. . . Read Kant on state rights. According to him,
wars of conquest are allowable only in a state of nature, not in a state of
peace (which is not to be attained without a compact whose necessity is supreme
and whose obligations are sacred). So Napoleon's crusade against the
constituted authority of the European republic was without logical
justification, — which accounts for the speedy downfall of his empire. What he
accomplished had only the subjective justification of his genius and his
ambition. His work was of great indirect use in sweeping away certain barriers
of usage and of superstition. He drew a picture of government on a large scale
and thus set a pattern which inevitably enlarged the procedures of his
successors, who lost through him the prestige of divine right and of absolute
power. But the inadequacy of his object showed itself through the affluence of
his genius. The universal dominion of the Napoleon family was not to be desired
or endured by the civilized world at large. The tortoise in the end overtook
the hare, and slow, plodding Justice, with her loyal hack, distanced splendid
Ambition mounted on first-rate ability, once and forever. . . .
To Zion church, to hear —— preach. Text, “Son, remember
that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things.” Sermon as far removed
from it as possible, weak, sentimental, and illiterate. He left out the “d” in “receivedst,”
and committed other errors in pronunciation. But to sit with the two aunts1
in the old church, so familiar to my childhood, was touching and impressive.
Hither my father was careful to bring us. Imperfect as his doctrine now appears
to me, he looks down upon me from the height of a better life than mine, and
still appears to me as my superior.
A little nervous about my reading. Reached Mrs. [Richard]
Hunt's at twelve. Saw the sweet little boy. Mrs. Hunt very kind and cordial. At
one Mr. Hunt led me to the studio which I found well filled, my two aunts in
the front row, to my great surprise; Bancroft, too, quite near me. I shortened
the essay somewhat. It was well heard and received. Afterwards I read my poem
called “Philosophy,” and was urged to recite my “Battle Hymn,” which I did. I
was much gratified by the kind reception I met with and the sight of many
friends of my youth. A most pleasant lunch afterwards at Mrs. Hunt's, with Tweedys,
Tuckermans, and Laura.
I see no outlook before me. So many fields for activity, but
for passivity, which seems incumbent upon me, only uselessness, obscurity,
deterioration. Some effort I must make.
_______________
1 Mrs. Francis and Mrs. McAllister.
SOURCE: Laura E. Richards & Maud Howe Elliott, Julia
Ward Howe, 1819-1910, Large-Paper Edition, Volume 1, p. 229-31
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