THE COMPLETE NIETZSCHR*
WE desire to congratulate Dr. Oscar Levy and his colleagues on the completion of this monumental undertaking, a com- plete English translation of all Nietzsche's works ; for, little though we are in sympathy with that philosopher, we are glad, in the interests of free inquiry, to see his works in so admirable a form. The last volume contains an index com- piled with meticulous care, as well as an index of foreign quotations, and Dr. Levy provides what he calls a "Retrospect, a Confession, and a Prospect." He tells the tale of the difficul- ties of his enterprise, and then he explains why, in his opinion, if Nietzsche's influence is to endure, it is in England that it must make headway. On the Continent, he says, the lower-middle and lower classes are largely atheistical, while the aristocracy call themselves Christians and defend their privileges in the name of Christ. In England, on the contrary, the most truly Christian public is to be found among the lower-middle and lower classes, " while the upper classes are much more permeated by the non-Christian spirit—by the spirit of a Voltaire and a Gibbon." England therefore forms a promising field for Nietzschean thought, for only here "can it still be seen that Nietzsche was right in describing Christianity as the religion of the lower classes." Moreover, England is the most Protestant of countries, and it is the Protestant ideas of equality, liberty, and charity which Nietzsche especially wars against. Lastly, England is in matters of the intellect a real brick wall :— " In saying this, I, of course, in no way desire to utter any specially adverse criticism—on the contrary, I rather advise this characteristic in an otherwise unprincipled world, which too often pretends to be tolerant of all ideas, because it has no original ideas of its own. Such open-minded people are the last for whom Nietzsche wrote, and the early active acceptance of Nietzsche by just such people was and is still our greatest danger—a much greater danger than the passive resistance of that fatal brick walL No, if I am to have any choice in the matter, let me deal with the British brick wall; at least it is no yielding softness, at least there is firmness in that stupidity, and once it is conquered you can with certainty rely and build upon a brick wall."
The quotation illustrates Dr. Levy's fighting spirit, and if we find his compliments a little dubious, we can do justice to the perseverance and courage with which he has carried out his purpose.
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