21 MAY 1904, Page 21

The Coarsening of National Ideals. By John Watson, D.D. (Hodder

and Stoughton. 3d.)—Dr. Watson pursues a familiar method. He holds certain opinions on various social and political questions; and practically he says to those who differ from him : "You are coarsening a national ideal." Rs the South African War, for instance, he talks about "the lust of gold," and "inter- national criminals who ought to be in penal servitude, but who instead thereof are sitting in Parliament," and "shouting of the pot-house," and so forth. Surely there is another side to these questions. Where will Dr. Watson find his examples of a multi- tude that manifested its joy at victories with perfect sobriety and good taste? We find ourselves in agreement with much that Dr. Watson says; but we deprecate these one-sided judgments.