New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-25


The limits Of this study OF American his
tory defined with precision IA tie authors
opening sentence My design he says. IL 70
write the history OF the United States from the IN
PRODUCTION Of the compromise measures OF lSoO
down 70 the Inauguration OF Grover Cleveani'
thirty-fve years later. This period. lie ADDS,
ranks next in importance 10 the formative period
to the declaration and conquest Of independence
and the adoption of the Constitution; and Lincoln
and his age a. closely identified with the pre-
servatlon of the Government a. Washington and
the events which he, more than any other man.
controlled are associated with the establishment
Of the Nation" While the conflict between the
two opposing principles temporarily adjusted IN 'iie
Missouri Compromise was destined 70 result III
the overthrow Of one or the other. il not until
the decade preceding the appeal TO arms that the
question OF slavery cngrossed the whole attention
of the country This fact justiGes the choice OF
the compromise of $50 the starting point IN the
authors investigation OF the anti-savery CONNECT
What he has to relate is the history of political
parties during a generation the downfall OF tue
Wbie party the formation of the Republlcah al"
the defeat of the Democratic party that Win oI4c
intermissions conducted the Government from '''o
election of Jefferson. its founder. Inc hrs' cru
ton of President Cleveland the author regards a'
a fitting close Of lis historical inquiry, since ny
that time the great questions when had '!'r
origin in the war had been settled so far as 'hcy
could be by legislation or rNccu,lv" direction
Clearly defined as the scope OF this important
work may he. in the opening pages 'he ""','o'
furnishes unconsciously indubablc evidence that
the period of which he writes has been compe''N
rounded ont. is separated i'y wide gulf from the
LIVING nycsent and is legitimate field for bistor-
raI investigation and philosophical reflection.
work like this so temperate in thought, so elevated
!, STYLE 50 lust and reasonable in EXPOSITION 50
,,rno in comprchcnsion of causes ana effects an"
go tolerant and truly catholic in conclusions colIu
NOT have been written if the mOmehtous peru"
under consideration had not been closed Ill 'o
other recent contribution to the study OIL Ai''i
oan nol,,ics &c ,horo so true sense OF historical
Irrespective As in these volumes. i"e "''" "
view is definitely outlined so that 1t l. ho' W.
scurcd By llazc and mist on the outer co""n''
Within il events. Tenderness iec'Sia'io"' P''"
col administrations and the men who have been
making history hand over han1, appear W t''"
,iohtful relations The picture Is perfect IN pro-
norton and in composition. II Is a compete S"'
,ey Of period that is finished. II Is WORK ol si''v
dicnitv Of purpose and j. rich in resources ~
,onrrinr and political ana moral philosophy. IN"
civic ,rliln less stately and rhetorical than tia' I"
bancroft. is direct trcnchant, often epleram'na'c
ard always luminous Every pas" pears cNIu'"''
Of pains;aking and lahOriouS research H''.S
clan;or has the impress of a cultivated Thoroughly
confined mind and OF magnanlmous, Tolerant
nature. e...
The first two volumes carry the narrative ITO"
,o.n to ,ba election Of Lincoln. The opening
chauter deals with the last of the compromises WIN
slavery rctrosrcctively in its relations with IN"
:..,d,c,io, If ,hc negro tralic and the political
ad;rs,,ncn.s which hal hocn made in the various
ortiGci,I ottcmps t. reconcile il with the genius
80 free institutions and modern progress Inc AZ
,i.,do of the leaders of tho wal OF independence
and Of thr trainers OF the Constitution toward
slavery is disclosed: America Is shown 70 nave
becn in advance Of Europe in its moral tone on
this oncstion the passage of the hrSt lueluNe
s,avo law. the effect Of the Invention OF the COT
TON gin. thc results Of the purchase OF Louisiana
the eNprdioncy Of the Missouri COMPROMISE V"e
outbreak Of the Modification troubles u!e an
rcxation of Texas and the war with MEXICO are
lupipolsly discussed: and the rise and progress oil
the anti-slavery movement Is contraSted WIN inc
Calhoun theory as il was formulated by master
mind and left TO work ont the utlma" d'sFu'-
ton of IN" peculiar institution
This preliminary survey opens the way Tor TWO
wclI-dgcstcd chapters on the compromls" measures
NJ $50 ard the enactment and operation OF the
fucitivc slave law. TIA" skcn OF pohtlcal IN
trieuc. auoitionist agitation, the Da"ic'
ambition cf Webster and the elevation
~ sccond.rate or emergency leaders TO
the Presidency is unraycllcd with uncrrins hnc-
ness of touch: and in orderly sequence the al
ministration of Pierce and the enactment OF ue
Kansas-Nebrasla bill are reached perhaps Inc
most thorough hit of work in the first volume Is
,he fourth cbaptcr. in which slavery is described
as il existed during the decade before inc civil
var The relations ~ public opinion 10 II North
c.,,,.L ora ornlvycd with critical dcumcN, NcJ
in the most temperate way
Tho author contends that the peculiar lnst'-
,ution WAS so interviewer with the poltlca'
and social life of the South that 10 IN
aucurate a movement there for Its aoohtloh
would have required genius py 'ne
side Of whom Calhoun and Davis would seem lhtci-
lcctual pygmics: but that although the nIgh'E
Caesar did not venture to assal the pfac'iec 81
sIoverv in Rome. a civilization superior IN the
virtue of humanity TO that OF the ancient worm
might have enabled a man a able ana energetic
.. ,bo Roman impcrator 10 work out under re-
nublcnn forms the salvation Of the South. NO
dorb, whatever exists that TIE moral sentiment
~ rho North would have favored employing The
treasure and the credit of the general government
IN rov for the slaves had the southern 0W"eS p'eh
willing 20 emancpatc them; vet no such project
WAS ENTERTAINERS for even had the Nor'h haue
such an offer il would have been spurhci pV inc
South The Iiberan colonizctlon scheme WHO
il proved a salvc to the tender consclenccs OF
many. was a fit subject for rfdcu!c rs means
Of putting an end to the evil. The SOUTHERN ioru
would not make the sacrifice OF his case To examine
the question honestly Jefferson DAVIS ana ms
fellow-plantcrs, who were iona OF oooNS anu
dcliphted in the study Of ancient history, might
Lo,o road in the year 1857 an impressive lesson :;
hrt their minds were not open 10 the reception Of
,rptb Gradual emancipation OF the slaves was
the only possible alternative for the civil war ana
il was not seriously contemplated
The evolution OF the Republican party and the
civil war in Kansas occupy large portion OF
the early chapters Of the second volume. Inc
.ssonlt upon Sumner, the bred Scott decision,