New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-19
AMERICAN LITERATURE.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES LIBRARY.

ENT TINE. Complied and edited by EDMUND
CLARENCE sTEDMAN and ELLEN MACKAY
HUTCHINSON. In ten volumes. Volumes Nv
and Y. Royal evo PIP. Kill, 500; XIII 504.
Charles l. Webster g. Co.
The fourth and fifth volumes of this admirable
>Nrork bridge the time between the adoption of the
Constitution when the political life Of this Nation
ibegan, and the early development OF distinctive
National literature. The first volume of the series
was occupied with the carly colonial literature
che period Of discovery and settlements the second
with the later colonial literature illustrating that
time of extraordinary religious ferment when
witches were burned. and in New-England
ths Church was the State; the third with the
the Revolutionary period. beginning with the pass
ago of the Stamp Act and ending with the adop-
zion of the Constitution when some Of the greatest
statesmen the English race has produced were
erecting new structure of government that
should be the admiration Of the world for centu-
,ries TO come The period covered by the first of
the two volumes now under considerations 7sS
10 ls20-was necessarily less brilliant, but it had
its own importance.
During these years the Constitution was in
loerpreted for all time by the great Marshall Tho
energies Of q young people having just gained its
freedom by long and costly struggle were turned
,ehiefy to the work of recuperation and material
development There were only faint signs of the
dawn of National literature. 1t was in the clos
ing year Of this period that Sidney Smith uttered
his famous taunt: In the four quarters OF the
Globe. who reads an American boolx?' This was
soon to be refuted by rich growth OF native lit
erature but it could hardly have been effectively
answered 1T the time it was uttered. Yet long
before, America had already produced writer OF
exceptional genius in Charles Brockden Brown,
and Irving had published his Knickerbocker. And
there were not wanting other signs of dawn OF
imaginative literature
A great deal of the interest Of these volumes
IS to be found in the way they reflect the life and
manners and thought of the time. Party spirit
ran higher then than now, as many good people
seem to forget For example, we find in Volume
~ o picturesque extract from fast-day sermon
preached by the Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, which
was delivered barely month after Jeffersons in
auguration and was well understood to be an at
tack upon him The preacher described Jeroboam
rs having the art of captivating and corruptlng'
all with whom he came in contact dwelt upon his
loose and irrehgious example" and reminded his
hearers that Solomon's subjects did not appre-
cate the blessings of his reign, until he was sue
ceeded by vile and impious usurper' Let us
all learn this lesson" says the good man, and
especially those who have complained OF the late
wise and gentle administration of Government. IL
is more than possible that our Nation may find
themselves in the hand Of Jeroboam, who VIII
drive them from following the Lord; and When
ever they do, they will the day. and detest the
folly, delusion and intrigue which raised him to
the head of the United States" Clearly the worthy
Mr. Emmons YVES accustomed to think for himself,
and say what he thought Another proof of it
is found in his frank declaration in his autobioS-
raphy that he read deep well written tragedies
for the sake of real improvement in the art OF
preaching They appeared to me the very best
books which teach true eloquence. They are de-
signed tc make the deepest impression on the
human mind, and many Of them are excellently
calculated to produce this effect. The preacher
can scarcely find better model for constructing
q popular, practical, pathetic discourse, than
good tragedy; which all along prepares the mind
for the grand catastrophe without discovering 1t
till the whole soul is wrought into proper frame
to feel the final impression" The editors make
liberal citations from the pious Mr. Weems's lie
of Washington, including, of course. the story OF
the Ratchet All of them are good enough to have
been true if they not and that reader is wise
who will do his best to believe them
Authentic examples of Indian eloquence as
characteristic of our civilization have been pre-
served wherever possible. Among them is the
speech of Red-Jacket, contending against the
foundation of q mission among the Senecas IN
1909 which is an excellent illustration of the
cunning Of Indian logic: 1" Brother" said he, we
are told that you have been preaching TO the
white people Of this place. These people are our
neghbors. We are acquainted with them. We
will wait little while and see what effect your
preaching has upon them If we find it does them
good, makes them honest, and less disposed to
cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what
YOU have said" Dewitt Clinton in an address
before the New-York Historical Society in 1911,
on the eloauence Of the Six Nations, rendered
glowing tribute 20 their speakers and referred to
Red-Jacket as AN extraordinary orator" A
dramatic example of his power was given, when
q religious impostor who had acquired complete
ascendency among the Six Nations denounced
him. and he was placed upon trial lie spoke IN
his defence for nearly three hours, declared the
prophet an impostor and cheat, and over
majority of the Indians to his side. Perhaps
the analysis of history" says Clinton, cannot
furnish more conspicuous instance of the tri-
umph and power of oratOry in a barbarous nation
devoted to superstition. and looking up to the
accuser as delegated minister Of the Almighty"
Tecumseh's eloquent speech to General Proctor,
shortly before the battle of the Thames, is also
given.
There are in this volume many echoes OF the
Revolutionary war Hannah Adams, Of the
earliest of our American women writer's who have
since grown to so great company, gave simple
description in her " Summary History OF New
England of the heroic venture and pitiful death
of Nathan Hale. She expressed indignation, as SO
many have done since, that whilst almost every
historian Of the Revolution has celebrated the
virtues and 1amented the fate Of Andre, Hale has
remained unnoticed, and it is scarcely known that
such character ever existed. To the memory OF
Andre his country has erected the most magnif-
cent monuments, and bestowed on his family the
highest honors and most liberal reward To the
memory Of Hale not stone has been erected. nor
On inscription to preserve his ashes from insult"
This was written in 799, but the reproach-and
it is deserved-still rests upon us in large meas
ure Some efforts have been made to do justice
to Hale's memory, but they have been entirely
inadequate Andres fate excited universal SYM