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


series intended to presen, succinct and compact
history Of the United States from their beginnings
to the present time. According TO the plan the
whole period is divided into four distinct epochs'
The frst is the epoch of discovery and COLOMBIA
ton; the second, that Of the French and hdiah
wars and the Revolution; the third, the discus
sion and adoption OF the Federal Cons'l'utioi'
and the approach Of the originally dscoruah'
States towards consolidation; the 1ourCn, we
sectional conflict slavery. from the rise Oh
the slave power TO the end OF the recohS'rucuoh
period. The last epoch Will require TWO 'oiuneS'
the first three being dealt with in one each, so
,ha. The whole series will consist Of five volumes.
The second volume - The French War and the
Revolution, will be by William NJ. Sloane.
PHI D. Professor Of History in Princeton Uni
versity The third volume has been entrusted
70 General Francis A. Walker, president OF the
Massachusetts, Institute of Technology, who will
deal with the era of the Constitution The two
concluding volumes treating Of the antislavery
contest, the war; and it's consequences. VIII DE
prepared BY John W. Burgess, PHI d., LII. D., Pro
feesor Of History, Political Science. and Consti-
tutional Law in Columbia College.
1t is always a difficult task to write history IN
accordance with predetermined spatial conditions
No matter what knowledge and talent may ne
brought to the work, such conditions are hamper
Inc prODlem naruest W eoi'c 10 '"0 ~
tention of interest in a narrative which is neccS-
sarily conducted nearly possible to the point
of dryness In Professor Fishers volume a
conscientious endeavor has been made to fulfil
these requirements and q useful and O judiciously
arranged photographed note has been appended,
indicating the authors from whose works de-
tailed accounts of most of the matters mere
cureory treated. may he obtained. The author
has considered il best TO trace the growth OF each
colony separately and while this plan lnterferes
with the connectedness Of the narrative. IL Is
probably the only one which would have served
the purpose A break has been made at the Eng
lish Revolution of 6ss, which, Professor Fisher re-
marks, lis so important landmark. that
it appeared TO advisable 10 break the narrative
into two parts. By this arrangement the attention
is not kept fastened each colony by itself
through the entire course Of the history. while
the others are in the main left out of sight. IL
also seemed little more conducive to unity OF
impression to take up the several COLOMBO in
different order in the second part, from that
adopted in the first
OF course il was impossible in such work to
devote much space to the era of discovery or to
study of the native races of the country. Neces-
sary facts are given on both topics, but nothing
further The author has avoided discussion of
the NOse explorations aud the "Vinland' theory.
His account OF the Indians could not well be
briefer, and leaves much 10 be desired. Then fol
low chapters on Virginia, Maryland, and the
Carolinas, up to 1858 The meagreness Of the
Southern archives renders it easy TO deal almost
summarly with these colonies, but New-England
cannot be so CURLY dismissed, and two long
chapters are given to the records Of the Purtans
So much has Of late years been written on New
England by special investigators that little in
hat fD
A host of venerable traditions and legends have
in the inquisitorial process been swept away, but
yet there remains of deeply interesting
picturesque and suggestive material, much Of 1t
quite rs alien to modernty as the most curious
fictitious stories. Professor Fisher has steered
his way between fact and legend with practiscd
adroitness and we have found no instance in
which he has failed TO profit by the latest and
best authorities.
One promise made by the publishers, namely
that this series will make especially prominent
the social picture Of each epoch and occupy itself
with the manners, habits, beliefs. aims and con-
duct Of the great public, rather than the acts OF
individuals, however representative" is but par
italy redeemed in the present volume. In fact,
with the limited space at command, il is difficult
TO see how it could have been carried out. Even
when histories have been originally planned to
present the life of the people rather than acts OF
governments, party contests, etc. it has some
times been found extremely difficult TO live up to
the programme. But there is one thing which
this condensed history of the COLONEL era enables
the reader to do with especial facility; and that is
70 realize the nature and extent Of the differences
which existed from the very beginning, not only be-
tween the Northern and the Southern
colonies. but between the various Northern colo
MES, and between New-England in especial ana
Many influences of course represented in
these differences but rise above the rest in in
portance The character of the soil and climate
determined the social organization of New-Engand
and the Southern colonies. In the one case con-
ceupratdon of population gave dominance TO
urban life In the other case the plantation system
led TO dispersion OF the community.
The necessity in New England of guarding against
Indian attacks OF course, counted for much in the
adoption of the policy of concentration, but the
natural sterility Of the soil was the first inceI-
tive to it, Another very important factor in the
ease Of New-England was the religious element.
A colony composed largely Of members Of one
church, OF even one congregation, must always
possess a cohesion elsewhere lacking and when
religion is recognized as the first consideration in
life and it's ministers entitled TO evil as well
as ecclesiastical authority, the highest degree Of
consolidation is reached The value of NewEng-
land solidarity, though brought about by methods
which modern views could Lot accept, was never
theless intellectually great. 1t was this originally
ecclesiastical close communion which developed
and maintained the intellectual vigor the facility
in debate and controversy, the jealousy Of
oil freeman's rights and privileges. which
for generations kept absoutism al arms length.
prevented an aggressive crown from achieving any
conquests, and, when the time was ripe struck
the successful blow for independence.
There was much narrowncss in the New-Eneland
spirit for a time, but it a defect which could
safely be left TO time as the event proved Per
haps Professor Fisher has failed to insist sufi-
GENTLY upon consideration which, indeed, few
historians have done justice to; we refer 10 the
4.G4 IL