New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-30
BIOGRAPHY AND CRITICISM
HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL ESSAlS'

HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL ESSAYS. BY Henry
Cabot Lodge. Crown syo; PIP. e13. Boston anu
New York Houghton Mlihin e 90
These essays originally appeared in The AZ.
lantic Monthly" The Century, The Tribune.
THE Nineteenth Century" and THE Andover
Review Their republication is justified not
only by the importance of the Biographical
studies and political questions under discussion
but also by the intrinsic merits OF tue es-
saws which deserve to be read second unie
and to be preserved in permanent lOrHi' MI
Lodge is one of the best Informed and most
iudicous writer's American political history
His pages disclose at once the library s'u"eNV
who is contented with the congenlM SOCIETY "a
his books, and also the man OF anuis' VIM
has thought deeply on public questions d." mas
o. practical acquaintance with them. 10 inc
resources of a full and welltrained NINA Is auucu
q luminous style, simple and direct IN moVehch''
strong and trcnchant in statement ana siiis"
larlv lucid in exposition The Distinguishing char-
acteriste Of the authors matter ana mannei
is robust common sense. ana tlaI 10 s
Ncw-England trait
Tho biooraphical studies include Seward Maul-
son and Gouverncur Morris. Mr.. Lodges csti-
mate of Seward is conspicuous for inc discern
ment of complex forces of character beo"u'c
the great statesman was naturally pruoei' anu
cautious, he was regarded while he nved as
keen and wary politician without aggressive
courage, and III his later years as Vac'lia'inE
and time-serving lie Is revealed IN thcse pages
with lust criticism a man OF ehtlre COURAGE
and complete superiority TO clarnor ana prelu-
dice This is shown by his fearless lhdepehu-
cnce of party ard popular feeling on MANY
S+a.a questions. bv his liberality toward Roman
Catholics and by bis action in the free'h''i
case in taking up, alone and unsupported, the
,.rite iianl NJ ~
desDised and Hated race. His diplomatic poiicy
was both bold and aggressive, and vet was 50
tcmpered by prudence that it never degenera'eu
into rashress lie convinced foreign powers OF
orr readiness to fight which was of iheStlm"ole
value and which enabled us better than any
thine else TO keep clear of actual hoStlItles'
This comes ont strongly in the treatment OIL 'he
Mexican question and in tie determination anu
tenacity with which the Alabama claims were
pressed' His support Of President Johnson 10
explained by his sympathy with the generous
and macnanmous policy which Lincoln markeo
out in the second inaugural =.
Equally discriminating is the authors view VI
Madison one of the characters in American ',S'oi,
most generally misunderstood 10 this day WIFI" iV"
mon have made Themselves count for more than
Seward in proportion to their aolil'y' M'ulso D,
was a lonely man in public life without personal
following standing aoof in history as he ala
in life resrected and honored by all, Dut loVcu
nv mono The author describes with me an
alvtical power how this anomaly was pTouuceu
how he was faithful to his party, yet not III il'ii
accord with 1t: how those with whom he really
svmpathized opposed him throughout his HE :
md how his career was possible only TO man
nc cold rs conscientious and liberal as no
was Gouverneur Morris offers contrasting
studv which is most sympathetically treated. lie
is described as man of the world. ilne gehtlc-
man. a philosopher, ardent PATRIOT pracu-
coI statesman. and a successful business man :
and then the distinguishing touch is added. lie
had a strong wit, strong sense OF humor anu
q canactv for amusing satire. With the eXcep-
tion of Franklin he held a lonely pre-emnencc
among his serious contemporaries lhey were
somewhat ponderous, but he was an amusing
companion "Now and then we find moment
when we can laugh at them, but Morris is the
only ono with whom we laugh or smile in sym
pathy." -,
The political essays in this volume Will
naturally excite criticism from political opponents
whereas the biographical studies will he enjoyed
by all readers The subjects are Patronage IN
Office. "The Distribution Of Ability in the lnltei
States Parliamentary Obstruction" Parlla-
mentary Mirorities" and Party Allegiance.
The first Of these essays involves most luminous
exposition of the existing conditions OF political
patronage All are brOad-mnded temperate
and trcnchant contributions to current discuss on
of public questions.