New-York tribune., 1884-11-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS
vmrr Ann EL1CK IN IRE SOUTH

49,, ,.raa NJ slayery emancipation and recon
.,r,ct;on He looks upon slavery as an upas-tree
vhieh was hacked down by the sword, but not up
rooted during tho Reconstruction PERIOD Inc
roots In his Judgment. left In the soil to gather
strcugth for other harmful growth in the form OF
violence and misrule In the Southern Statea. ne
right Of the colorsi race no matter how overwhen'-
inu It's majority to control the policy to fill the
Offices of any State has systematically resisted
by the Southern whites Fairly where they coud.
and unfairly where they must, they have carried
into effect the principle that 1t IL "a white mans
Government and that tho Will OF tho majority
must be suppressed. Either by intimidation ioroe'
or the practice of fraud, they have prevented the
exercise of power by majority composed OF the
colored race acting with white minority. These
are the outgrow tbs from the roots which were icit
embedded in the virgin soil of the South; ana tho
authors Judgment seems to be that IL must be
slow and toilsome process by which sectional evils
can be uprooted He considers the method very
plain one albeit laborious and disappointing in its
operation. 1t is the adoption and elaboration OF
measure bestowing National aid to primary educa-
ton on the basis of illteracy which shall provide
for the fair and equabe distribaton VI such iuhd
without placing it under State control
The most obvious criticism to be made upon this
volume relates to the form and manner OF the argu
ment rather than TO the substance. The scott nal
ouestons at issue of extreme gravity there are
few Americans who can discuss them as intell,-
gently and dispassionately rs the author; and In
the main the conclusions at which he arrives Will
be accepted by broad minded Northerners aud
So,therners as we'll capable of rising above the par
t,san politics of the day. But important as IL the
subject, and valid as his argument may be. it IS
serious mistake to populerige the polemics OF tins
great question by sensational devices and cheap
literary expcdlents. The title of the volume, the
headings Of the chapters. the frequent recourse IT,
italics aud display type. and the general manner OF
presenting the subject detract from the dignity OF
The argument The use of go many alventitious aids
does not conport with the gravity OF the discussion
The attempt 10 render logical deductions from
csnsns tables as graphite aud pictorial ns Charles
Raaies descriptions OF sea lighting, and by similar
etppllents is iIlalvsed. If not grOteslue Indeed
the authors fenehant ihesive style. elective as "
enisnbtsdly IL IN political aetien, adjusts itself
with Iitieulty ~ the requirements OF snstaihed
argument Tie effect of the short btistlinH seh
tanees when carried page after page AMI fion' chap
tsf o. ehaetef, 10 81 weaken ahd belitte the 80
pyasslan rather than b. enlafae aud Intensity ",
lhe authef sssn.s 81 be basy With the ends of bis
hageEs sticking snail pins IA eashieh rather than
to hs swing n his arms and delivering siedae-
hammer bkows
A passage from the 'opening chapter may be cited
as sn illustration of the authors besettna weakness
for popular effects. The title Of the chapter ID
Plelse in Mortnlin," and an account Is 81 ven OF
long conversation with President. Garfield a few
woeks before the assassination. The two hgures.
the President and the author. are outlined with
meiodranatic edect. and the Dialogue follows:
IL see," said the President. laying his hand
heavily on the others shoulder as ne stood beside
him, 4" all that you urge. ana aunt tnat III
seem, reasonable; but 1t VIII take SO ionsSo very
lit will require a long time" replied the other
seriously. ~.
President as he turned away and began to pace
burrieiIy to and fro IN the narrow room
Suppose 1t should require century w.
"Yon do not mean TO say that it will take that
time 10 cure thus evil r.
| do not say it will require decade or q
century ONLY know that it is the grow tn of cen
turles and cannot be cxtlrpated in an hour Peoples
-races-change only by the sowest OF processes;
little IN one generation and little more IN an
aBat it cannot be. God will not permit it to take
30 long timew
task before u.s. shall not undertake it because we
may not live to see the end r.
"NO, no! But is there not some quicker method-
some shorter way to the end "
That is what you gentlemen who used to meet
a the other end of the Avenue trle so long to and
Already we have spent decade and q half III trying
To invent q ngh-cut-a shorter way from slavery 10
Freedom. Has anything been accomplished OF
All. mol Where we expected success and honor,
We have met with failure and shame.
because
sWhy should we not bef Did we want the
settlemen-the matters arising out of four years of
warmhanging over us Tor generation 7.
That is 1t exactly" said the other lt was no
tesettlement of the issues OF rthat we attempted
but the tearing down of a social edihce that it had
required centuries to build mp. and the erection Of
Yes, assented the President thoughtfully. 4" you
are right But who could have toreseen what has
occurrrdf Perhaps all ought to have done sD
We ought at least to have known that such changes
cannot be made instantaneousiy. How did you
therer lie pointed to a book lying on the table AS
he SPOKE ,o..,.o ,s O,ono,ts were before me Al,
the time. and thought of il day and night: Any
thoughtful man would have done the san,e'
doubt that" said he with pleasant smile ;
but | must admit that / can find no fault with
vonr conclusions Whatever may be the merits OF
the remedy you propose there is no doubt that you
have correctly diagnosed the disease. But 1t Is
such a weary time to wait could hardly expect
to positive results il should begin the work at
once" .
The seed than to him who reaps the harvestW
The President paced thoughtfully up and down
tho room once or twice. Then, mutual friend
entered he referred iocdlary TO the subject of the
Ben Hur." "a work then fresh frnm the press and a
prime favorlte with him. he took the others hand in
You are right. There is no other way. We
must beein-ai the beeinnins. Write out your views
--or better still, put them into book and will
study it. OF course, / must ind my own way In
this matter, hut You can help me. NO one else mas
studied the subject in the same way or from tho
same standpoint that you have occupied have
great deaf TO do. | am almost worn out now, and !
have Just begun. Yon must belp noe IN this natter
The desired promise was given. The friend who
stood bv laugbingly witnessed the compact. When
nest We lookcd upon that face. then ligte up with
almost boyish enthusiasm, the shadow of the pail
rested upoa it,
This volume Ia thus represented to be tho ful6l
mant of that promise-"a pledge IN mortmain."
The reader IL naturally well pleased TO he favored
with these extracts from President 0arhclds eona-
deatiai conversation on tho subject of rcconetruo'
lion ani education IN tho South, yot lao experiences
st An unniaiaanf senaafiou. Ihn