New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-23

10 render interesting and his volume oil onserN"-
ton. descriptions and reflections. Dasch upon
trim 70 and through the South TO fioriua' i
characterized by his best literary quaHleS'
Travelling south in a lesurcly way. under me
orders of his physician, he diversed mere ana
thcre for the purpose of visiting historic paces'
old bait 10 grounds and 'Istih@"iS"c" P'oP'''
Among the most animated OF his chapters are
those which describe famous battles In the la'e
war, and thus he pictures the siege ol NhoAV'l'
ord tho movements about Chattanooga. with the
:" hattie in the Clouds" and later gives an I'M
commonly stirring and graphic account OF inc
battle of Franklin. often enough described, bu,
not so often or so thoroughly that This latest ac-
count is unwclcome superuous DR.. Field
ALWAYS visited the old battle-ground in the com
pany Of men who had fought in the battle. and
thus he was enabled TO obtain both accurate and
vivid impressions Of all that had occurred. On
visiting Missionary Ridge and recalling the de
precating criticisms eXtant rs 10 the height ana
PERCEPTIONS character of this battle-ground. he
was surprised TO find that the situation was even
more mountainous the ascent sleeper, more
rugged and difficult than represented in what had
been objected TO as exaggerated accounts
Following in the track of Sherman's march
10 the sea. and noting everywhere the great access
of prosperity and commercial and manufacturing
activity in the places and regions most shattered
and devastated by ne war. the author reached
Florida, and took up his quarters at st. Au-
gustne in the famous Ponce de Leon Hotel the
beauties and wonders Of which he describes with
a good deal of enthusiasm. Florida exercised the
usual fascination over him. the charm of the
climate more than compcnsating for the scenic
deficiencies Of the country: though whether this
fla of han
TWO months soioum in the case of an aesthct
icaly exigent visitor remains to be seen. While
here DR.. Field made an excursion TO Jupiter n
let. n curious resort Of duck hunters. where
lighthouse appears 10 he nearly the sole hablta-
ton on shore, and supernatural river steamer,
moored alongside the bank. furnishes accommo-
dation to visitors. Among the interesting facts
which arrested his attention in Florida what
he styles "New-England in the South: the
gradual settlement of waste places. that is 10
say. by New-England men, who are thus populat-
ing the pine barIens slowly, and establishing
there an element of thrift and industry quite
new and strange to the district If there is
anything apparently hopeless at the South, il is
the future Of the poor whites" who have for a
long time veGetated in this region Without
single ambition. destitute of energy, sluggishly
content if they can secure enough pork, whiskey
and tobacco to subsst them wholly wanting in
independence ready 10 borrow right and left
from all who will lend to them. too law 10 work.
too ignorant to think, too stolid 10 he ashamed
of their degradation-the outlook for these people
is emphatcally gloomy. In the struggle for ex-
istence it would seem inevitable that they should
succumb. the first test-that of fitness for sur
vival-being so obviously against them.
His presence at the South naturally led DR.
Field to reflect upon the negro problem. and he
6evotes seven chapters in this book 10 candle.
temperate and forceful discussion of it, The
views which he has adopted are in the main in
accordance with those the readers of The Tribune
IRE now familiar with. He takes strong ground
against all the projects that have been preached
for the deportation Of the negroes. They are. me
rightly maintains. here to STAY They have
exactly as good rights in the country as the white
Inhabitants possess. This moreover. is their
only home, and there is not the slightest ground
for supposng that any important percentage OF
them wish or would he willing TO leave IT, Dr.
Field indeed. has certain pet theories OF his own.
when he comes TO consider the political situation
at the South. For example, he strongly disap-
proves of the national policy which conferred the
suffrage upon the freedmen. and he compares the
policy, twin folly, with the reckless admission
70 all the rights and privileges Of citizenship OF
hordes of ignorant white immigrants at the North
Probably it did DR.. Field good TO free his mini
on this question, but a serious contribution 70
the problems in issue. these views Of his can
scarcely he accepted. In fact they are entirely
In the air, for they have reference TO measures
which have come TO STAY" quite as much as the
negroes themselves apparently. The merit o.
his discussion. apart from this impractical digrcs-
ignore or try 10 belittle tine diverse side Of fLc
question. He takes into full account all the dc.
fects and vices OF the negro no less than those
Of the white people at the South. The future. as
it appears to him. depends upon the agreement
of the two races TO do their best franh,r. the
whites in educating and elcvatng The negroes. The
latter in educating and elcvating Themselves The
vital truth that self-discipne is essential 10 all
permanent growth in character and conduct is
boldly stated and enforced At the same time
ii is pointed out that the Southern whites cannot
take advantage Of negro political venalty-of the
readiness of the colorcd voter 10 sell the suffrage
save at their own peril. The establishment Of A
thoroughly venal suffrage must prove in the lonq
run the graveSt obstacle 10 Southern civilza-
ton. As regards the alleged peculiar vices amt
frailtcs Of the negro. Dr. Fields position is thor
Oughly sound. II is that the negro IS neither more
nor less than human being: that he represents
faithfully. as do all human beings the conditions
through which he has passed that lis most cor
spicuOus weaknesses and foiblcs to-day are the
direct results OF the slavery 10 which lie was for
TWO centuries subjected; and that il does not lie
i'll tie mouth Of the nation which was responsible
for his serv'udc and enforced degradation 10 twit
him with his lack of development
Nevertheless the negro must help himself il he
expects to rise, and he must learn 10 stand alone
DR.. Field thinks that a considerable proportion OF
the old slaveowners are well disposed 10 their
former chatcls and that these relations ar, among
the most helpful and the best TO be found But
in the natural course such conditions are im-
permanent. The old slaves and the old slave
owners are fast dying out together, and the gen
erations which to take their places should he
prepared in time 10 adopt easily the new arrange
ments. AS 10 the social problem, our author
wisely holds that ii is Impracticabc TO 10 any
thing about 1t beyond insisting that separa tion
81 the races in public convcyanccs, etc. Shall not