The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-13
HENRY WATTERSON'S HISTORY


sons History OF the Spanish American
War" Just issued from the press OF the
Werner company. New York and Chicago
The story II tells is one OF the most
romantic and thrilling in human history
and 1t is no exaggeration to say that this
| Is one OF the great books of the year.
Mr.. watterson is the editor OF the Louis
willie Courier Journal, and is known
| throughout this country and Europe. Per-
haps no other American could, with 80
broad grasp and SO perfect a style,
have written work Of such magnitude
and presented his facts in so coherent a
form. He shows keen sense of historical
perspective and proportion. takes a large,
philosophic view OF his subject. and has
his usual charming literary style.
| The preface Itself Is OF unusual originality
and can not fail to arrest the readers at
anced antitheses bring out tho salient
points in strong. clear light. His concep-
ton OF the opening Of the war seems to be
the one generally accepted, viz: That the
president was forced into 1t by the pres
sure OF public opinion and that the catas-
trophe was precipitated by the disaster to
the Maine. He regards the rapid mobiliza-
ton OF an army OF 100000 men as one OF
the wonders OF military organization and
pronounces the achievements OF the navy
unparalleled In the history OF naval war
fare. 3
49,
After the preface. which is really
graphic sketch OF the war in outline. Mr..
Watterson plunges into the action of the
great drama. taking up as the first scene
the destruction OF the battleship Maine In
Havana harbor. The effect on the American
public of the news of this disaster, when
1t was flashed over the world the next
morning. is clearly set forth, and the
events intervening between that great
tragedy and the declaration of war are
rapidly and clearly outlined. After recit-
ing the events in Washington, preceded by
the De LONE incident and the Maine dis
aster, he shows how congress and the pub
lie awaited patiently the long delayed YER
dict of the commission appointed to in
vestigate the causes which led to the de-
struction of Captain Sigsbee's ship with
in an hour after the publication of the re-
port" says Mr.. Watterson, mo one could
doubt that war was inevitable, and con- |
gress demanded quick reprsal'
In this Mr. Watterson adopts the IRE
member the Maine theory" IL the origin |
of the war. or rather of its precipitation, |
though he declares that it was war waged |
in the interest of humanity and not for
conquest, but that it resulted in terri
torial expansion. How this change in the
character Of the war came about and how
1t is to be justified he does not in this book
undertake to say.
Mr.. Watterson does full justice to the
chivalry and fighting qualities of the Span
iards and says that Americans will re-
spect that people more on account of this
war But he declares that the love of gold
took possession of the Spanish mind soon
after the discovery OF America when Wis
Ions OF an Eldorado poisoned the imagina-
ton of the race, and that this worship
Of gold has destroyed the moral fibre of
a great people and made them inferior to
other nations of the old world From the
frst," says he, Spain became the last of
European nations
Ihis Is fair sample of the antithesis
which is peculiar characteristic OF Mr..
style and gives it kind of ,
artistic relief. bringing out what an artist I
would call the high lights in the picture.
The author draws freely on the material
furnished by we'll known newspaper cor. 6
dependents and pays high tribute to this y
iaring and enterprising coteries of field y
historians.
MS description OF the occupation OF San n
lago by the American military forces and I,
II the condition OF the city and the means r.
aheh ior Its amelioration is very full and n
satisfactory. IL shows just how new n
hiiltary power was adjusted to existing a,
avli government, utilizing what was good n
II II. abolishing what was bad and ipsti. ,e
uting thorough and sautary measures for ii
ne purihcation of city by sanitary meas til
res ana the establishment of business u. "
nd commerce with the outside world bv hi
roper regulations
MT Watterson's account of the battle Of ar
rama is preceded by brief but interest f..
az description OF the Philippine islands wi
noWing the conditions existing before the OF
ar lie also outlines Admiral Dewev,s 60
ian for cooperation with the natives in pc
Ne event of effective resistance nv tho of
paniards and shows that Dewey mas I'M
'mething OF statesman as vel, &c m,
nenomenal fighter. The account n, ~. to
'tion Is brilliant but not unduly nro tr,
nged ~ arc
to
~ OBJ
one or two brief extracts will DIV. ne'
ea OF the originality versatility and n,a NY y
'resqueness Of Mr., watterson's stv,s Der
.o,auon from the preface is as follows. the
from the coming OF cortes ana So to
~ soiss oi Weyier, the dag az ~ s.ro 70 bee
,s yse wss'ern hemisphere was ~. Spaniard upc
cS,, ~ rspine and nilIag.. Tba a, snuiem con
;,uuous seemed to act upon IL a'eesovery oar
's, ,.,s as magic phiiter ais,os,pan lsn ~
W. IN pfopensities and filling II, nt, HE az ~. ~.
= nv tposspie OF fuihllment ljndsr ue, RIM
~ p "a OF tbs soothsaysr ana ne 10 sp.'i VOL
me "a we poet took definite sham 'h' , IAN con
L.rs mas the dream Of etarnsI H. Win fors
q , VISION OF untold Riches. hi, 'vi VIVA and
COINS =, 'h OF mature. Cui loose from ~ ~ tha