems to merciless analyses. Jlacaulay's critical essays are classics, and can be read now with probably greater zest than they were when first published eighty years ago. But Macaulay has gone; also many of his methods. Instead of elaborate criticisms meant to kill, the truth seems now to be more clearly recognised that even literary infusoria possess certain functions, and are subject to the inexorable laws of nature.

By tho chief newspapers of the present time—whose duty it is to observe tile various phases of public life—loftier, more reasonable, more tolerant views are held and fittingly expressed. Here and there, however, immature writers, taking their cue from their political mentors, return unconsciously to the swaggering, incongruous style of a past age. British journalism has gained much, and may still learn many things, from the best type of French newspapers. Many .years ago, when the change to which we are alluding wan less apparent than it is at (he present time George Meredith, a master in the use of English language, spoke to an interviewer of the superiority in this respect of Frcnch journalism. "The literary side of French journalists, with its peculiar, delicate irony,'"' it was remarked, "appeals to Meredith much more than the less urbane and more bludgeon-like methods of their English confrcrrs/' Loud MoiuEYj at the concluding meeting of the Press Conference, it may be recalled, stated that in his day the improvement, in all vespcctc, i in British journalism bad been.

onormqus. Tliorc had never ber-n so critical power and knowledge Us could, tijt'-n be found in half a dozen quarters in English journalism. Authors dl books, he added, were never more favourably .placed. Touching the latter-nwiii.icned eii : ' cunisiance, writers oi book's, iiiay well rcjoico over the c.h'ango iir. the critic's tone and language. Take by way of example. Oin-'ORn's review of Hazi.itt : s EinyUsk. J'och- in the Quarterly Revew. The work Gu'I'OHD wrote, : was "abject; the inspiration venal; the . matter the very dirt of the' rnind." Hazlitt replied, with his Li'iJ.cr t.o William Gifjord, which opens in this engaging man' ner: "Mr.. Giff.ord. was originally bred to some handicraft: he. afterwards contrived to learn Latin, and was for some time, an usher in a school, till he became, a tutor in a nobleman's .falraily-',. The low-bred self-taught man, the pedant, an j. I.he dependent on the great, contribute to form the editor of the Quarterly Review."' . Fortunately, now, autre temps, autre $ mocurs.

In an age which witnesses this dying out :bf.' social, fc.ligi'pus; and literary jealousies aiul hatreds, the persistence of animosity and distrust in the sphere ;pr : polifiics; intisi tp niiiny appear as .discoricefting ; as it: is- inexplicable.; -Mn. H.!L>ur,i; l-nrxoo would,' by means somewhat obscure, abolish the party systenv In it, he belie ."es resides som.e fell disease. MACAinA- - held a diftorcnt opinion and provi'j cd a satisfactory reason. .. When the English Parliament met -for the second time: in lt'l.l-, appeared for. the first time, the two great parties which have alternately governed t!s country. "In one sense," says the great historian, "the distinction which then became obvious had always existedj. and always must exist.. For it hashfs origin in diversities of temper, of understanding, and of 'found in all sP: ; cieties, and. v.-hich will li,- found till the humari?'mincr , :'ceas.es. to.- be drawn in opposite, directions by the charm of habit and. by the charm of novelty." Biifc political distinction need not necessarily imply .political... His--trust. For -.this; distrust—a relative term—not the party system, but the iliniScriviare chiefly responsible. 'A Jliiiistry that is.effete, that lacks. .ca.nd.aur, .that is. guiity of misrepresenta'tipiif cannot expect to ba treated with tok-r.utiqa. Laodicean hik'e.war.'mness _ .too :fr.eq'u'ently inav mean but. an idle acfiuiescunec in political evils and political corruption; I.et .ill nienmers of Governments i)e 'ccrupulous in their actions, honest, and honourable, in th nr aims, veracious, and thflrpfora:- reliable, iii their,Jspe'ech,-- atfd: ;tjiey. iyill be l.reafced;*bystJi(y¥'.Tii l a , jß , : 'inwith respect and in a wide, spirit r A. toloratipri\.. "Tolerance." .says Loin) Mohmy/iii, hit; lifr. of Glcidslnnr, "nieans for all the post'ibilities ot. .Truth; ' it means: acknowledgmentvtiiat:,slie- dwells in. (liyerse vesfciife of niany colour,'-, ' and sneak:; in strange tongues," "iHit tblerasirie is not a shii tting;.o£;; tlic?. ?ej s e.s-tfb. 'paiAtyvcliTca and silnnee.whe.il confrontou -with ii : mean andtdegi'.'Klcd form or politiopportiimsirii .. ■.thc.re is impossible^:-thafc is> :i.t tlie whole body politic is. to esdVp.e:;c6iit'firn'iniition and death. . But evil, even in polities, sui'^ivr'o:.,'Po'l.itica. will ba elevated 'ami' purified, ami/by an over-1 earr,.ing p_eop le. "The tlioughis of men '.witli the. process of the, f.ins." ' ,