New-York tribune., 1886-02-26

| the hundreds of personal pOrtraitures which tnis
volume contains, including men who have been MI
Blaines warmest friends and bterest foes, NOT one
appears to be colored by private liking or resent
ment In most cases his estimate OF character ac-
cords with that which unbiased men, not actors III
the thick of events but familiar with public aars
| and accu stomed to read both sides, are known 10
have formed. Where different estimate is given'
il is accompanied with simple statement of facts
upon which IT is based, which commands acquires
renee Ii will be claimed by none that these Judg-
ments infallible, but no candid reaoeF VIII
| deny their fairness.
Important and interesting as the history of Ires-
dent Johnson's administration is, Mr.. Blaine de-
votes larger share of space than It deserves IN
| a single volume. Out of G76 pages covering the
| history of sixteen years 400 pages are exhausted
| before the close of Johnsons term is reached But
| the portrayal of the steady development OF public
sentiment and OF corresponding legislative action
| is exceedingly valuable in its bearing upon the
! history of subsequent events The framing and
adoption of the Fifteenth Amendment suggest
just tribute to the brave men who led the Repub-
lican party to its duty and its mission
II is evident that Mr.. Blaine still cherishes the
| hope as the party did by which that great measure
was carried through that its adoption would COM
| pete all legislative changes needed for lasting and
! harmonious restoration of the Union. The TACT
that this hope has not been realized IS not con
cealed but if the work history of reconstruc-
ton has defect it is that the evidence OF the par
tial failure thus far to attain the desired equality
of ghts and obedience to law is not fully pre-
sented.
"The surprises of General Grants Cabinet and
sketches of men prominent in legislation during his
administration fill two chapters with interest.
Mr. Schurz will never need to sit for his portrait
/ tba traitc of nhora "
his political career consistent only in the fre-
| Guency and agility of its changes will never be
| more keeuly deneated The estimate of Senator
Thurman will not be surpassed in hearty appreca-
ton of his merits by any of his friends while the
shallowness ana melan choly incapaclty when sec
retary Bayard's recent career has disclosed TO an
astonshed public were not unknown when he was
in the Senate to Mr.. Blaine at least, for he traces
the weakness of Mr.. Bayard's record with sure
hand. No part of the volume, however, IS more
suggestive than the recital of the active efforts OF
Senator's Schurz and Edmunds to give President
Grant full power to remove JOhnsOn's officials Mr.
Blaine does not hide his feeling that the Rerubli-
cans of the Senate though they declined 10 approve
anything so badly and shameessly partisan as
the proposal to suspend the tenure-ofoiiice act did
not do themselves credit:
With all the plausible defenccs that can he made
for this contradictory course the TACT remains that
the authors Of the law prccipitately He'd iro, It's
enforcement the moment a President win whom
they were in sympathy was installed IN once.
They thereby admitted the partisan intent that
had governed the enactment, just as tDey
admitted the partisan intent that now
led to the practical repeal Casting OF all
political dsguses aud personal prelences, the SIM
ple truth remains that the tenure-OiOiicc law was
enacted lest President Johnson should remove he
publican office holders too rapidly; and it was
practically repealed lest President Grant should
not remove Democratic ofiice-holders rapidly
enough. (p. 455.l
The one suggestion which Mr.. Blaine might Justly
have added at this point is that IL those days
neither public opinion nor the leading men Ot either
party believed in non-partsan service. The rev
alent custom for forty years was still unbroken
but was intensified by the just hatred OF treason
and Of those who had taken sides with treason
Wnen Mr.. johnson appointed freshly pardoned or
unpardonod traitors to high places of trust he
atlronted a loyal sentiment which was stronger
seventeen years ago than il seems to be now-at
least with supporters of President Cleveland. But
Mr.. Blaincs Judgment OF this matter again Illus
tratcs the impartial spirit in which he applies the
same rule to political friends or foes.
The recital of outragcs by the ku-KluX and other
secret leagues, and the efforts made by President
Grant to defend loyal citizens by the use of troops
is much too brief and meagre, though Mr.. Blame
charactcrizes IN language deservcdly strong the
con duet of Southern leaguers. Scant Justice has
respect to this part OF his career. The events Of
that time disclosed to him, what the Northern peo-
pie have been reluctantly learning since elections
at the South have been made farce, that the
splrit still prevailing at the South was one Of
awless resistance TO the Constitution and laws OF
the United States as respects freedom of speech and
freedom of suffrage. Mr. Blaine describes with
Justice the men called carpet-baggers, many OF
whom were worthy but unequal to their task, while
| many Others who " found themselves unexpectedly
an possession Of great authority we're not morally
equal to its responsibility Had President Grant
been more of a civilian and less of a soldier in his
| training and habits of mind, he would have made
better appointments and would have withdrawn
| his confidence and support from unworthy men
more promptly Bnt he saw, and the country
ought to have seen, that the unworthiness of some
Federal and local officials was only shallow pre-
text. and was not the real reason nor the slightest
justification for revolutionary resistance to laws OF
! the United States. As the subsequent history OF
| the county, including the solid vote cast by
Southern States in 1850 and 1884, is directly
traceable to these revolutionary steps which
President Grant endeavored TO put down. a more
full account OF them and of their treatment would
have made Mr.. Blainos history more complete.
An exceedingly strong chapter on the course of
the British Government during the War OF Re
bellion, and the subsequent adjustment OF the
| Alabama and other claims is enriched by n con-
| trast of the treatment of Southern States by the
| American Government with the treatment of Ire
land by Great Britain. Mr. Blaine highly honors
President Grant for the shrewdness and resolution
which caused Great Britain to seek settlement in
| haste. On the other hand, the injustice done to
Mr. Sumner In his removal from the Committee On
| Foreign Relations step taken in Difference to the
feelings of the Presidents plainly censured. Mr..
Blaine does not Justify the extreme language which
NJ SlII.nnr Lal uscd ahonL the Prcsilent and his