The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-02
LITERARY.

HISTORY OF TENNEs-EE. TE MAKivo or
STATE by James phrIHu Boston; lioughton,
Minlin d Co.
This book is the product Of very great
labor The author hu had otonly TO make
original research but to prove the work Of
Others. II is the first attempt to write his
tory OF Tennessee which should deal with
facts as late ny 1860. WuCn we consider how
much has happened hoe Tennessee since the
beginning Of the present century, and thu
Ramsey and Haywood brought the story
down to no later period than the close of
Washington's admin tmtion-thcsc writers
being the only historians prior To Phelan-
we may form some conception OF the tormi-
dablc character Of tn task which confronts
anyone who undortgk to tell the whole
story from the fr-t settlement to the
outbreak Of the civil war. But to this task
Mr.. Phclan addressed himself pluckily in
dustrlously and patiently He submits the
list Of authorities he ha, lad to examine, and
as they consist for The most part of legisla-
tive records, specie pamphlets, essays,
fugitive sketches, private and public letters,
newspaper ilos and the like, the reader must
admire the persstenDD which enabled the
author 90 compass go enormous quantity
of the very dryest OF reading The fact that
lac has done 40 argue, chat hc brought to his
work the spirit Of the true historian, who
| finds In the ascertaumrut Of fact full COM
| pcn'ation for any amount Of incidental
| druigcry. II is unfortunate, however, that
| Mr. Phelan thought il necessary 10
give to his history the subtitle
! "Ihc Making OF o State" This
| phrase suggests a cirgum.crih,d purpose and
| gives the reader an ou'IrJly wrong cue. IL
promises merely a narrative OF the institu-
tional development ui the State. But Mr..
Phclan ha, attcmpt,l more than this, for
| lac has sought 10 embrace not only phio-
| sophie consideration 81 tho factors that
combined To make the state a unique figure
In the i-terhood, bur also the political yicis.
itudes the State has undergone, the contcn.
tons II politicians. the ri-c and fall Of par
tics, biographical csays, traditions Of adj
ventures, etc. A hc brolduncd his purpose
lac should have been allowed to increase the
| proportions OF his volume, so that while
/ seeking to be comprehensive lac might
have been complete. There is not too much
oil SEWER or Of Robertson or Of Carroll or Of
Polk In the book, but there is too little Of
Jackson aud OF Johnson. Mr. Phclan pre-
sumcs too much upon the readers previous
knowledge of the history OF Tennessee, Jack
son does not stand cut clearly, anl johnson
gets the srnntiost Consideration IL u like read
/ ing history Of the Revolution In which
| Washington and franklin and jefferson are
kept In The far background Il is for this
reason We saw the book Is not large enough.
| The author should have been permitted to
| prosecute his manifest purpose In order that
lac might not be compelled to do Sewer
aud Robertson justice 1T the expense u those
whom the world with good reason bel
to have been the most distinguished Of Ten.
ncssrc's sons All through the work u Is
| made evident that the author has great
| deal more information at command than lac
| l. aulc to present and the reader wishes that
/ he were no. confined 20 tho limit uf space
| fixed by his publishers. Hal he contcnicd
himself with the theme II his subtitle
doubtless there Is space enough, but there II
not most as,urrdly Tor a history Of Tcnncs-
src such a. Mr. PhclHn could have made enter
tanning indeed. AM that Mr. rhclan can
write cn,er;alningly there can hc no question
In the mind 81 anyone who reads him. Ills
descriptive ability j. altogether admirable
This Is shown in his pictures Of pioneer
lie and his dclinout uns oi character. II IL
In these features OF tlc hook that be- appear,
at his best. aud cumpcls the nrrcsycd
praise of the critic. lie has mrc skill In
color and grouping, and that faculty Il do.
tail by virtue Of which a portrait Is made
complete without confusion. Another yir-
tue Is his independence. lie decide, for
himself The reader may not agree with
him. but there Is the satisfaction Of having
the definite opinion IT careful student
When the author dcrms Il necessary 10 shat
ter an idol or 10 overthrow tndition, he
does ~ rclcntlcssly and without much
parlcying This give, the work indiyidu.
ality and special value. II Is not improbable
that his estimates OF Jackson, Boone aud
Others may yet be- challenged aud consider.
able controversy ariso. hut this the author
has doubtless anticipated There I, accrtain
lack Of continuity In the narrative and
awkwardncS In correlation of events. but
these defects are 10 be parloncd In view OF
the authors disposition % write a history
rather than historical monograph dealing
with a single phase II the States develop
mcnL lie has been fascinated by the
story Of Tennessee lie has found 20
many things that arr interesting. he
has discovered 81 many heroes whom
the world Is forgetting that he cannot ~.
faln from dwcllirS ul,on them, even under
the penalty Of subsequent haste, elimination
and condensation. Like gcologlst who
goes into now county, he has been ~ cap.
iiyatcd by the surprise that no gives little
comment 10 the conditions he expected 20
find aud which, he thinks, everybody should
know existed Mr.. rhclan begins with East
Tennessee, and naturally because the ''Star
Of Empire" westward took its way In Ten.
ncsscc, as In other States lie shows how
the people came over the mountains from
North Cardinal and Virginia, aud
why lie accotdu 10 them the
motive Of sclf.intrrc,'. for he takes no stock
In the idea that our foriather went into
the wilderness simply TO subduc Il for the
benefit oi postcrty. Hut he finds that men
can be Just rs brave and heroic In such vent.
urcs when their sole Object Is the establish.
mcnt Of home Tor themselves, as those
who, at King . command, 10 out 10 acquire
new possessions for o royal master "rhey
werv not heroes or hcroincs TO themselves.
neither had they any idea Of founding
great Empire. They recognised In
themselves moro commonplace people,
aciuatcd by commonplace motives ("
Having told how the household was
| A a.