The New York herald., 1868-05-21
BOOK NOTICE.

GRANT AS A SOLDIER AND A STATESMAN: BEING A
sUccINcr HISTORY OF HIS MILITARY AND CIVIL
CAREER BY Edward Rowland. Hartford. !' b.
Burr Il Co.
This bulky and well printed volume of $50 pages is
after all, but campaign document" although writ
ten In more scholarly and thoughtful manner than
most OF such documents. The history Of Grants mill
tary and civil career is succincty and clearly pre-
sented without, however, adding much to the stock
OF knowledge the subject contributed by numerous
other authors who have recently attempted the life"
OF the hero who led armies victory in the great
struggle that saved the nation. What Is chiefly
peculiar and praiseworthy in Mr.. Howland's
book Is the thorough American spirit, en-
lightened by philosophical view OF the "de-
mocratc idea" in which 1t is written. We regret
that effectively as General Grant entitled himself
TO be euogized OF the foremost soldiers Of the
age, he has not yet by any means justified the high
claims set up for him by his admirers statesman.
Mr. Rowland is doubtless sincere In his conviction
that 'the persistent sefreaince, the singleness Of
purpose, the fertility Of resources the application OF
common sense to action which characterized General
Grant during the war;" are now needed to organize
In every interest OF life the principles Of freedom
which the war vindlcated and which form the basis
OF our nationality To show his fitness to direct the
energies Of this country towards the further spread
Of the democratic idea is the purpose for which this
book is written" But we cannot assent to what
seems to Mr.. Rowland to be "the almost universal
opinion" that General Grant is the nttest man
among us TO express In action the spirit Of the nine
teenth century here In the United States" Much
better than Mr. Howlands exaggerated estimate Of
the intellectual calibre OF his hero we like bis de-
scripton Of the democratic idea Of which he deems
General Grant to be the latest and best expression
And az this description offers fair specimen Of the
spirit and style OF his work, we will conclude this
notice with the following extract:-
The democratic idea which was the elimination
OF the great eighteenth century, and which is des.
tined To change all our social relations, ~ here in
this country, OF oil the world, 10 has substituted
representative government for the monarchtca sys.
tenn which Europe inherited from the barbarian OF
the feudA ages--the democratic idea leads 70 the
unity OF mankind. In political economy It's cumina-
ton is the harmony OF nterests In industry leads
TO the abolition OF all mon0polies the freedom ol
labor, the cultivation Of the productive arts and their
union with science. In government II leads 10 peace
instead OF war, and In modern Europe, despite the
interests, We see m effects In united Italy, united
Germany, and In the growing impstience OF public
opinion with the narrowness OF national prejudces
In social life leads N the freedom Of the Individual
guaranteed by the law, which In the expression OF
the public interest as best understood by the COM
unity and a. We see In our own times, has changed
the whole tone Of criminal legislation, has e1a,ci-
pated class afer class from their legal disabilito
and proved thai the strength the wealth, the happ
ness and the intelligence OF n nation are In direct
proportion 70 the freedom enjoyed by Its POPULATION