The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04

One other matter Is explained in the preface.
namely, the choice made OF statesmen to be dis.
cusscd, IA choice which at first sight may sur
prise a good many readers. They may imagine
that they detect in tho list errors OF omission
and commission, and, indeed, il was the authors
intention to make the volume moro largely rep
rcscntative by including chapters on Madison.
Monroe. Marshall. md Yancey. While he
pleads guilty, however, to some regrettable
omissions. he maintains that every ono OF the
subjects treated has a right to figure In the
list. Washington he submits, must be taken.
II only to show that to tho South be-
longs tho honor Of having given to the
Union the greatest OF all Americans. Jefferson
must 10 included rs the most influential OF all
our statesmen, and MS having the most philo-
sophical grasp and reach OF mind. John Ran
dolph Of Roanoke not only offers II fascinating
subject in himself, but Is also an Indispensable
connecting link between Jefferson and Calhoun,
and II prototype OF tho extreme partisan typifled
by such men as Yanccy and II. A. Wise. Cal
houn and Jefferson Davis were absolutely neces-
sary, II only for the reason that they stood FOR
the two States that led In the movement for So.
cession, South Carolina and Mississippi.
stephens and Toombs were needed because they
represented the important State of Gcorgin,
and also because they respectively eXcmpii-
fed two great divisions OF the Southern people,
namely, those who shrank from secession, but,
Mt last, went into the movement reluctantly
through external pressure, and those who held
back for II WHILE. but then rushed forward as i'm.
petuously as the original fre-eatcrs. or the
original consistent ilre-eatcrs. Prof. Trent tolls
us that he should have selected Yanccy m the
type. had he been able to add another lecture,
but no aGmits that, by thus doing. he would
have bclicd his title, rs the typical t~irc-catcr had
no claims to be considered n statesman.
OF tho real statesmen omitted, our author
chiefly regrets tho noblesL of our jurists. Mar
shall. and the fact Is noted that he Is not nearly
30 well known to the present generation Of
Southerners. or, for that matter, OF Northcrners.
as no deserves TO be-. Yet. rs Prof. Trent in.
quircs. after Washington and jefferson, IL not
Marshall tho greatest name that tho South can
point to From first to last he upheld not mere
ly tho dignity OF tho court over which no pre-
sided, but OF tho nation whose CHIEF Justice he
was. His great intellect pierced through tho
metaphysical cobwobs spun around tho Con-
stitu.ion by men who would have kept us from
becoming u mighty nation in order that they
might strengthen the power OF thiniy settled
States and of II docrepit and hurtful institution.
He stool out for tho national honor
against tho opposition OF his State and OF his
section. Tho author well says that Marshall
alone, OF all Virginians, inherited the spirit and
the balance of genius and continued tho tradl-
tons of Washington. lie was n statesman and
n sage. That Madison and Monroe also could
not have been included in this book is regretted
by Prof. Trent, but not 30 deeply. IL Is acknowl-
edged that the services OF the former were great
and should nevor bo forgotten; but, after all, it
is submitted that he was, In many rcspects.
simply u followcro of Jefferson, aud n personality
for whom our author confesscs himself unable
to feel much moro enthusiasm than is displayed
for him by that brilliant critic OF American his,
tory, Mr.. Goodwin Smith, or by that disillusioncd
though valuable historian. Mr.. Henry Adams.
As for Monroe, he Is pronounced distinctly in
fcrior TO Madison az q man, and chiefly interest
ing because of the essential Importance OF his
administrations and as an early type Of that Gu.