New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-30
MR.. ROOSEVELT'S BOOK.
TILE ADVANCE OF SETTLEMENT.
rHE WINNING or THE wEsr. by rheodor, Roo.

Welt In two volumes, with MAPS. SVo, PIP
XIV, 352; d2T. q. L. Punams sons.
In these handsome volumes Mr.. Roosevelt has
written the history on broad general lines, of that
period, from 76S to 7S3. during which the storm
and stress Of the frontier struggles which resulted
In the winning Of the West concentrated.
The time the actors engaged, and the character OF
the conflict, each offer special temptations TO the
historian and few writer's have escaped those
temptations. Never were partisan and national
passions higher hotter than upon the American
boraer in this epoch. Never was 1t more difficult to
ascertain the exact truth regarding the excit-
ing events which succeeded one another with be-
wildeEing rapidly. American literature abounds
with works pretending more or less to historical
accuracy, and treating of the Western conquest
and settlement. whole library OF tradition
has grown up about the names of Boone Clark,
Robertson, Sewer, Campbell and other leaders
and heroes of the period BIT even the most
pretentious sticklers for fact have impaired 10
their narratives an amount of legend and nure
hction so considerable to vitate and invalidsta
their accounts TO O great extent
Mr.. Roosevelt has proceeded upon different
methods lie has had recourse 30 the archives
IN the hrst place, and he has laboriouSlv colla,ed
ana compared the authorities with q view 10 the
entertainment OF truth The task has proyed
umcuiC enough, and not seldom the best that
. VIC uohe was TO strike Il balance between
irreconciable statements. The reason OF the dis.
orepahcy is plain enough. When the West WINS
neine won the fronticrsmen who faced Indians
LURES, french, British and Spanish bv turns
'A"eu anu fought unchrOnicled. For a genera.
ieA "ic "hoic border was freted with almost
continuous petty warfare Every man was com
Hiied TO make his hands keep his head AUr,.
culture was carried on under the protection Of
wilderness had TO be fought for with the Indians
a eounry was being Lladc, indeed, aud a race OF
hoh men was being forged, but the details Of the
process were left to tue loose tongue Of common
report, and when subsequently attempts wore
'"ue 10 SeI aC exact facts and figures the un.
"'o'Pnueo memories OF llterat" Indian fighters
proved but treacherous ana misleading archives
In the cases in which the prlncipal actors them
serves wrote or located memoir; in their Old age
similar slips Of recollection were almost ALWAYS
aggravated b. tendency TO establishment and
exaggeration, which is quite normal trat Of
unSophlsncatcd men of this kind. 1t is perfectly
unconscious and ingenious, bur none the loss a
serious hindrance TO the composition of trust
worthy history
Mr Roosevelt has aimed at correcting the many
errors which have crept into National history
"hu tFiul'lOn IN tins manner, ana lie has been able
u Po'ht out number OF curious mistakes OF
course large proportion OF these are tlaceable 10
inc natural ten0ercy TO cAaggerate the numbers
VI l0es "i'h ulc natter are victorious, and TO
diminish the significance Of Ievcrsps in every case
"hue Later writer's ignorant OF the modes OF
Indian lighting, have been led to accept state
hehts which are on their face impossible to such
Is understood the circumstances II is not DOS
sibie TO write connected narrative OF Tia. Winning
OF the West ihasmuch as the work was done
Almost nd ;rl,,
or direction. The influences which pushed the
backwoOdsmcn across the Allcghnnies had no
connection with any ideas OF Statc-founding A
mandy, adventurous people found themselves ON
the edge OF inviting regions, where game was
aDur Nnt the SOIL fertile, the springs numerous
ana conveneni.j situated, and the scenery
diversified and attractive Entrance TO
the promised land was barred by the Indians
who set up claims the vagueness and elasticity OF
which were such as 10 afford perennial grievances
but which never could be reduced TO rigid dcfin-
ton. At intervals men like Boone, Clark, Sewer
and Robertson conceived daring expeditions far
In advance Of the outermost settlements and these
expeditions led to the shifting forward Of the whole
line Of advance.
Life on the frontier OF that time was in nearly
all respects m intelligent barbarism tolerable only
TO race in whose veins an hereditary fighting
spirit burned. and whose pugnacity was balanced
by tcnacity OF purpose which made them ideal
pioneers. The ScotchIrish blood which settled the
backwoods was perhaps the only kind which would
or could have endured the terrible ordcas 10 which
those early borderers eX posed In these Young
communities no such thing as safety for life wa =
known. The central log fort, 10 which all who
could reteated upon the appearance of the Indians
might or might not prove sure defence In
another case II might not be aItalnable The In
dams attacked at all times and in all WAYS hut
Invariably with silence which enhanced the HOY
ror OF their bloody deSccnts. Without comforts or
conveniences, without educational means for thclr
children, compelled 10 protect the axe and plough
with the rifle. exposed TO the most poignant be-
rcnvements-the loss OF wives and children by ont
rage and torture and SUDDEN murder-thc wonder
Is not that the bach wUod>ncn became little loss
savage than their red foes but that they found IT,,
situation in any way tcnable As 10 the idea tn II
they were tempted by the freedom OF the 70, tina,
is nonsensica its face for nothing can br palmer
than that the despotisn OF the most absolute GOV.
eminent is absolute liberty when compared with {
condition in which the mere right TO live WAS dis
putcd and challenged SO pcrsistently and audI
eiously that no man could put his foot outside
his own door by day by night without encoun
terin2 the risk CT assassination or worse. Paris
during the reign OF terror was in fact safe II
abiding-place as the American border IN the peroc
treated of.
Mr.. Roosevelt writes with acknowledged au-
thority upon border life and Indian fighting and
his views upon these topics are often novel and
always interesting. He docs not believe that, as
D rule, the backwoodsmeH ever became the equal
OF the Indians in craft, though they cxcclrd the
rcd men in craftsmanship. When the two races
met in anything like equal numbers, he thinks the
i advantage was apt TO lie with the Indians. So
called victories the Indians by no means
always whnt they were represented to be. for il
wss a principle with the Indians not 10 press on
fights In which they must lose heavily. even with
p certainty OF ultimate success. When, there
fore, they found the work getting too hot they