The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-17

no better than the rest. "Slsve labor was nm
willing. stupid. and selfish: Il lacked intelli
gsnce and variety Of production. and unvarie,
crops exhausted the soil. In Virginia old to
baeco fields we're covered with forests OF pines
Larger crops OF cotton have been raised b,
free labor under all the disadvantages OF re
cent eman cipation. The slave. having no In
terest in thrift, was wasteful. The ownership
OF infancy and decrepitude was improbable
High industries, being socially and politically
antagonistic as well as economically alier
to the system. could flourish only in . few OIL
the larger cities" To sum up: I'm the house
OF civilization are many mansions, and very
peculiar institutions may serve humanity In
their way But In no way could hnma nifty q
served by American slavery. On the other hand.
American slavery threatened humanity with
aggression. Hunger ofland. as we'll as craving
for political power and for the needed barriers
against the advance OF emancipation drove II
on" Nevertheless. Mr.. Smith comedies that
the plea put into the mouth OF q good slave
owner has some force: He might feel that he
was doing his duty to his slave: he might COM
placently contrast his peaceful household with
the labor wars OF the North. his gentle wife and
daughters with its female aRitators, his polit-
ical calm with It's democratic turmoil" But
for the system itself. the author insists that
the only valid apology was the supreme diff
Guilty OF saying In what relation otherthan slav-
err the two races. brought together under an
evil star. and as 1t seemed. radically unequal
In capacity. could be placed toward each other.
That problem has hardly yet been solved"
VIZ
The last extracts which We shall make from
this remarkable book are some passages de-
picting the character OF Abraham Lincoln.
who 10 pronounced assuredy ono OF the
marvels OF history. No land but America has
produced his like. This destined chief OF q
nation In most perilous hour was the son OF
n thriftless and wandering settler. bred In the
most sordid poverty He had received only
the rudiments OF education. and. though he
read eagerly such works as were
within his reach. 1t is wonderful that he should
have attained as speaker and writer mas.
terry OF language and pure as we'll as eifec-
tive style. He had strong and eminently lair
understanding. with great powers OF patient
thought. which he cultivated by the study OF
Euclid. In all his views there was simplicity
which had its source in the simplicity OF his
His local popularity was due
argeiy to his humor and tho stock OF good
stories. always pointed. though not always
ielicate. which through life it was his delight
o collect and repeat At the Same time ne
vas melancholy. touched with tho pathos oil
human life. fond OF mournful poetry. reliGious.
houEh not orthodox. with strong sense Of
IN overruHng providence which. when he was
nut OF spirits. sometimes took the shane
II fatalism. His melancholy was probably
leepefed by his gloomy surroundings aud
~ misadventurns in love. AS politician he
freak a Quorum and cOnspred to wreck n
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'o'.o'A 80 ,",:,'1