The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-10-15
Three Decades of Federal DegIsIa.
tiOn.

Three Decades of Federal DegIsIa.
ti0n.
1t is not all statesmen who are at
home" in the role of an author. In
statistics and matters of historical fact
they are at their ease, especially in
chronicling the events in which they
were prominent actors. Accurate de.
tails and dry statistics interest the
close student; but in order to render
work necessarily containing and
having as its basis historical and sta
tistical data, popular-written in a
style that will interest the masses
still exhaustive in its scope and treat
ment, the author must possess the
happy faculty of weaving in his mar
rative-statistical rs well as historical
"a thread largely shaded with ro-
mantle hue. Rarely, also. do we find
an author who is chronicling events
and scenes in which partisan feeling
and bitterness holds sway-himself
being an active MISUNDERSTANDING
impartially, divesting himself of the
prejudices engendered by long and Sc
we're schooling in debate and repartee.
We are led to these remarks from the
perusal of the advance sheets Of Hon.
8. 8. Cox's latest work." Three De-
cades of Federal Legislation "-1855
to 1885, Mr.. Cox having been a MEM
ber of Congress for twenty-four years,
his personal knowledge of the events
transpiring in the most difficult period
of our coutry's history as regards i'm
partiality-during and since the civil
strife, involving slavery and secession,
emancipation and reconstruction-em-
inently qualities him for accuracy as
historian. And herein lies the merit
of his work: Battling earnestly, as
he always has, for the principles and
measures of the party with which his
political youth and manhood has been
he seems to have forgotten
past differences, animesities, if any,
and taken up with fidelity the work
of the impartial and truthful historian.
Mr.. Cox excels as O descriptive writer,
and the interest nowhere flags in the
perusal of his book. AS standard,
authentic and exhaustive historical
work, it has no superior, and possesses
value from the fact of being
written from q different standpoint
than any similar work. 1t contains
lin one volumt) over seven hundred
royal octave pages, printed on super
fine laid paper and is illustrated with
thirty six elegant line steel engravings
of eminent men whose names are in
terwoven in the history of the times
of which the work treats.
1t has received high commendation
from many of the leading scholars and
statesmen of the country, including
ex- President Hayes, President Cleve-
land, Hon. Jas. G. Blaine, Vice Presi-
dent Thos. A. Hendricks, and others.
Even so intensely and bitterly partisan
a journal as the Cleyeland Leader,
recognizes its impartiality and merits,
as will be seen by the following:
1t has been known to the public for
some time that Hon. Samuel s. Cox
writing a history of
Federal Legislation. Advance sheets
just received enable US to form some
idea of the nature and scope of the
work. Until the book comes to hand
we shall believe Mr.. Cox's promise
that he has written an bipartisan his
tory, the more readily because of his
treatment of Mr.. Seward in
the Trent affair. OF one thing we
may feel certain, we shall find the book
a solid and substantial contribution to
a period of the history OF America
upon which none too much light can
be thrown.
We cannot give the reader a better
knowledge Of the scope of this valuable
work and its impartiality, than is
contained in the following extract
from the preface:
1t may be said here that it has not
been the purpose of the author, though
lifelong adherent to the Democratic
party, to set forth any particular theo-
ry of the Constitution. He does not
seek to uphold or advance the inter-
ests of any section of country, or fac.
ton of the people. He has no ambi-
tions to crafty by the distortion or
suspension of the truths of history.
His aim is to bring out all the material
facts, under their several heads, in the
order of their occurrence. His criti-
cisms consist only of such inferences
as seem to be clearly warranted. OF
course, in such q presentation, princi-
Piles and policies, modes of political
thought, and creeds of Interpretation
will racaiva some illnstratinn -