The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-15


upon the United States form OF govern
ment as something SO radically different
from anything else that Is now In opera
tion that 1t amounts to the application
OF principles revealed TO the founders
OF IL In almost the sense that II is claimed
the Biole was revealed to its inspired au-
thors. We find 1t difficult to escape from
the belief that the constitution is, for ex-
ample, the result of the discussion and the
prescient intelligence of the body OF men
that formulated II and reduced II to writ
ten form. We regard this government as
an experiment, and speak OF II in that
light. We are beginning to dimly perceive,
however, that we are engaged in task
that has been delegated to men from the
beginning OF things, and that our gov
ernment Is based upon principles that
have been operative TO some extent In all
governments, or have been evolved from
the experience OF the people
under governments. We can scarcely
claim to be the exponents OF anything
new, II we take account OF the develop
ment OF governments since the French
revolution effectualy broke feudalism.
This Is not SO radically brought out In Z.
Ellis Stevens Sources Of the Constitu-
tion OF the United States Considered
In Relation to Colonial and English
History" II is led up TO, however, and
IL suggests that as the only logical con-
clusion taught by history. Indeed, this
book really opens the door TO considera-
tion OF the growth and functions OF gov
ernments very much wider and deeper
than 1t attempts TO specifically deal with,
and its interest and value To the thought
ful student is that 1t furnishes link OF
srgumentative evidence in a chain that
nd hat
Germs not only governments, but aspects
o. human life in relation to which
governments are but Developments
and incidents. This book has
met with large measure OF success, as
the volume under notice Is the second edl-
ton, following the first edition with an
interval OF only few months. liz Is a most
interesting study, or exposition. 1t re-
lates TO matters that all intelligent
people are deeply interested In,
ana have some adequate know
ledge of. All are, for instance, in
terested in the question OF the powers,
prerogatives and duties OF the President,
ana the tracing OF the origin CT those
powers to the practices and powers of
colonial governors, and from them
to the royal persopages who defined
and delegated their functions; and
having thus received the impetus from
MIR. Stevens, it is inevitablet hat the in
quiry should point TO a field OF research
that includes almost the whole field of the
slow formation OF the human beings with
self-restrained communities that type
and evidence the power of progress
that makes for perfection. But 1t 10 not
necessary TO pursue the clue further than
the author does. He goes far enough to
reveal, and occupy, a field OF research i'm
structiye TO degree that resides in
few works of historical char
acter. To understand the work.
lngs of the government is one of the
paramount duties of the good citizen, and
real understanding is scarcely possible
without correct comprehension OF the
historical basis upon which IL rests. Mr..
Stevens labors to point out that the con-
stitution is a document, and TO indicate
the sources of its contents. The point Of
view of the author by no means denies to
Americans originality, or distinctive
tone TO our institutions. 1t is not his aim
TO discuss his tn .me in that light, but the
impulse TO consider it will be impaired
TO sensitive readers. His argument
coincides with the views of progressive
anthropologists and advanced students of
ethnic science--that our Institutions are
nels through which Teutonic influences
have reached and operated upon
our constitution are English
and colonial, which Is generally
the protest of advanced English thought
and conscience against English ridigity,
Douglass Campbell and his theory Of
Dutch dominance of Puritanism in New
England TO the contrary, ne tw tbstanding.
Ine Literary style OF the book Is
simple, and leaves the substance to show
itself In its true relation and at its true
value. There are frequent and copious
footnotes, which are intended In some in
stances TO justify the authors position
and in others to furnish corroborative tes-
timony TO similar conclusions. Some
of this elaboration OF authority seems un-
needed, and almost tends to justify a
suspicion that the authority is uncertain
of his own ability to expound and main
tain his ideas. Macmillan & Co., New
York; ii. Gregory, Providence.
Professor Goldwin Smith has been re-
minding the Canadians that their litera-
ture Is feeble. That there is enough Cana
dian literature TO develop feebleness will
be news to most people.
II anybody who reads this has Har-
per's Magazine OF March, 1894, let IL be
treasured. 1t contains that portion of
"Tribly" which brought Mr.. Whistler
into the arena with dire threats of libel
suits and extorted from the dgnified
Harper firm one OF the most abiect retrac-
tlons and apologies ever printed. The
Objectionable matter Is not in the
"Trilby" book OF course The magazine
is worth "s3 or sf' in New York, so it is
reported.
Sad as the event was, and hcartless as
the suggestion may seem, II is neverthe-
lers true, that never did an authors death
occur at a more fortunate juncture to as
sure the complete success OF q doubtful
publishing venture. The edition de luxe
of Stevenson's works, limited 10 1000
sets at about IS per volume, had