National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

syo, PIP. 6GG. New York and London: a. i.
Putnam's Sons, 1881 Washington: Bren.
tanO Bros.
This volume is one ofthe most splendidly
issued Of the long series upon similar sub.
jects that, for generation past, has had
such fascination for large class Of read
ers. There Is a mystery about "pro.his-
torio" men and things that has sometimes,
we think, commanded an interest out Of
all proportion to their intrinsic value.
Still they have a value, and In hands
that can hold fairly the scales of evidence,
aud can clearly distinguish, rs Tyndall
insists, between science In the state of
hypothesis aud science In the state Of
fact" these archaeological researches are
intensely interesting and profitable as
we'll.
The work before us is a resume of tho
archaeological discoveries upon the Ameri-
can continent. 1t was originally pub.
lished lin Freuch) In 1882; and, by the
authors permission, has now been modi-
fed and revised to bring 1t into harmony
with the results of recent investi gation
and the conclusions of the best authorities
on tho archaeology Of the United States"
II is to be regretted that the notifications
Of the American editor could not have
been clearly indicated. In important
conclusions of questionable points one
would be glad to know whether the result
reached Is that Of the author or the editor,
The subjects presented and finely Illus
trated are: Man aud the Mastodon;"
THE Kitchen Mlddens and Caves"
THE Mound Builders: Their Implements,
Weapons, &c.;" "The Cliff Dwellers and
the Inhabitants Of the Pueblos;" "The
People and Ruins of Central America and
Peru" A chapter on THE Men Of Amer
ics," and another Chiefly by the Ameri-
can editor) on THE Origin of Man In
America" follow.
The volume is closed by brief appen-
dix and q full index-always one Of the
most valuable parts of any book worth
reading
The ground covered, as shown by the
table OF contents, 10 one over which arc
scattered good many unsettled ques-
tions, and one of the best features Of the
work Is tho caution Of the author in
drawing conclusions from his facts. Here
is,after all, the battle ground in the conflict
that exists. or is supposed to exist, be-
tween large class of scientists and their
opponents. The facts are admitted on all
hands. Tho question is whether tho
facts necessitate or warrant certain in
ferences No one questions the facts
that Sir Charles Lyell found at the Mis-
sissippi delta, but his Inference was Of
fectually questioned by United States
engineers, who cut down his 100000
years to 4,400. Our author gives the
facts In regard to tho Natchez man, the
New Orleans man, and tho famous GALAXY
eras skull of California, but he does not
commit himself to any extreme assertion
in regard to them or their age. The lat
ter was introduced to the world by Prof.
Whitney as the Oldest man yet discov-
cred. Several years ago we made some in
vestigation into this case, and became
satisfied that Prof Whitney was mista-
ken as to the original facts. He never
saw the skull IN stu, nor did any other
scientific man. (The mine whence IL
was taken is now filled with water.) 1t
was undoubtedly fonnd by Prof. Whit
ney's informant whore no said it was,
but that was not the original find" 1t
had been removed to that position by a
party of miners with no intention what
ever of hoaxing Prof. Whitney, but as q
trick upon one of their own number.
Prof. Whitney secured the skull and I'M
fortunately committed himself to posi-
tion SO important that 1t was hard to give
II up, and yet so improved that IL could
not be sustained. Still the skull has it's
friends. Our author, while cautioning
these to "reserve their opinion as TO the
period from which 1t dates till the ques-
ton has been more fully studied from o
scientific point of view" presents two
facts which to him are serious difficulties
ia admitting its immense age. One is
that 1t contains traces Of organic mat
teri" the other that IL resembles the
skulls ofthe Eskimo Of to-day. The lat
ter fact, on tn o hypothesis of evolution,
which the author seems to accept, is u
serious difficulty. Either the skull is
comparatively modern one, or men who
lived "incalculable ages" ago had as good
skulls as some men of the present age.
Similar difficulties exist in drawing
conclusions from the works of the Mound
Builders, the Cliff Dwellers, and the in
habitants of Central and South America.
Evidently here were people far In ad-
vance of their successors. Civilization
goes before the barbaric state. And these
facts are found the world over. How are
we to account for them2 Is it sufficient
to assert, with Spencer, that humanity,
on the whole, has advanced. while its va
rious segments have retrograded? Here
again the main fact is to be proved. 1t is
easy to talk of 'the primeval man." but
the trouble Is science has not found the
primeval man. Certainly the Oldest
skulls are not the smallest; the oldest
works arc not the meanest. The first
time we clearly cross the track of human
history we hnd civilization and not bar
barisn.
The point that is often so confidently
assumed of an original barbaric state is as
yet very far from being proved. Quite
apart from all questions of religious faith,
some of tho sternest facts of science and
of history are against it. The whole sub
ject Of archaeology 10 as yet in o very i'm
perfect state. With admirable candor, our
author says: 1.-THE state Of archaeology is
such that, however great the Importance
of the facts revealed by 10, we cannot re-
gard our present conclusions from them as
final. Nothing has been more injurious
TO science than the ephemeral popularity
of hypothesis which the revelations Of o
day have sometimes overturned"
PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY.
By joins STUART MILL. Abridged with
critical, photographed, and explanatory
notes and sketch OF the history OF political
economy, by ]. Laurence Laughlin, Phi. D.,
Harvard University. New York: 3, Apple.
ton ~ Company. Washington: william ii.
Morrison.
Mr.. Mills Principles Of Political Econ
omy when first issued in 1Sis, caused him
to be regarded by the loading thinkers Of
Europe as a worthy successor Of Ricardo
whose principles indeed he followed but
more amply illustrated and systematized.
His work, in spite of the dry technical
character Of the subject, was found as in
teresting as novel. While the deep hui
msnitarian or social instinct which per-
vades all Mills writings gave u warmth
aud interest to many incidental questions
treated of in the "Principles," they in
truth belonged more appropriately to the
domain of what we now call social science.
Mr.. Mills book has been often cited to
strengthen the argument Of the advo-
Gates of free trade, a. topic among the