The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-11
Mr.. Blaine's Book.

which occurred in this country between
| 1861 and 1881 cannot be written by any
one OF the principal or chief actors. Mr..
srEPHENs's book, Mr.. DAvls's book, Mr..
GRHELRY's book, and other such books.
can serve only ms repositories Of the testi-
mony upon which the final verdict OF man
kind Is 10 be based. Persons separated
from us by distance might even now
write impartial histories oi those events
IL there he any such persons who are
not partisans OF either the Federal on
Confederate side OF the questions which
led 10 the war between the States.
But the best and only true histories OF
the events which led 10, were contempo-
raneous with, and followed after. the
greatest war Of which this world has ever
been the scene. will be written by some
Of our own countrymen after the passions
and prejudiccs Of the nineteenth century
shall have been buried in oblivion.
Mr.. BLAINE is writing history OF the
two decades between 1851 and 1881. lie
q competent witness, but preiudiced one.
His testimony may go before the jury; but
thew must and will make due allowance Tor
his partiality aud Lis inability to see both
sides OF tie main question. lie OF course
Is not conscious of his own inability to
write lust history OF the occurrences
which are TO be treated by him. Doubt
less he considers himself as beng as
clcar-eyed as Justice herself. In iact,
# would not DO for him TO have
a doubt on that point. The man who
should doubt his own impartialiiy would
discredt himself from the start. The
preface TO Mr.. BLAINE's book will. it is
said, contain the paragraph which we shall
presently quote, though if. as is supposed
- be the usual order OF their composition,
the book is TO be written before the pre-
face, we do not understand how the preface
has already come 10 light. We guess that
it must be the prospectus and not the pre-
face. Anyhow, it read, rs follows:
"The twenty years OF Congress between
the inauguration OF Lincoln. in 1861. and
the Inauguration of Garfield, III 1881, were
tion. The entire period was filled with
momentous events. Legislation during the
progress of the war, in aid OF the great
armies which upheld the Government;
through the period in which the Union
was reconstructed on new and enduring
on the finances during the
era of paper money and the sub
seduent return TO the standard Of
ha ei-
nation which came generations before phi !
lanthropists had dared TO hope; on taxa !
ton, exercised and enforced to degree !
beyond all precedent, yet always sustained |
bv popular majOrities; on industrial de- |
velopmcnt so wisely fostered that, despite |
the waste Of thousands OF millions by the |
ravages Of war. the aggregate wealth OF |
the people was doubled in single decade
legislation on these great subjects forms the |
vital history OF the country, and Is worthy |
OF commemoration.
The Union was certainly reconstruct |
ed " on "ncw foundations the COnstitu- !
ton bein. treated with contempt and |
shamefully violated; but Mr.. BLAINE does |
not purpose to confess that fact. His |
mere statement OF the subjects which he |
proposes TO touch is enough to convince |
he reader, provided he accepts the state
ment as true, that a bright light was east |
upon the science OF political economy by |
the facts of the war. That 1.-THE aggregate |
wealth of the people should have dou-
bIed in single decade despite the waste OF !
thousands OF millions of dollars in the Ut |
.erly unproductiye business OF carrying on
war is a striking fact.
Mr.. BLAINE is a graphic writer. His |
book cannot but be interesting. We fear. !
however, that he will try to write in one |
rear what neither he nor any other man
an properly write in two years.