New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-05

Indians necessarily developed caution ana haioi-
hood, the benefits Of pioneer discipline were re-
ccived. But New-York City remained for iohe
time little more than mart Of commerce, c'rcice
Of its government and its relations WIN us hegh
bors, and lacking political foresight and panh'
spirit.
It was the spirit Of Massachusetts which, Tor
a long period took and kept the lead among thc
Northern Colonies: in fact, until advancing omc
had diluted to meekness the old ecclesasocai III
huencc, and brought forward those civllzlhg
tendencies which the eighteenth century lhtro-
duced At the South all the initial influences
were aristocratic. The Church OF England 1al'h
and ritual were there dominant but the Church
of England was an establishment Thoroughly
adapted to the mode and tastes of that cavalier
element which took its stand by the Stnarts, ana
which preferred the enjoyment Of this life to
meditating upon and preparing for another one
Existence was pleasaner in the Southern colonies
il was more earnest in. the North-or perhaps we
should gay In New-England. The Southern col
onies were TO produce brilliant group of states
men and patriots; but even in the latter part OIL
the nineteenth century the foundations had been
laid for that industrial system, based on human
slavery which was to blight all the noble promise
of the past divert the intellect and vigor OF the
region from patriotic endeavor, and yoke 1t thence
forth in the debasing service OF an institution
whose expansion only assured and fastened the
ruin OF its defenders.
During the Colonial era, however, il is very Sig
nifcant that no matter in how many respects the
colonies might differ from one another they were
rs one in their resistance to the attempted en-
encroachmente of the Crown The best example OF
this resistance is found in the constant refusal OF
all the Colonial Assemblies to fix the salaries OF
the royal Governors. Almost as by instinct the
vital importance OF making firm stand on TINS
point occurred TO the colonists and from beginning
to end they stood like stone wall in opposition
This was by no means factiousness. 1T was SIM
ply and solely self-protccton. Here, moreover APP
pears the preciousncss of that Ango-Saxon train
inc. that inherited understanding OF freedom,
which at that time would have brcn sought vainy
in any other part of the world. For colonies,
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
and indeed late into the eighteenth
were regarded by all European Governments as
existing solely for the behoot and benefit OF the
mother country or the Crown To understand
how far this theory carried 1t Is only neccs-
sary 10 read any account Of the french COLONIES
in North America Here too the difference pe
tween the two races was shown Inc fiench
colonies wer, often turned over-farmed QUITO
mononolists. so also were several English colo
MICS But the results differed widely. In the
case of the French the colonies persisted under
the bad management and greed Of the mo-
nopolists In the case Of the English the colonies
turned ont the monopolists and throve
II would lie idle to contend that during the
Colonial era there was not much unnecessary
friction But this has always been the case
with colonies. TIE provincial spirit seems IN
compatible with abstention from heat OF poi':-
,.,lp in flc nlior larger
settlements. For a present example we have
only TO turn either to Canada or Australia, where
the heat of political agitation is forever volcanic
TO all outward appearance, though as rule moth
ing in the least alarming follows these portcntous
outbursts. The forefathers, like other colonists
were very fond Of political "shndcs.' and more
apt than people nowadays to go about shouting
that the country was in danger Indeed they
made things extremely uncomfortable for many
IL not most. Of the royal Governors, OF whom but
n small minority could have been anxious 10 re-
tain their offices.
Professor Fishers history takes us down 10
1856, and leaves the Colonial era not yet finished.
His successor, however, will need margin 10
proceed upon in-writing the history Of the French
War and the Revolution In this initial volume
Of the series the ground Is we'll broken. suf-
Gent survey has been made OF the scene upon
which so many great and dramatic events are to
take place. The early tendencies and charac-
teriscs Of the colonies are clearly and terscly in
dicatcd The principal acts of the period of be-
gnnings are described. The vigorous growth OF
the still separated communities is shown upon
broad lines In short the new historical series
is we'll begun, and the reading public will look
for the appearance of the succeeding volume with
interest.