The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-11-23
A Notable Book.

LETTERS AND RECoLLECTIoNs OF JOHN MUIR AY
FORBES. Edited by his daughter, Sarah r.
Hughes. With portraits. 2 vols Svo So.
Hou2hton, Nlft1ln 4 Co, Boston.
After reading a review of this book in
The Atlantic Monthly we published in
The Journal of Aug "a, 1899, the follow
ing editorial note:
The September number of Tie Atlantic
Monthly contains a very interesting sketch
of the remarkable life of the late John
Murray Forbes of Milton. Massachusetts.
His business career reads like a romance,
and the influence he exelted as private
citizen, for the good of humanity and in
behalf of his country, will be no less sur
prislng to those heretofore unaware of the
important factor he was in the affairs of
the nation in the times of its greatest
stress. His life was a shining example of
business integrity and unselfish patrios-
ISM
On reading the book we find nothing to
modify IN this brief summing up of the
career of man who, all his life stunning
notoriety, putting aside political prefer
ment and holding no public station, did
untold good privately; and whose services
to his country during the civil war can
hardly be overestimated. Fdll credit has
been given to the Generals in the field, to
who carried a musket in the defence of
their country; but near the top of the roll
OF honor on which a grateful people have
inscribed the names of those who served
them best in the dark days of the rebel
lion should be found that of John Murray
Forbes
The letters of Mr.. Forbes included i'll
these volumes show sterling patriotism,
sound Judgment, untiring zeal in behalf
of all the good works in which their au-
thor engaged, and literary ability of a
these literary qualities. She is not only a
pleasing writer. but has made her selec-
tons from the large amount of material
at hand with admirable judgment.
Nil Forbes was of Scotch descent. He
attended school at Andover, and Round
Hill, ana began his business career at the
age Of Is, when he entered counting
room III Boston. At the age Of II he
went To China to take cerkslip in a
large merchantile house, and soon attain
ed a very responsible position. He re-
turned to Boston after three years ID the
Orient. In 1884 he married, and soon after
went to China again, returning in 1887 to
meet tie financial crisis of that year, and
successfully weathered it. At this time
he became interested in the anti slavery
movement, and it had his best efforts and
financial aid until tie proclamation of
Abraham Lincoln struck the shackles
from the slaves Nh. Forbes carried all his
now vast business interests safely through
the panic ii 1857. Politically Wing in
early lie, he became charter me mber of
the Republican party. He was member
OF he Peace Congress which met in Wash
ington with a view to averting a civil war,
but saw from the first that war was newt
able When hostilities did begin he was
the right hand of GOV. Andrews, the
great war Governor of Massachusetts,, in
raising troops and sending them South
In this and other directions in which he
served his country he used his private
fortune without stint rather than await
the perhaps necessarily slow movem ents of
Government officials, in no case accepting
any compensation for himself He was
active 10 the sanitary commission, in rails
ing negro regiments, and in securing for
the colored troops equal pay. He did not
despair in the darkest days of the rebel
lion, but urged the prosecution of the
war with voice and pen. A noticeable
incident in his career was his mission to
England, which can not we'll be told in
brief. 1t is doubtful if ever in this coun-
try, o. any other, such responsibilities
were placed upon private citizen.
The book should be in every public
library in the land, and the young should
be encouraged to read it. 1t is of more
interest than a novel, dealing as it does
with real people, not with the shadowy
and often unreal people of modern fiction.
1t is history-history of period when
the nation was in peril, and much of it
history previously unwritten. 1t contains
useful lessons for young men starting
out in life, and tor those already engaged
in business affairs.