The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-14
sEArrLE TUESDAY. JAsUART -.
JEFFKnsoNs FIRST ADsEISIsTRA-
TON.

There has not for many years been
more valuable contribution 20 American
history than the tirsttwo volumes Of Henry
Adams "Hlstory Of the United States,
shich have recently been issued. They
are devoted 70 the period from 1901 to 1896.
included in the Grst administration Of
Thomas Jefferson, and 70 say that they
throw food of light upon this hitherto
obscure period OF American history is
nothing more than to do them justice.
They place before the American people
mass OF Information which not only is ex-
eeedingly valuable bat Is also entirely
new, even TO close students Of American
history.
There are few periods in the history Of
the United States more fraught with inn
portans events than that covered by the
two administrations of Jefferson and the
first administration of Madison, and there
"a no period OF which as little Is known.
This latter fact IT.. perhaps, not unnatural
The years preceding 1901 were filed with
loud party strife and with foreign compli-
cations OF most interesting nature. In
the year 1912 the second war with Great
Britain with its many interesting and inn
portant events, began. and q new era OF
history may be said 10 have begun with It.
Ii Il nos strange that the atteRtion of the
historian should have been directed toward
the more thrilling periods and that the
years intervening between them should in
great measure have been neglected. Yet il
was In these years that the Louisiana
purchase was negotiated 1t was IN
these years that the United States
came 10 the verge Of war. first with France,
then with Spain, and then with Great Brit
ain. IL was in these years that the naval
war against Tripoli was successfully waged.
II was in these years that Chief Justice
John Marshall rendered many Of that re-
maFkahle series of decisions which changed
the nature OF the Federal government 1t
was IN these years that the Virginia Re-
publican theory OF the government broke
down and disappeared forever.
To deliver this important period nom
the gloom which has surrounded il. and
TO present II 90 the American people Ia rs
true light. was evidently the object which
Mr. Adams had In view in the preparation
Of his history. lie has succeeded remark.
ably well, and bis work cannot fail To
modify IN very great degree the gener.
ally accepted judgment upon the 'uea and
measures Of the first years of the century.
Mr. Adams has not recountea historical
facts already known, nor has be been con-
tent to review the events Of the period As
Al ~ D.
sought entirely new material. Strangely
enough. hs has gore 20 Europe in search OF
American history. lie has searched the
French and Spanish archives fer doeu.
uents which threw light upon American
events. and he has succeeded in clearing
some Of the most obscure points in Our his
tory. lie hss entered new Geld OF Aneri-
can history. which be may fairly claim as
his own discovery.
4 large portion Of the. drss volume Is
devoted 90 description OF the American
PEOPLE At the beginning Of tbs ceutary--to
brief but comprehensive statement Of
tholr manners, morals and castoms. Ut
their intellectual lise ard 81 tha differences
az nature and education presented,
BY tAe peoples Of tae different Sec
ton. Of tie eouatFy This paFiloa
II the history is philosophical Ia
zoe highest degree. IL presents a gsaphie
picture u the American people rs they
were ninety years ago. The aasheE reAs-
ems tr0sa caasr 10 effesR WITH a ciosenesS
sna eisSFness whkeh caanot gail 70 excite
tae admiration q the reader. and IN these
preliminary pages he shows shs true ex.
plsastioa ii saaav a. the events with which
De subsequently, deals.
The unssshle character az jefferson ana
hss eempets yes almoss unconscious re-
putiAtion x tie principles II governments
whoee advocacy elevated hsn a. power,
are clearly SCI tcTth. ~ aete1y recount
tag the early events q jefferson sEusnss-
uatsen ard pointing oas their iumse,fiAis
causes and tsseiF ultimate s.sects. Mr.. Adams
eondemns taat statesman faE a disregard Of
hts oSn rTinsspisss Which ia lie BSAt az
subsequent History must he regarded a.
exceedingly feFtanaie. rArAaexical As il
nAy seem. Thomas Jsfssson Is Is mseA
responsible a. AlsxAaGes Hamasoa or
dean MaEsasa Ger the consolidation x the
federal paReF and is wltsnaal< sriassE.A
evsr as VsygsasA thssgy q states rigAss
q whlsA lie Almsssg vas Ia - xseaf degree
the susA0x.
IL Is Ia reeeuntsaw he SERIES IS lmpcstaat
ssesslsts0ns WAaaA preceded ard followed
sAe louisiana psFeA4se hoaeTs-, tAas NJ.
Aaanss ssskes his mass val8sh&a noaEzl.
sasAen b hissovy. As hss hcsn SAL. BE
whites shAs Ezsst4aa os hAs HISTORY frgaa a.
E@sNpeAs rasAsF tAAa ffsas 2H Aasss1an
esansrsant lis gives 10 tAs pah3.c sm-
rsaFk4ns presseA an9 spanish osslaA&i aeea-
sasass. ssN q ~AsA h3sw eye< hesare been
eAhssAAmd. SD u Ianas 81 wAhcA ssxa sas