The Portland daily press., 1884-10-24
New Publications.
A HISTORY OF PRESIDENTIAL ELEcr1oNs

HISTORY OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS,
Among the volumes which have been issued
during The campaign season, are of eSurse
man ephemeral works which are not ex De cted
TO have interest fer anybody after the eleetlon
day; but tlere others which have a perrna.
nent value aud usefulness. OF this latter class
Is "A History of Presidential Elections BY
Mr. Edward Stsnwood, lately editor OF the
Boston Advertiser. This handsomely printed
volume, OF over 400 pages, publish ID by James
Il. Ofgoo0 q Co., supplies want which every
journalist and almost every one who is inter-
ested in the political history of the country has
oIten Ielt. There are numerous manuals giving
IN more or less complete form party platforms,
election returns, Presidents messages and 9TH
or official documents; bat we know OF nothing
else which tells so fully and clearly the story
of each Presidential election, the contests be-
tween statesmen of each party for the nomi-
nation, the questions upon which the discus
sion turned and the circumstances OF each
campaign go far as they are now significant or
interesting as political history. It will readily
be understood that such a work must be an epi-
tome OF the political history OF the Nation, but
only those features are brought into promi-
nence which have clear aud direct relation
to the several elections of President
Mr.. Stanwood has peculiar qualifications for
preparing such book. He is careful and
patient investigator of facts, has excellent dis
cretion In distinguishing what is important
aud illustrative from what is useless snd insig-
nifcant, writes with directness, vigor and skill,
and with the impartial, dispassionate temper
that should characterize historical work of ibis
character. He has given US not partisan and
unfair record bat full, fresh, Intelligent and
instructive manual of political history, a COM
pendlum of information not to be found else
where collected, and be must have been a very
close student of American politics who does
not hBd in these pages "a uch that ia new and
we'll worth knowing
Particular Care appears TO have been taken
to collect all that can now be ascertained re-
gardlng the earlier elections before candidates
were selected by popular conventions, and
while parties were less highly organized than
they are nov. The proceedings and spirit of
National conventions are set forth, with the
uuder currents of opinion aud pre- jadce which
were as potent in determining their conclu-
sions as the motives that were openly pro
fessed. Platforms are given mora completely
than ia any other work we know, aDd every
important vote and all ballots for candid ates
are included, as well as the popular and cleo.
toral votes in the election. Ia short, this ia a
book of substantial and permanent vaue, a
manual which every citizen who would be
we'll grounded ia the politics of the past as
SOUND basis for clear understanding of present
conditions will consider an essential part of his
library equipment. Already, during the few
da it has been upon our table we have had
several occasions to consult it, and found it al
ways adequate and satisfactory.