The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-08

dition 70 libraries OF political history. II is
not only a biography Of the man, nut
partial history Of bis time; and in dealing
with a man like Seward this method Of
treatment is almost inevitable. It wou'd
hardly have been possible TO write Of hin
as one can Of Lincoln or Napoleol CT
Grant. from the personal point Of view,
merely sketching the history Of current
events. His life was bound up with 70
litical movements for more than thirty
years, at a critical period Of the country S
development.
The personal element in this biography
is, however. not sighted, and il is in al
respects interesting. The frs. chapter
gives a pleasing and graphic account Of
the childhood and youth Of William Henry
Seward from the time OF his birth. 1901
until his marriage with Miss Frances Mil
Ter, daughter OF his law partner, in 1924.
The author says:
He was the fourth Of six children. two Of whom
girls His native village had about dozen
houses. His earliest vivid recolectioEs were Of the
eclipse Of 1906 and Of stories about witches THAI
dwelt al night in the attic Of the little country
school house, and that during the daytime haunted
the wooded cliff Just above IT, He rem mhcrcu
the store 70 give poetical recitation, and that
when the pleased listener asked the child which
one Of his fathers callings he intended adopt,
be replied that be expected to be Justice OF tie
peace
Florida had an academy" and 1t was decided
that William was TO be the sOR favored with :
liberal education because he was the fraiiest.
Excepting six months in Goshen. few eats
lister. it was in Florida that he prepared for
college Recalling this time, after three score
yeaTs he said that his studies began at in the
morning and closed at at night. Yet there WOE
winter evenings when neighbors came in, and APP
pies, nuts. and cider were brought forth, and the
young student allowed to sit by the open fire
and enjoy them, while listening 10 long CONVEX
sations politics and religion. 1T was
my business to drive the COWS, morning and even
ing, 10 and from distant pastures. TO chop and
carry in the fuel for the parlor FIRE, 10 tsAe thg
grain 70 the mill and fetch the four 10 bring the
lime from the kiln. and 10 do the er1ands Of the
family generally; the time Of my elder brothers
being TOO precious TO permit them 90 be with
drawn from their labors in the store and on the
farm"
After brief account Of young Stewards
early experiments in politics. the author
goes on to sketch the rise of political anti
Masonry and the excitement which pre-
vailed in New York during the years in
which this subject was agitated. The
height of the disturbance was reached T.
after the disappearance OF Morgan, a for
mer Mason, who, II was alleged, intended .
10 write a book betraying the secrets OF .
the order. The author says Of the c0ndi- .
lions prevailing during the campaign Of .
1888:
Newspapers presented each side ia the most
infammaiory articles Private sf4irs were neglect
ed, and the energies Of the people absorbed
in recfiminstions or were devoted 20 eugJlriug
h. ate af
from the communion table The influence of near
y every religious denomins5ion was tirlsE
against the order, and in thc town q Poultney
every doubtful preacher was Required 20 declare .
the institution Of Masonry o had institution
before be was given bearing Oh religious qucs
tions. Even women beld meetings and resolved
that their daughters should not mar, Masons.
When Masons and Others justly COM
planned q all this absurd excitement they were
promptly answered with the question; "N acre is
Aoigang'
1t may be remarked in passing that this
agitation may have had something TO do
with the decline Of the influence Of the
churches in this country. When intelli-
gent men were turned away from the
church door simply because they belonged
10 a secret society OF which the aenomina-
tionslists did not approve il probably set
them TO thinking on religion in general In
a way which did not encourage support OF +.
the church. But the agitation made some
political leaders. and che Of them was
young Seward.
Among the most interesting chapters
in the book are those which deal with
Stewards career as Governor OF New York.
il was critical lime both for the State
and the country and the new Governor
gained many adherenJs by his boldness
and courage IN pushing work which need
ed 10 be done. and taking a definite stand 4
On certain yeXed questions. One OF the
matters over which the state was then ag-
Hated was the question Of internal i'm
prOvements, such as railways and canals.
The conservatives were afraid OF the eX-
pense, while the progressive party favored
prosecuting such work. regardless Of cost.
Seward stood with the progressive party,
and was above all things optimistic so
that his theories. when confronted with
cold facts. sometimes fell TO the ground (
like a house OF cards. He also aroused
much opposition. and secured some support,
by his radical views on the school ques-
ton. But far more important than any
action OF his which affected merely his
own State was his platform on the fugitive
slave problem. Al this time the question
whether or nos q slave was property was
Just coming up for discussion. II he was
property, held as such in the entire IN
ion, he could be evtradited from one State
by another. IL he CHANGED 20 run away
could be reclaimed. Sectionalism was al
ready running high and the South had
begun to feel that there was a strong
party IN the North absolutely opposed 10
slavery. When Seward utterly refused 10
comply with the requisition OF Virginia
for a fugitive who had taken refuge In
New York. his action served 10 crystal
lie feelings and convictions which had
until then. been indetermina-e Everyone
lrnV-C IA O = -ar nf II is al Cd
20 stand perfectly sull in a cold place it
will remain just on the point OF freezing
when the atmosphere is below freezing
point; bu; let il be Jared even IN slight
degree and ice crystals will form all over
the surface OF he liquid The situation
IN regard 10 the status Of fugitive slaves
was very much like that. except that the
condition OF the public mind was nearer ,
boiling THAI freezing. Stewards decision I
fastened the crisis. Il was quite evident /
thar something would have to be done. /
The Fugitive Slave law made every Z
Northern man and woman a potential
There was a large party in {
the North who refused this duty at the
risk Of mourning the penalties Of the law.
The general public was not thorough Z
" awake to he difficulties OF the situation. /
]; needed % be aroused. and Stewards de-
cision was enc OF the things which effect
ed this. IN 1880. the Legislature Of New
York passed a Law granting a trial by
Jury TO every person claimed as a fugl I
tive slave and making y extremely in I
colvenient for claimants 10 secure their /
runaway servants During March OF the I
following year. in retaliation. Virginia-s
Executive refused TO surrender a forger I
on the reQuisiuon OF Governor Seward. (
Southern States and gained the goodwill /
Of the AbOlitionist paTtv In less than three | {