National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-18


rhis new work, VOL written in the
main aud worry interesting. is teplcto with
spicy anpgiotcsj it iv generally weak Ia
IL. criticisms of distinguished soldiers
aud statesmen; It i, ogotisrcGl IN 10. tof-
er,nce, 60 the mthIr but bright aud
sparkling IN its descriptions nj the carly
history Of san Franci.ej aud tho Indian
ranpligng h the west, and Is more than
iuierp4lng IA its accounts Of the conll-
ton OF liia rs vt tho scat of government
during the early days of the late war.
The real value of work descriptive Of q
half cuntury's observation Of men and
events depends in large measure upon the
writer's j innate knowledge of the mat
tiers treated of and his freedom from per-
sOnal bias. Gen. Reyes has touched upon
almost every known subject, whether In
the domain OF religion, society, education,
science, government or literature, and
has expressed himself 80 decidedly and
with such Munuhausen complacency In
zach instance that ho cannot complain If
his views elicit moro or less criticism.
He ght have spared us the use of such
inclegancies as "nigger," "postered," and
tho allowed" and tho constantly-rocur-
ring announcement as to his own merits
and deeds.
Gen. Reyes has not learned tho art of
self placement. All actors and events
seem to be described as related to himself,
aud this mars his narrative exceedingly.
AT times the tone Is that of a disappointed
man who, feeling that he has not been
appreciated, vents his spleen upon society
and individuals whom he seems to re-
gard with suspicion. Thus, ''if we could
uncover the hearts Of all rising generals
and politicians we should find them about
equally black" He thinks that the COM
mon school system "tends to agrsrianism
and naturalization" and speaks of tho
tyranny, injustice, corruption, pickering,
lying, cheating, swindling, slandering
obduracy, cruelty, cunning, deceit, per-
jury, indecency, quackery. litigation,
snobishness. and other nameless devil
ties ''of civil society" until tho reader is
forced to exclaim, "A Daniel come to
judgmentW
The writer has given some interesting
"reminiscences of such men as Webster,
Calhoun. Clay, Benton, Seward, Lincoln,
Crittenden, Greeley, Irving, Preston, Van
Buren,, Everett, jackson. and others, Of
state and letters, and such military m en-
rs Scott, Lee, Grant, Halleck, Thomas,
Mcclellan, Sherman, and others, but one
feels that his analysis of character and
motives Is so prejudiced and faulty as to
render his opinion, in some instances at
least, valucless. A largo portion of the
work Is taken up with history Of Gen.
Scotts life, achievements, and, above all,
his foibles. 1t has been well said that
no man can be hero to his valet, and It
may be equally we'll said that no general
can conceal his foibles from his personal
staff. For Con. keycs ut this late day to
parade before the world the eccentricities
and weak points in the character of that
grand old soldier, Gen. Scott, which he
had learned from familiar and daily con-
tact with him as member OF his military
family. will be regarded by military men
as neither right nor proper; that Gen.
Keyes was on the most intimate terms is
evident when he refers to having been
| present with Gen. Scott after his return a
second time to staff duty when the gen.
eral was taking foot bath. Witness.
too, such expressions rs "his martial
bearing was enhanced by the remem-
brance Of past exploits, by constant adula-
ton. by self-content. and many feasts," and
the quotation from the Mexican hero.
"All great men have large mouths. My
mouth is not more than three-fourths the
size it should be for my bulk" He ia
pictured as ambitious, jealous, and
possessed of loathing for his presi-
Dental competitors. He is represented
as saying: "At my time of life man
requires compliments" as displaying
busts and portraits Of himself and dwell
ing in fond contemplation upon MARY
land terrapin" and various epicureaf
dishes. On the other hand, he Is pic
| 80. &c .tA al.
accom- plishments. He Is represented as
an extensive reader, particularly OF
southern newspapers, and fond especially
of whist aud chess. He Is described as
opposed to general immigration, and as
having his own theories as to civil gov
ernment. He was deputed by Jackson
to put down qualification" in South
Carolina In 1882; settled the Canadian
troubles In 1878; accomplished the
removal of the Cherokees in 1885, and
won his lasting fame at Vera Cruz In 1Si7
In the contest of 1859 lie competed unsuc.
cessfully with Clay and Harrison for tn,
presidential nomination. He felt hi;
defeat most keenly. His quarrel with
Andrew Jackson is graphically described
and the author says, 1.-THE remembrBnc,
Of this controversy haunted Scott unit
the day OF his DEATH" The closing day
of the great soldier are pictured as bein,
embittered by finding himself ut sea OF
the real state of national affairs and dis
carded or almost disregarded in military
matters. He is represented as an ardent
seutherner, always resenting criticisms o
his section, but above all else SINGER
and devoted patriot
OfAndrew jackson the author says:"Hi
force of will enabled him to put down
| nnllit natinn tn from, tho M m
ment of Louis Philippe an indemnit,
of 100000, and to crush Nicholas Bid
die and the United States bank"
The descriptions of the deaths of tn
Yackima chief Owhi and the Klicita
Tyee Kanastat are realistic in the OK
IRENE. and one in reading can almos
hear the latter noted chief cry out In hi
death agony, acknowledgement
louise nica-nica mamelouse Bostons.
His account of the various characteristic
Of the old Indian warriors and the pa
thetic circumstances conn cted with thei
extinction and removal form an interest
ing chapter in American history. H
quotes Gen. La Fayette as saying Of tn
wild Seminole chief that "He is a
polished as an old French noblemau."
The closing chapters of this interestin
work are devoted to vivid descriptions @
society In washington on the eve OF Tn
rebellion, to the important duties pei
formed by the author and to the scene
and incidents connected with .he Blu
Run and Peninsular campaigns. Through
out the last few pages the author write
Us one who felt that he had not bee
appreciated and had not been rewarde
in manner commensurate with h
valor. fidelity, and services. Some Of ii
items published show in his work thu
Gen. Reyes kept quite faithful diar
record of some early events preceding Il
civil war, thus
JAN. 0, ls6l.-Gen. Scott dined the san
I evening at Mr.. CorCoran's. He met at Il
table Senators Toombs and Benjamin and Sc
eral other secessionists whose names he wit
! held from me, and ! sorely regret that
8 neglected to search them out. The gener
told me he had never witnessed such yiole
!. Outbursts OF passion as were exhibited by q
two senators.
I,N OK 1881 - Tho r,uors and plana IN soI