New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-14

Almighty Dollar. Slavery at the South anu az
ceptance Of slavery az the North had piousN'
about this state Of things. The Nof'h nav ~
famliarizcd itself with the argument that oe''u'e
the Constitution recognized slavery thereioie Nv
rood citizen could touch the evil that inns
sophistrv appeared to the majority su','cleNe
answer 10 all representations of the enoih"S =,
the system To meet and dssipate thlS pdH'i",
fallacv such dinlectic as Gorrison's and Wendell
Phillips imperatively needed IL was ''''
from the politicians that moral regeneration was
to he obtained. They had but one specihc' anu
that was compromise and so welded were 1hey
IN their idol that even AT the very end OF
Bnchanans Administration. when seven Southern
States had already passed ordinances of secession.
q Great many Of them-and Buchanan hlms'h
conspicuous among them-thought that war migh'
still be avoided if only the North would MAKE n
few more concessions. No wonder that the oou'h
crncrs so misudged the Northerners as 10 sen"
commissioners to demand from Bichansh' Hicir
sbiect tool and creature the prompt SURRENDER
of all the Federal fortresses. navy yards, arsenals
and property of every kind situated within the
Confederate zone
Had he been surrounded by his old Cabinet IL
is highly probable that the President would nave
yielded to this impudent demand, and as II was
many people at Washington thought his refusal
saddle that it was exceedingly difficult TO persuade
the North that the shareholders had not somehow
a prescrptive right t. rule and that the claoSii-
cation Of Northerners rs "mudsils was not lusti-
fed Mr.. Schoulcr has in the present volume
handled all the elements OF this strange, confused
shameful period, with admirable f'rce ana pre-
| csiou. IT, as already suggested, he has somewhat
underesimated one of the flctorS in the situation,
he has analysed the political currents and influences
of the time with uncXamplcd patience and c!abora
ton, showing in especial, how the Southern policy
defeated itself, and not defeated by any North
ern ocunter-pocy. Thus the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise aud the Kansas-Nebraska bill,
so far from effecting what was expected. did more
10 rouse the conscience of the North than anything
had done. In like manner the plots OF the Mis-
souri, borderruffans against the freedom of Kan
sas chiefly efficient in creating the Emigrant
Aid Association, which taught tic country that the
time had come for resortng to the final arbltra-
ment, and that ballots must he defended with
bullets
Since the events chronicled by Mr.. Schouer
great changes, great advances, have occurred.
Not however in all things, as his account Of
Democratic misrne in New York far back as
1883 reminds TGmmany Hall in 1892 Is not
PERHAPS precisely what it in the times of Fer
| nando Wood and of Tweed, but the abuses which
ii has always fostercd and hourished upon not
parativcly remote days. and the prospect Of be-
ing freed from corruption and misgovcrnmcnt is
not conspicuously brighter now than then. To
return 10 history: Mr.. Sch0uler il very severe
in his estimate of Franklin Pierce The question
is is he too severe for justice? We do not think
So The Fins 4 peGcS against Light Were very
sovereignty, the repeal of the Missouri tompro-
mise, were all episodes OF his Administration. and
for all Of them he was responsible; His BETRAYAL
of the North was open and Shameless. No Pres-
dent base ~ trucklcd TO the Slave Power.
buchanan weak and spirltleSs. but al the
crisis he did muster courage to turn out his evil
advisers and surround himself with loyal and
STGRs he acfvc Of Bur Pierce
TO facilitate the expansion Of slavery,
and III tolcd TO the very end in the same spirit
Mr.. Schouler SAYS: Franklin Pierce was a
mournful disappointment 10 all who had hoped
for golden era OF peace and harmony. and to the
New-England that bore and reared him. Pop
ular. and Overwhelmingly So when swept into the
elemcnts-fslsely imagined strong and Trustworthy
because his private lif, was purc-hc disguised
and lost strength In the free States so rapidly
wear by wear of his administration that those who
had bent him to their wishes dared not risk a
second National canvass under him" In short
he flung aside like a broken tool. ard he
deserved his fate.
or Lincoln we see but little here for Mr.
| Schouler's plan embraces only his entrance upon
the scene. When he entered the White House.
moreover, he was really not known 10 the people
| and his popularity was nothing 10 what il became.
! He developed and expanded under pressure. rising
higher and showing nobler as the great conflict
! deep'ned or Seward. chase. and many other
leading men. there careful portraits and they
| are given full credit for their genuine deecrts
| The honesty and sincerity of Mr. SchOuler's cst-
mates are beyond question. though occansonalv
their entire accuracy may be doubted He has with
! this volume concluded work which deserves TO be
called great. moreover. and its value is sure 70 be
better appreciated as tim passes