New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-19

c;rs .ov ara Cabinet and Presidential government
both might be equally at fault In overlooking e''-
icncos Of an original type of government which was
neither English nor American but dlstlhcty
French. Tho analytical msthod Is the only ono
which ia absolutely safe in the study of the origin
and growth of rational life and political ins'''u-
tions. Preconcsived ideas and iuductive processes
based .upon primary analogies mislead eVsh 'n0
most iudcious and impartial observer.
Now If there was ever a period in human history
in which politlcal institutions divcrgcd ut Dfoau
MOLE from their bases and by virtue OF the creative
snerqi-s of n vigorous community took form am
direction markedly in contrast with preconceiVed
ideas aud accepted traditions ahd pIeeedents III wa"
that Ia which the foundations OF the American
Nation were laid. The Constitution, when was
framed after the separation OF tho colonies Ir" '"o
mother country, was fundamentally unlike NOV
only tho English Constitution. but every o'nei
Constitution the world had ever known. IL was "n
indigenous growth distinctive in It's nature '''
Its origin cannot he attributed 10 lorelsh k0i"'
Now Mr. Doyie admits readily enough tnst colo"''''
institutions were developed not fanspi"h''" "
servilclv oopied and that colonies OF the seven
torrth century were not Ieady-ihadc coihuiu',''
with pfeexisiing social and political characteristics
Az the same time he broadly asserts that "tho MS
torv nf the American colonies Is in one sense HULL
irg mora than n continuation OF Enghsh history
x thav formed for themselves institutions cIoso'S
r.s.nlIinp those of the mother country III Tic Soh-
slider. this 10 be true in any sense, MS Englsn III
.t,ncts his regard as an author for unity VI encov
and his natural Affection for prearraheeu pan Vi
investigation will tend to perrert Dis Jude'hohO'
lie " iii bp tempted to follow lines OF paraiieHsh
and to trace aLaloges until they are so FAINT vs. 10
cease TO DO rerccptible to ordinary Observers lie
will not be apt TO regard England as poinV Oh ue-
parture but rather point OF origin lot american
institutions, and consequently Will iall 10 appIo
ciate what is markedly original and charactels''c
in the development of political life in the New
World.
THE sALMAGUNDI BIRTHDAY BOOK, win tW eve
fulLpage illustrations. Oc.aVO. r W. Green > "V-'
Had the three editors exercised more care 10 Sc
lect fresh quotations. m had an index been added
this volume might have proved If some permanent
vaInc rs a supplementary Dictionary of Quotations.
As it. Is the labor expended in cullng two seIecuo
for each day ia the year from the works OF po"S III"
prose writers from .Eschylus to Icnnyson mas pro-
drccd literary tyila which appears to nave DO rS
pecial reason for existence. In o'hcI "orus' 'l'
arbitrary assigning OF sentiments to particular uaNS
seems pointless and devoid Of meaning NeVeithe-
less for these who a1c happily constituted as 10
find amusement in birthday sentiments II should &c
said that this book is fuller and its extracts cover
wider range than most OF It's Glass; "uilo 'N' "i'
near in the main 10 have been chosen juGIciousy,
not with an eye to novelty. And certainly, as Dr.
Colycr suggests in his preface, this book Is vast
improvement on It's predecessors with their strings
of inpcrtinent and Improbable questions vi the
Illustrations there is little that can be s1d IN the
WAY Of praise This is not the fault Of tie artlSts
among whom are r. Swain Clifford, Homer Martn'
4. II. Thavcr and Thomas Moran. But the blurred,
worn and indefinite character of these pictures,
with the familiarity of several which were orig
uouv DESIGNED for other publications, suggests
revamping of old work.