New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-19

MEMOIR or ROBERT G. T Histcricsi society
Sx'y Roh her. @ Winthrop. jr octave, PIP. W. S0s'
Boston: Little. Brown 4 Co
HOSEA PA11.ou 2D. D. d, FIRST president ST. nj
OF TUFTS College HIS b,, Trs''o c tiT pp.
SO Boston: E. p. Guild & Co
BERTRAND DU GUEsCL1N; Constable OF PTancs
His Life and Times. By Enoch me nn xiSi sCi
C. p. Putnam's Sons.
Mr. Leaders work is interesting Ihls ca'iiio'
be said as a rule of the biographies OF eH'nen'
....osr,.n or churchnen in England In the
first place II is In one volume. and II gives no
sign anywhere Of being padded out 10 pre-
concerted size 1t tells the story of an animated
and busy career that was in many ways unique
and II tells this story. on the whole. critlcaH!'
II is not at all the narrative which koeouck
would have written II he had completed 'he
autobiography which he began. HIS own oplh-
ion was that he had never swerved from the
principles with which he began his puohc ca
reer. But this was not the opinion or MS ear
lest political comrades. Perhaps they dd not
understand each other at the outset Inc co"-
rades were. as rule. Englishmen born and
bred in England. Roebuck was an Enehshmah
born in India and bred in Canada. Their radi-
calism was that Of men who had grown up anna
the old customs. which they disiked: his was
who returns to the old home to set things TO
rights in accordance with ideas he has gathered
from life unlike that which he takes in hand
TO improve Throughout his youth Roebuck
had looked az England from without as very
compact and distinctive political organism, and
when he got into II ne treated all Of II and not
any part as his constituency. He wanted to see
the American Union divided. because england
was threatened by t. He wished to hinder the
nurnoses Of Italian nationalism and to support
Austria because il was better for England TO
have Austria strengthened as a balance to the
power Of Napoleon. His constituencies partlcu-
larry Sheffield. did not take kindly to these opin-
ions. When II came to questions like that or
italian unity they did not think about IT merely
as Englishmen. But they chung TO their repre-
sentative loyalty because he was In his time
one Of the finest figures in Parliament.
His oratory is praised as Of just the style and
quality 10 please the fastidious House or COM
mons. He had the knack Of saying what every
hodv was thinking but nobody else dared 10
saw. He would anticipate In a brilliant speech
measures which only came 10 perfection years
aftarward Thus he incurred all the blame OF
being premature. and would have lost all the
credit OF first discovery II he had not possessed
a rapid pen and sharp tongue 10 remind others
OF his prescience. As to the question or MS con-
sistency in being radical all his life and con-
servative at the last. he may have been right
IN his estimate man who measures the as
pirations Of other nations wholly by English
convenience may he radical enough on reform
bills but he IS a Tory by nature. and this would
be true. with change Of names for an Ameri-
can statesman also.
Perhaps II would be no injustice to take Mr..
Winthrop's memoir Of his father as an hlustra-
ton Of conservatism in American politics. WIN
throps activity in politics belonged TO the time
OF slavery agitation and the period He
was one of those who understood just as We'll as
the bitterest radicals the meaning Of those prin-
cples true Of all hum laity. which happened at
that time to be very explosive in American So
ciety But his conservatism was just strong
enough to make him wish to keep back the con-
fict which was impending. We are all very
proud Of the war now. II was grand expert
ence But II we look forward to the peril Of an
other similar experience. which class Of states
men would we choose In cool blood the men who
honed that time might bring freedom and unity
or those who urged the sacrifice Of all things,
even the National life. 10 principle? State the
dilemma so as 10 give both classes equal stand
ing IN the argument and then let each one see
for himself what he would say TO IT, Winthrops
cool conservatism was evidently part Of his in
most nature He seems all his life TO have taken
genuine enjoyment from much OF the sharp
criticism 10 which he was subjected. If the
criticism was clever. its unfairness was over
lacked or condoned But the Unborn radical
never takes criticism in this way Moreover.
Winthrop recognized the literary and oratorical
drawbacks Of his position. 1T is easy TO speak,
he remarked once, ION either extreme. Modera-
ton ,s always dull There is nothing impusive
or emotional about it." And. abiding to the
rectitude real and apparent. OF his conserva-
t,sno. he added "Nor ac1 I insensible to the sug
restion that what seems perpendicular TO my
own eve may after all strike others as very
oblioue" In any case his moderation. which
was that Of the scholar as well as OF the Unborn
conservative, brought him late in life those
marks OF appreciation which the aged public
man values His orations, the one az Yorktown
on the centenary Of Cornwais's surrender, and
the other at the dedication Of the Washington |
Monument. are part Of the permanent literature |
Of the Republic. However Mr. Winthrop inter !
pos,s something about the evanescence or repu- |
tation ION the morning after MI Winthrops |
de,th' he writes In a footnote, Il was some
uhst beset by .eporters. all intelligent young |
men, but several OF them a little in the dark
az 70 the antecedents Of the subject of their IN
ou,r,es I believe remarked one TO me. that |
I am accurate IN stating that Mr winthrop was
q DISTINGUISHED post commander OF the Grand !
Army OF the Republic?' replied that he could !
claim no such distinction. Surely said an
other. Y am right in describing him as the
chosen coworker Of Charles Sumner" l gently |
suggested that political antagonist would be |
safer designation. A third brought me a galley
proof with the conspicuous headline Death or
an Old Abolition War-Horse" This was cruel
lest Of al"
The history Of the evolution Of religious |
faith IS always an interesting narrative. The |
biography OF Hosea Ballau %, d. D., Is practi- |
~ modern I-rlvnrsaliSm |