New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BRYANTS POPULAR HISTORY OF THE |
tfNITEn STATES


the serial History of the United States extends from
The epoch of tho Pequot war in New-England 1880
10 the French and Spanish explorations in the rst
half of the eighteenth century, an interval OF more
than a hundred years. Among the topics COM
prised within this space of time are the settlements
on Connecticut River and in Connecticut, the WORK
of Roger Williams in the colonization OF Rhode
Island the history of New Netherand under Peter
Stuyvesant, Qdakerism in New-England and Penn
sylvania, Virginia and Maryland under the Com
monweath, the settlement of the Carohnas' the
Salem Witchcraft, the French in the Mississippi
Valley, and other points of supreme interest IN
the progress Of the North American COLO
MES TO the freedom and dignity of indie
pendent states. Although adapted to wide eircu-
lation among the people of this country, the work
is by no means to be regarded in the light of a
merely popular narrative There are no traces In
the composition of its having been written with
view to effect. While the picturesque incidents In
the scene are brought into due prominence, there Is
no sacrifice of historical verify by an excess OF col
oring or an artistic refinement in the lines OF per
spectve The freedom and facility of the narrative
evinces the soldity of its foundation Evidently no
labor has been spared in the investigation of facts ;
even the best preserved traditions have not been
taken for granted; the fresh light which has been
cast by modern research conflicting evidence has
been sought, considered, and utilized but the
writers have not been content with the bare recital
of the story and have searched for the significance
of facts in the depths beneath the surface
The character of the Puritans naturally presents
n theme for elaborate consideration. In treating
this subject the writer makes no attempt to conceal
his want of sympathy with the cardinal traits Of
the settlers of New-England Indeed he often seems
tempted to 90 out of his way for an occasional fling
no httt
Puritans cannot complain that he is ever blind to
their faults OF overland to their virtues Thus
Captain John Underhill, the famous Massachusetts
swashbuekler in the early days is spoken of with
perhaps super1uous JUNCTION, ga braggart, bigot
a hbertlne, little given to shame or scruple
of any other Sort" than that relating to his
"soldiery reputation" Governor John Endi-
colt of Salem. the commander OF the
expedition against the Indians Of Block
Island, is described as that preoipitate and hot
headed Puritan, most of whose acts were reckless
and precipitate y while the Purtans as body, with
the exception of Roger Williams, taken severely
to task for their practical violation of their theory
of freedom of thought and liberty of conscience.
In their prosecution of heTesy they were narrow
minded to the last degree of absurdity. Still, 1T is
admitted by the authOr that they were not the less
sincere because they were intOlerant. BigOtry,
however cruel is not necessarily dishonest, and the
Puritan bgots were doubtless for the most part up
right and conscientious. Z" If the weakness of pas
sion sometimes blunted the finer sense of justice,
this is only to say that these were human-that
great suffering had not taught them perfect charity"
No faith could be more profOund-none indeed more
logical II resting q foundation-than that OF
these Boston Purtans in their own righteousness They
believed that tue Almighty Power which created and
governed the universe unseen elsewhere ard OF other
men, manifested itself visby and Enthusiastically for their
in haiti Of their
1t was perhaps only the elect few who recognized In all
its marvellous majesty this impendeney OF the Divine
presence; TO common people yet subject 10 temptation
and liable 10 SIM God may have seemed as He does al
ways to Ordinary mortas Aaron but 20 Ihose VINO ua
tested in Incidents at might otherwise seem trivial OF
ing and exercised over their existence an irresistible
nnd commanding influence. Life must needs have been
b very stern and sOmbre thing to men who believed
themselves to be standing face to face with God to have
entered into his oOunses TO be joined with Hun III The
same work. to be justified in all they did by constant
mens of His displeasure. They felt quite as intensely
and devOuty generally feel that the VIII and the
law of the nnte Creator governed everywhere and al
ways-omniscent in universe without bounds; omni-
present In an eternity without beginning and without
end But 10 them there a OF personal Divine
presence which had another and even more overw helm
Ing meaning God himself was always and personally III
Boston.
The the Indians at the time of the Pu-
ritan INVASION as presented in this volume exhibits
q striking contrast to the poetcal halo with which
" the wild man of the woods" is often surrounded
by imaginative writers. As here described, the ma
tive Indian, who proved such formidable enemy
TO the colOnists, was beast of prey, with some
powers of reflection and the gift of speech A will
derness was necessary to his existence. War was
his pastime; the chase his only serious occupation
His sense Of sight and of hearing sharpened to
the highest degree by perpetual exercise he sur
passed the animals in swiftness of foot; the most
timid creature in the forest was match for him
in the cunning with which he could steal silently
through the woods, leaving not trace of bus foot
steps behind. These qualities were his virtues and
his pride In order to obtain them he would spare
no effort. His power of endurance shrunk from no
extremity of fatigue, Of hunger or of physical tor
ment. Manual labor Ofevery kind was beneath him.
All work was performed by the women. They
raised his corn, cooked his food, carried his
burdens and bore the who were to grow up into
warriors and hunters. He was literally the lord Of
creation around him. Women and all other animals
were the victims and the slaves of his wants and
his passions. The survival of the fittest was the
law of his life The swifest of foot the keenest of
sense the most cruel in the pursuit of enemy, he
who could hang the most scalps in his wigwam. had
tho strongest right Of existence. Tue God he wor-
shipped was the devil, who was only bigger
Indian than himself OF God of love he had 10
conception; material force with him was the
highest attribute and this was for evil and not
good. Feeble as the Indians generally were in in
tellect, there were among them of exceptional
shrewdness, of common sense that was almost
genius of power of imagination and expression that
make the poet aud the orator Such men were ac-
eepted by their fellows as their natural Chiefs
In such people there seems 60 have been good soil
which to Christian seed IL was s0wed, what
was meant for IL, diligently and devOtedly, but with
small success. Eliot GOOkiD Williams, Mayhem, ana
many Others both ccrgynen and laymen. glad to
devote their lives TO the salvation OF these heathen To
save them held mp Ut tue most potent motives
colonization. PIOus people in England early formed
themselves into society for the conversion OF
niged nd neither prayers money spared
ia so good a cause But Christian props gandism
successful among them The simplicity OF the