Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-16
BOOK REVIEW.

/ inee of a great party for an exalted Office,
! his book has attracted wider attention
Yet it is not probable that any previous
| American political history awakened such
anticipatory interest as when it was an
nounced that Mr.. Blaine had entered upon
the labor of this production. We have
arisen from the perHsal of the first volume
with the profound impression of the high
| importance of the book as contribution
TO our history, and of the impartiality of
! the author Himself q partisan of the
most pronounced character, and from sin
| cere conviction, he has assumed so much
| of the judicial character, taken on SO much
of the obligation and attitude of judge,
! that in his effort to weigh facts with view
to their exact Importance and worth as tes-
timony, he has arrived about as near an
unbiased Judgment of the great events be-
| tween 1860 and 1880 as is possible. But
! it is certain that his estimates and con-
structions will always be the object
of assault by opposing partisans,
conclusions, done so as a believer in
power of government in a Republic, that
are maintained by political party that
| had the direct hostility of another great po-
| litical organization during the era imme-
| diately precedent TO the Rebellion
and during the whole of that unhappy
strife. But Mr.. Blaine has not permitted
his partisanship in any respect to lead him
into misinterpretation of facts, evidently
! realizing that in the trueness of the record
consists its chief virtue. Regarding the
diction of the work, it suffices to say that
there is no apparent effort to be ornate.
The text is marked by a clcarness
of expression that docs credit to the taste of
Mr.. Blaine. Very evidently he resolved
not TO deal i'll many words nor to go far in
their choosing, but in plain. forcible and
expressive English, to make up the record
of the history in hand. This very SIM
plicity and etfortlessness in dictiOn gives
vigor, and adds to the force of work
of this character, where literary polish
is not matter of great concern. But it
must not be conceived that this latter is
wanting. While it has not certainly been
aimed at the scholarship of a fluent, easy
and graceful writer is manifest upon every
page. For instance, as an example of the
simple force and finished style of Mr..
Blaine, let the following paragraphs, taken
at random, serve:
The anti-slavery work of England was orig
the British Parliament was really so directed as
to make the prohibition of the slave trade CORE
spond i'll time with that prescribed in the Fed
eral Constitution The American wits and critics
of that day did not fail TO note the significance
OF the date, and to appreciate the craftsmanship
and philantrophy which led the British Parlia-
ment to terminate the trade at the precise mo-
ment when the American Congress closed the
market.
Again, referring to the position of Eng
land toward this country during the re-
bellion;
1t was we'll that the Government and the peo-
pie of the United States were so early tangled
that their value to the world of foreign prlici-
pies, foreign feeling and foreign interests was
only what they could themselves establish
that in this contest they must depend upon
themselves; and that the dissolution of
their national unity and the destruction of
their free popular government from the lack of
courage and wisdom in those whose duty it was
TO maintain them, would not be unwelcome to
the municipalities and powers that were will
ing to wound, but yet afraid TO strike" This is
not the time to describe the vacillating and
hesitating development of this hostile policy
but as the purpose of the United States Gov
eminent grew more steady, more resolute more
self-rellant, a sickenlng doubt seemed to becloud
the ill-concealed hope of our ruin. 1t wa snot
long until the brave and deluded rebels OF the
South learned that there was no confidence to
be placed in the cruel and selfish calculation
which encouraged their desperate resistance
with the show of sympathy, but would not avow
an open support, or make manly sacrifice in
their behalf
And again, regarding the Chicago Demo-
cratic Convention that nominated McClel-
Ian:
The response of the country to the action of the
Democratic representatives was an immediate
Outburst of indignant Iebuke There were thou
sands of patriotic Democrats who deeply
resented the hostility of the Convention to the
loyal sentiment of the people. and who felt that
fat al ftI.ag nffat TIa
expression of condemnation, and the manifesto
tons on all sides fOreshadoWed the doom of the
Chicago ticket. General Mcclellan and his
friends felt the necessity of doing something to
placate the aroused sentiment which they could
not resist, and he vainly sought to make
his letter of acceptance neutralize the
baneful effect of the Democratic plat |
form. III truth, General Mcclellan practically |
disavowcd the platform. He ignored the de |
mand for a cessation OF hostilities and the de !
claratt0n that the war was a failure. |
From the hour OF the Chicago Convention the |
whole course of events steadily strengthened |
the canvass for Mr.. Lincoln. The turn of the |
political tide came with sudden and overpower |
ing force . Within two DAYS from the !
hour when the Chicago delegate separated with !
the demand for practical surrender to the |
rebellion, President Lincoln able to issue |
q proclamation for thanksgiving III all the |
churches for the great Mon triumphs. and this !
Was followed by national salutcS from every
navy yard and arsenal, and from all mill |
tary headquarters. The political effect of the |
AS Secretary Seward expressed it in public |
speech, Sherman and Farragut have knocked |
the planks out of the Chicago platform The |
tide OF victory swept on. s. The success |
sion of matchless triumphs was the theme of |
every journal and of every orator, and the |
North was ahame with the enthusiasm it kin
died III the light of the answer flashed back |
from score of battleficlds, the Chicago declar-
alton that the war was failure was not only |
seen to be unpatriotic and mischicYouS, but was
made contemplate by universal ridicule and
Obloquy.
Mr. Blaines volume places him in the
ranks of letters in a position corresponding
to the distinguished honors to which he has !
attainedin craftsmanship. 1t writes him down |
as a faithful historian, one capable OF rising
superior to craftsmanship, and of viewing u
political period as a whole without being
affected by the strabismus that would GER
tainlv afliict the mere politician, bound to
details, party and passing issues.
The first volume begins with concise
and rapid review of the compromises be-
tween the North and the South embodied |
in the Constitution, and from that to the !
close of the first chapter is given clear but |
brief history of the geographic, sentimental |
and political causes that led to the origin of |
the Abolition party Weare next brought to |
consider the contest over the acquisition
of Texas, and the issues between the Wing |
and Democratic parties up to Clays candi- |
dacy in 1874. Through the succeeding |
chapters we are led along with the events |
distinguishing the struggle between the |
free labor and slave doctrines, the efforts of |
the South to secure control of the Govern
ment, the war with Mexico, the treaty of |
1916, the Oregon question, the issues of the |
Presidential contest of 1913. and to consider |
the character and services of CLAY. Webster |
and Calhoun, the advent of Douglas, his |
policy for the repeal o. he restriction ofthe !
Missouri compromise. the development |
of the American party, the growth |
of the pro-savery party in The South and |
the anti-slavcrv sentiment at the North, |
the development of ;iisunion tendencies, |
the campaign of 1855, the bred Scott deci-
sion, the Kansas struggle, the sectional |
division in the Democratic party, the meet
ing of the giants, Dot las and Lincoln; the |
excited condition of The South. and its inn
perious demands, the sudden prominence |
of the Republican party, the splitin the De-
mocracy. and the election of Lincoln. From
this last point, the work becomes more de-
tailed, and we move at slower pace through |
the vast array of political events of mo-
mentous consequence that crowded |
the way from 1860 up to the fall of
the Rebellion. In the meanwhile |
there are presented graphic sketches of
the leading men of all this period, and a
consideration of all the great measures that