New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-16
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
AMERICAN CoMMoNwEALTHs.

Miflin & Co.
The scheme of the new series or volumes JUST un
Aertaken by Houghton. Miiiiin a. Co. IN style
swiIar To that of the American Statesmen and
American Men of Letters" covers not only a MS
tory of SEPARATE States, but description OF the
foundation and development of those members OF
the Union which have exercised a controlling IN
Auence upon the American political system. The
Commonwealth is properly regarded in this pian
rs a positive force in American history, anu III
describing the authors will be expectedto treat Oh
the character and circumstances of the people WHO
formed 1T, the principles OF government whicn pre-
vailed among them, and the incidents when anectou
their political theories. The idea OF the series ID
excellent and if the contributors succeed IN carry
ing out the editors programme we shali nave d."
valuable addition 10 our historical Libraries VIZ
ginia is well chosen to lead the set. IL was inc
first and greatest of the colonies. 1t divides win
swEngland the chief share in the making OF the
Nation. 1t possessed from early period, a hrnly
ordered system of society and followed q distinct
line of politics The history of the province ana
the colony presents unusual attractions TO the
reader il is the most pictureque in our annals inc
most crowded with memorable figures and dramatic
events; on the ban ks of the James and the shores
of the Chesapeake we must look for the true
romance of the forest
Mr.. John Esten Cooke has at least one eminent
qualification for writing this story ne is a VIZ
gilman with an ardent love for his STATE an ac-
quaintance with its historical places ana d
Familiarity with its old records His ample knowi-
edge of localities gives certain dlstinctness 10
portions of bis narrative which we miss IN graVer
histories He has been a careful and enthusiastic
sdent of the strange life of the Cavalier planters
who kent such costly state in the midst OF the WILL
derness and we're pioneers and aristocrats at the
same time And he has not failed to show how 1t
was that these territorial lords were al
oncs the most loyal of Englishmen and
the most rebelious of Americans. In the
colony which clung the most fondiy
TO class distinctions. to privilege. to titles, 10
ROYALTY, the Revolution found its firm support. Inc
most illustrious patriots of the Democratic revolt
belonged to the same Cavalier element whose
Edchty TO the Crown had earned for Virginia the
title of the Old Dominion. This is the problem OF
the Virginia commonwealth. Mr.. Cooke makes the
EXPLANATION quite plain. The Virginia planters
from the first were less observant of the Kings
rights than tenacious of their own. Our author'
with the amiabe'prlde of the descendant OF a race
Of gallant gentlemen, is inclined, we think. TO ex-
aegerate the Importance OF some of the incidents
cited as illustrations of the early spirit OF indepen-
dence OF the petition of the Virginia Assembly IN
1919 TO the Virginia Company in London Tor au-
tbority ito allow OF disallow of their orders of
allow or dlsallow our laws" Mr.. Cooke says that
:" this Vas the great original American claim OF
reht--the authority to govern themselves" and
that Patrick Henrys protest against the
Stamp Act century and half afterward,
was only a repetition of 1t. This is an
obvious mistake: the petition asserted no
right; IN PRAYING for privilege 1T tacltly admitted
that no right existed. Again, Mr. Cookies long
account of Bacon's rebellion does not substantlate
his contention that this somewhat obscure affair
was popular instruction to correct misgovern-
ment Nevertheless, he does exhibit the uniform
tendency of Virginia politics toward the assertion
of popular rights; and it is quite true, as he says
that IF socially arstocratic. the small society is
politically republican. The ancient usage holds that
all freemen' shall have voice in elections. Tho
Virginians recognize the great truth that the gold
lace is only the guinea stamp-the manhood OF the
free citizen Is the real gold" The Virginians
have been described as aristocrats and slaves OF
Church and King; but the aristocrats were among
the first to proclaim that all men are created
equal; the bigots overthrow their Church; and the
slaves of the King first cast off his authority, de-
clared Virginia an independent Commonwealth,
and were foremost IN establishing republic"
Mr. Cooke sees that detailed picture of the
people of Virginia, their character, customs, educa-
ton, employments and morals Is essential to an
made it the chief part of his book. lie is mis-
taken however In thinking that the picture has
"neyer been painted" 1t has been very well
painted and that recently. and we cannot honestly
saw that he has added much to the portrait. This
is case in which we are in doubt whether the
picture would have been better if the artist had
taken more pains or if he had taken less. He has
apparently abored with the effort to be light and
yivacious: if he had been simple he would have
been much more entertaining The movement of
his story is hampered by his extraordinary prolix-
ity-not mere diffuseness, but habit OF repetition
and it is weakened by license which he carries to
q greater length than any other writer of English
whom we now recall, namely, the use of the present
tense IN historical narrative. This rhetorical
device which is popular with the French but
I'll with the genius of English composition, is
never admissible except when the narrative
derives impetuosity both from the exciting charac-
ter of the fa;ts with which it deals, and the sus-
tanned rapidity of the style; and even then
it must be used with great reserve; most
udcious writer's at the present day Will not use it
al all. With Mr.. Cooke, however, it is so common,
and is applied so freely ordinary, leisurely
impassioned writing, that it becomes principal
characteristic of his style. Here are two random
examples:
For about ten years now the colony goes on its
way in q bumdrum fashion, passlne laws for the
regulation of ITS internal affairs. The Kings pardon
is not to extend to such persons as plant tobacco
contrary to the Virginia statute (l661l In each
county are to be built houses for " educating poor
children in the knowledge of spinning, weaving
= aud other useful occupations 166S)." etc.
Virginia remains quiet and prosperous in spite of
the furious conflict in England. Hearts burn, no
doubt, when those ships from London and Bristol
bring tidngs of the great wreste between King and
Parliament which is yet doubtful; But the Kings
strength is plainly failing, and the Virginia royasts
90 about with hanging heads, sad at heart; and
the heads of the other faction, who sympathize
with the Parliament, begin to rise joyfully. The
times gloomy for the old Cavaliers OF the King
above all for Sir William Berkeley, etc.
Let any reader substitute the past for the present