New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-25

by the Americans Federalist no less than Repup-
lican, a boon.
How little prcscience communities possess Is
shown by the fact that this peace hailed so JOY
fully at Boston and throughout the North Drought
disaster upon Ncw-England. Daring the DOCK
AIDE great stimulus had been given TO manu-
facturcrs who, having themselves been confined
for years h. Napocons system to restricted mar
kets were forced, when the barriers were removed
to dispose of their accumulated stocks Mt any
price The consequence was that MASSACHUSETTS
was almost ruined: and a. she Lad been foremost
in organizing the Hartford Convention ana IN
preaching dsuniOn, she received lttle sympathy
from her sister States, who, when complaints
appeared in New-England papers, advised their
neghborS sarcastcally to call another Hartford
Convention" On the other hand, the southern
States, which had been 50 reluctant 10 end the
war, notwithstanding their suferinSs from 1t, now
enjoyed a sort Of commercial millennium. Their
wheat. which they had been feeding horses with,
sprans to a lordlX price Their tobacco and their
cotton rose in like manner. There was prompt
and good sale for every pound of their produce,
and foreign cash rolled in upon them in waves
which converted scores of pIanters into million
aires and spread prosperity and plenty over the
whole region.
Madison. too, was beneficiary of the peace
Before its conclusion his Administration was APP
parently unpopular beyond precedent. At one
time it looked though before the close of it
there might be no Union 10 govern from Wash
ingtOn But the plumbers of the Administration
had been retrieved by the capacity Of individuals
Men like Brown and jackson on land, men like
Hull, Decatur, Perry, cambridge AT sra, had
gained more than the President and Cabinet could
lose The peculiar instability which had always
been an American characteristic came also to the
relief Of the Administration The war had not
pressed heavily upon the people. II left behind
it some deep eriefs. some vacant chairs. but not
enough 10 lcaVcn the mass. The public recovered
with almost French buOyancy from their de-
preston and flung themselves instantly into the
current Of business and speculation. In swiftly
growing country of ilmtabc resources, peopled
by race already attuHrd 10 it's characteristics.
such rapid revolutions of feeling. such abrupt d.
versions OF popular energy can alone DE looked
for. The Administration found Itself suddenly
popular after having been barely tolerated. As
10 the Fcdemlists, they were stranded high and
dry. All their energies had been devoted to
fighting the Union because Of the war. There
being no longer war they were deprived of all
reasons for existence. But they. too. were Ancrl-
cans. and quickly adapted themselves 10 the al
tered situation. There ceased for fine To he any
distinction between parties. At last there were
no issues Yet Mr.. Adams is careful TO point ont
that behind all their evity the majority of The
people had not ceased ~ regard the late war with
sharp disfavor: and this was shown in the cleo
tion of Fcdcrasts in preference to Republicans in
the legislative and Congressional elections I'M
mediately following the ratification of the treaty
of peace.
Madison retired from office TRANQUILITY and with
out any marks Of popular diSapproval- after all
that had happened during his two administrations
in spite of himself and by ways which could not
have been fOrcsccn. This of course. is the natural
conclusion of the history. hut Mr.. Adams has
added four chapters. in which he considers
economical results. religious and political Thought
literature and art. and American character These
dissertations are full of thoughtful analysis and
suggestive speculation: and that dealing with re-
ligiOuS thought will I've found particularly inter
csting, treating as il does OF the rise OF nj
tarianisn in New England and the opening Of 4
more liberal and optimistic intellectual period.
American literature in lSli-'lS covered a narrow
field. as the chapter upon II sufficiently indicates
but here als0 new vlgor ana new tendencies were
beginning 10 he manifested. and the appearance
If Washington Irving's knickcrbockers History
of Ncw-l Ork" eignaliZcd the change. Nj Adams
thinks AZ this time too. American character took
on distinctive aspect: that between $500 ana
1873 it had cTNstlllIlcd in truly national mould
special and distinguishing traits and elements: that
first il deserved 10 20 regarded rs American m
short, and that il ceased 10 be provincial AT this
point All these concluding chapters deserve 10
hc read carefully, hut no more can he SAID 81
them here. IL remains only 10 characterize the
whole work which j. happily concluded IN
these volumes No doubt il contains errors, and
no doubt. in the estimation Of some. II may he
thought to exhibit prejudice undue bias in
places. But blemishes Of this kind no consider
able historical work ever has been or probably
ever VIII be free from. ON the other hand. It's
merits are plain and numerous. No more spirlted
qraphG or picturesque study Of period could be
desired It's style is at once animated clear and
impressive. It's portraits and vivid ard well
colorcd lis descriptions are mastery The an
thor carries his readers with him throughout and
leaves nothing uncN planned which is susceptible of
explanation. The references L. authorities are
ample but not ohtrudcd Together this history
deserves 70 rank with the best Of the time. and
This We have no doubt. will be the verdict OF
those who are most competent 10 form an in
tclligcnt JUDGMENT