New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-19
THE STORY OF AMERICA.

Ing the Important Events. Episodes and Incidents
Which Make up the RECORD Si lGoT MSSr and
Marshal Ii. Bright PIP. XIV, 55l. john T.
Winston Il Co.
The American people are likely to have many OPP
portunities in the next few months to review 'her
own history tp the most minute fashion. What with
instruction in the schools, university extension
lectures the collecting Of more OF less cOmpF"
libraries and the publication Of books that oncr
popular discussion of the theme within the space OF
a few hundred pages he who remains Ignorant ai'er
the close OF the coming year OF anything I'm
portant that was done for America by
America or In America, will be hopeless as TO his
patriotism his A, B, C's. In the more tah ooo
pages OF the book cited at the head OF thls arce'
the theme ls divided upon what may De cahe"
chronological lines There Is no other place 10 pce'h
except with the OF discovery unless the explorer
goes into the broad and richly productive field
of archaeology The relies and facts recovered In this
domain ere perhaps well suited to the popular
taste u others but II Is certain tba', Whe'r
they Will the people at large Will nave
knowledge OF Americas high antiquity before the close
of 1893 that will shame their ignorance In 1792. Inc
explorations In Ohio In the Fur West In Mexico ana
Central America are likely TO bring before all
picture Unexpectedly complete OF HE that mao
Il practically disappeared from the Continent before
Columbus and his Successors set foot on Its shores
One will have to think Of America as not new
country at all, but one where the human race had
passed through strange vcissiudes covering period
that extended all the way from the ancient glaciers
down to the present day. something OF this Is told
In the thirteth chapter OF this volume but 1t Is a
mere hint OF the knowledge on the subject which Is
really attainable. The purpose In this case Is TO
picture the progress that has been made from the
shallow cave Of the intra glacial rolodyte down to
the structures Of modern times which surpass both
in beauty and utility, even the royal palaces Of the
Old World
In opening up the disputed question respecting the
extent Of Morse discoveries on the Atlantic coast, 1t
would have done harm allude TO the narratives
OF ancient Chinese naysators, which. as some seem
to tiuk point TO explorations along the Pacific shot'
While these vague accounts Offer little certainty. yet
the smallest fact in reference Aue1caa antiquity
will grow IN importance witt the progress OF culture
The is true OF the Norse legend. Whether
doubtful 1t Is Of no practical value s'olm
Mp. IIorsfords conjecture prove correct tina, the
New Ell land INDIAN word "sagamccc" was co'rup-
ton OF the Morse term "easauian' and that other
terms used by tie red men 0. Massachusetts BAY
were related 70 dscovcrable Morse words, the fact
would cniy show that the ancient immigrants from
ICELAND had lost uter identity among the dark
hued tribes Of the forest. But after all few could
fail TO take interest in positive proof that by the
dim light OF the middle ages men with whom ncry
all the white Inhabitants of North America can claim
hnship more or less remote visited Tie country now
added to the domain Of civilization.
But history begins where the unsettled problems
Of archaeology and antiquity leave of. Even II II
10 not altogether clear from the numerous portraits
Of Columbus what manner OF man he was the recoru
Of his discoveries and Of what followed them is as com
plete as anything human can be. 1t is certain tha
while he was more penetrating than Others had been
in respect to the secrets Of nature wci he proposed
70 clear up he not Il cad OF his age IN Olher
matters He willing to Sc" the races whom nc
had found worn ont IN slavery, and Ills compassion
like that Of many other human creatures was largely
1ad NV far fhp
race and the spanish royalties and grandeeS had
no plty for him II ins taken 400 years TO teach
royalty and mobility that they are no better In mlnd
or body than their neigllb)rS In respect 10 strange
races .he white man cannot he said TO have got the
lesson thoroughly learned even at this day. The
dark side 81 America discovery and conquest ard
colonization should not be forgotten, because the
picture is untrue without it.
In this volume the reader follows the narrative OF
Columbus. Of the Cabots. Of De Soto and the rest
throughout the period that elapsed while navgators
were feeling their way around the c6ast. and land
adventurers slowly making their way toward the
centre OF the continent As TO the name given the
New World the authors Of this work recite the argll-
pents which clear Americas Vc,pucius from the vulgar
egosIn Of giving his name to Brazl but they DO not
aude 70 the learning that has been expended IN the
really plausible effort to show that NespucusS name
was Americas and that the title of he continent
was IL fact word taken from aboriginal language
not be the first time that the facts OF history lad been
reversed in the process Of repetition.
The differences IN the methods Of exploration and
colonizng adopted by the various European nations,
and particularly the change produced IN English meth
DDS nv environment In the New World are Well brought
out All through that eventual perioi the examples
are numerous which show how nearly impossible i. is
for "a centralized monarchy to establish colonies. and
how naturally tho problem worked itself out with
nation like England, H. which the people rad
always been able to make Roadway against the
sumptons o: authority. While spanish cOl0nlstS
forced 70 wa: Cor a decision. upon trivial affairs.
whuo n ship could 20 and come between Europe and
America, Engishmen took matters In their hands.
and their descendants year by year became more In
different 70 opinion In the old country, and
accused Of s.uGOusly preventing the home Government
from obtaining full knowledge Of their affairs. How
vain any effort to control colony by an artificial
and preconcerted system shown In the failure Of
John LOckcs scheme for starting human paradise
within the bounds OF the Carolinas
Chapters devoted TO picturesque account Of
the modes OF life In the Ne England and Viz gna Of
colonial times, the exploits Of ;he buccaneers and
pIaics the gradual growth Of democracy. the War fl:
Independence the struggles Of the pioneers the gradual
accessons OF territory, the formation of States the
policy OF the Nation respecting the Indian and the
negro and foreign relations. The church. the schoo,
Industry and invention in varied phases, literature
and politics. the growth Of the great cities and the
thousand and one topics that belong 10 American
civilization, are all treated with less detail.
In addition TO tho work OF Mr. Mabic and Mr.. Bright
papers have been contributed by senator Sherman,
Senator Dawes. Bishop Vincent, Miss Willard Repre-
sentative Brcckinhdgc and others. The volume Is