The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-05-04
OBRERVANDA.

University Of the South, (Episcopa),
at Sewanee, Tenn. He is beyond fair
question a man of literary gifts, and
a writer Of much force and elOquence.
He is perhaps equal to any author now
living of southern birth in the realm
of letters, with the exception of two
novelists, Miss Murfree and James
Lane Allen. He has scored two lit
erary successes in books-his life Of
William Gilmore Simms, and his book
just issued-'SOuthern Statesmen Of
the Old School" We have read neith-
.er, and our knowledge of the young
and brilliant author is limited to crit
icisms and an essay or two we ave
read in a magazine. His work on
Simms, a gifted son Of South Carolina,
gave offence to the friends Of the novel
list and to many who are of the south.
His new book, in which he essays to
discuss Washington, jefferson, Ran
dolph, Calhoun, Stephens, ToOmbs and
Jefferson Davis, will prove offensive to
all genuine states rights men-tO all
who stood faithfully by the south in
the great upheaval and believed in the
sacredness Of it's cause-tO all who
venerate Jefferson and Calhoun and
Davis. The Charleston News and
Courier in a brief paragraph scored the
author. We intended to clip and re-
produce. 1t plainly said, if we recall
it, that the professor did not intend to
tell the truth. Inthe New York Book
man for May there is an appreciative
nonnr on fhic lNnnlx AF .a,tl,-- 1-Dl,,.
ton, and yet it is discriminative. 1t
comedies distinguished excellence to
Professor Trent-says it is excellent
both as biography and as literature'-
that the characters are not merely de-
scribed; they are realized, that it is
very finely w~ritten-that there are elo-
quent passages and SO on. 1t gives
some of his views that will impress
most men of the sousa as rather sim
gular. For instance, the reviewer
says: "He is certainly impartial. He
Depicts the southern president Davis)
as an able, but not a great man; an
honest and high minded, but mistaken
man; as an ill-starred leader of a
cause justly foredoomed to failure"
Again, quoting Trent: Jefferson Da-
Wis lost his imaginary country at APP
pomattox, just where the new genera
ton Of southerners have found a real
one" Doubtless the professor is one
of the ~younglings of the New South
who rejoice in the defeat of the south
and it's precious cause. He onght to
follow Cables example and HE him to
lands where such patriots are held
in high favor. This young teacher and
author holds that Calhoun is rather a
small potato" we suppose, for he says
he is "shadowy'' and his reasoning
"nightmarish.' He brands Jefferson
Davis as "the evil genius" of Presi-
dent Pierce. We take these few Opin-
ions from the review that reproduces
them. The curious thing is that the
critic, doubtless a northern man, con-
troverts some of Trent's dicta, and by
way Of contrast copies from a northern
work by Professor Burgess, Of Column
bia University, entitled "The Middle
Period, dS17-1S5S." Professor Burgess
condemns Garrison's methods, John
Brow in Kansas as guilty Of a COM
mon crime of the blacke Sort" and
says Secretary jefferson Davis Shove
himself "a remarkably upright nam"
Professor Burgess fought the south
with his musket. He says he never
saw q slave. But his book is broad
and free from acute sectarianism. The
reviewer says Burgess cleans toward
what is commonly regarded as the
southern side" Trent has conciliated
the reading and applauding north by
abusing his own folks and m%isappre-
hending the great issues involved in
the second war for independence.
Trent abuses Tyler and Calhoun,
while Burgess approves of their course.
Instead of slandering Davis as the
"evil genius of Pierce, the northern
professor says that the attitude of
Pierce and Davis was honorable and
praiseworthy," and to prove it cites
the testimony of the Free State leader,
Governor Robinson. Trent, seems to b.
.~prejudiced and something ignorant.
The reviewer says, and, it is very sig
n%ificant, and the informed will under
stand its precise import: In each of
the instances I have noted the north
80
Judgment while the southern writer
follows Professor Won Hoist. AS a
foreigner, this historian should be
fairly impartial; in fact he is devotedly
abolitionist." Years ago it was our duty
and pleasure to criticize some Of the
political views of the German professor
at Chicago. He belongs to the extrem.
est school of northern politicians. III
is the teacher and guide of this ambi
tious and bold southern writer. Hence
we are not surprised to be told by tn
reviewer that Trent is LESS interestin.
in the legal aspects Of the long sectiona
struggle that preceded the civil wal
and is, therefore, less in sympathy OF
the intellectual side"-mark that
with the southern protagonists, VIII