New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS,

A LARGER HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, to the Close OF President JscLsons Ad-
ministration. By THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINs0S
Illustrated py Maps, Plans, Portraits and other En-
cravings. Square $40, PIP. Kill, 47o harper3 o
Brothers
Mr.. Higginson's "lsrzer history" fully bears out
the favorable anticpatons founded upon his
GYounc Folks History of the United States" 1t
is not indeed, q history after the conventional
typo but rather a series of studieso OF periods in
which the aim has been TO make the various
changes which went to form the Nation perfectly
clear to the reader Tie first chapters, treating OF
the early Americans. are particularly good. lhere
is always a powerful temptation when wrltng
about those vague people TO rush INTO theory' 10
embrace some archRolOgic speculation, 10 dog-
Matte. Mr.. Higgnson has avoided TINS J9di-
cously He gives the freshest facts and differences,
but no is careful to point out that the differences
are far from being demonstrations. aud that though
the late Lewis Morgan was a student of great
ability and wide information, he was prone to
regard as settled points which really remained
open, and to ignore facts due consideration oil
which would have interfered With the dehniteness
of his conclusions Perhaps in his desire TO be
perfectly impartial. however. Mr.. HigginsOn allows
somewhat too much weight to MoSgan's opinions
and permits it to be inferred that the pueblo
hypothesis is more generally accepted as a working
theory than it actually is Certain 1t Is that the
evidences of an artistic Development absolutely
incompatible with the hypothesis of communal
barbarism founded on the pueblOs; and 1t Is not
less certain that these ruins are incapable OF being
COMPOUNDED with structures of the pueblo type Dy
any persons but psychologists blinded by anxiety
to reinforce a preconceived idea. The pueblo
hypothesis is no doubt elastic and convenient, ont
1t fails at too nany points for any firm and com-
prehensve expleation to rest upon it, and we think
il more probable that it will have to be rerenched
than that it should be expanded, in the future.
Perhaps in a later edition Mr.. Higginson may
think it worth while to insert between the first
and second chapters ono treating OF
probable earlier visit to this continont,-earlier
than the Vikings, that is to say,-by an Orcntal
people who may may not have left distinct traces
of their Eastern habits and customs religion ana
civilization generally. 1t is true that the evidence
for such a visit by no means conclusive. Inc
chain has several defective links And yet III Is
impossible to examine it carefully without being
convinced that the probabilities Oh its behalf are
strong. and that If the apparent proofs are simply
condolences thew have arranged themselves in
singularly adroit and deceptive way.
Mr. Hgginson's chapters on the Spanish Discov-
erers. the French Voyageurs. the Hundred Years
War and the Second Generation of Englishmen in
America are admirable. They are complete
pctures IN themselves, and they combine to Illus
trate graphically the changes which led up to and
necessitated the throwing OF of the mother
countrys yoke. This exposition. so generally
hurried over and inadeQuately treated in ordinary
histories adds greatly to the value of the present
work Indeed, it could be wished that the antbor
had treated the early years of the Republic with
similar funcss even at the cost of another volume
This one ends with the close OF Jacksons Admins
tration. Though nothing is intimated, we presume
.lo vin he To
time but IL is TO be hoped that Colonel HiSginson
will not suffer his work to be marred by any
mistaken fear lest the public should DO wearied By