The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-03-31
NEW sooks.


the United States Cd. Appleton and
Company is at hand.
1t comprehends the period 1921 1880. a
span of great consequence i'm the devel-
opment OF our country which. never
theless. perhaps by reason OF an abb
sence OF what might be called sensa-
tional history ana war chapters. has re-
ceived slight attention in the average
text book. The volume deals exhaus-
lively am from first hand investiga-
tions with many topics which touay
have peculiarly live interest for the
American people. The close OF Monroes
term, the administration OF John Quin-
cy Adams, and the stormy opening
years OF Jackson form an epoch of ex-
ceeding interest in view OF the devel-
opment OF the democratic spirit, the
manifestations OF new interest in So
cial problems, the experiments in bank
ing and finance, the improvements n
the conditions of city life. the changing
relations between the East and Wesl,
and the authors full and striking pres
entation of the literary activity OF the
country at that time.
The volume opens with the Oregon
dispute, and traces the growth of the
Monroe doctrine. After reviewing the
important foreign relations of Monroes
second term, Professor McMaster re-
turns 70 domestic affairs discussing
the breaking up of the Republican
party and sketching certain social, po-
htical, literary and industrial conditions
which paved the way for the triumph
of Jackson and Democracy.
Socialistic movements and labor re-
forms, problems I'm city government,
the introduction OF gas and anthracite
coal, the opening of the Erie Canal, the
early railroads, the negro problem. the
industrial revolution, the tariff ana
the States-rights doctrine of Calhoun,
a study of the common schools in our
first half century, and striking sur
vey OF British criticism of the United
States. are among the themes vividly
presented by the historian.
Then follow chapters on political
ideas and foreign complications, and an
account of the prevention of the free
dom of Cuba by the United States in
the interest of Shareholders. and finally
a picture of the triumph of Democracy
in the election of Jackson, which was
followed by the sweeping removals from
office the attempt to buy Texas, and
the rise of questions concerning the
Indian, the surplus. the public lands,
and the right of notification. (For sale
by Gregory. Price s2.5o.)
Practical Agitation" by John Jay
Chapman (Charles Seribner's Sons) is
a book for the citizen who in these
latter days is demonstrating an inter-
est in his Investment as a shareholder
in the municipal corporation that II
his fathers had developed the same
would have kept a good many cities
from being up TO their ears in debt, boss
ricden and so on. AZ least the first
chapters of the books are devoted to
the citizen as such shareholder There
a ts.Rsr Il
ferent phases of the main idea which lis
to show the influence of the individual
upon society and to point the r,
that zone can always do more for man
kind by following the good in a straight
line than by making concessions TO
evil"
In the political chapters the author
illustrates how municipal reformers
have advanced in an appreciation OF
this idea. Today they more ordinarily
decline to fuse" or TO compromise or
to use the weapons of evil 10 fight po-
litical evil as the reformers OF another
generation were not above doing, deem
ing that the end justified evil means.
A final chapter treats or the authors
conclusions In a way TO insti them as
principles.
The book Is decidedly inspiring to
good works and is calculated to make
the individual fe that his personal in
fiuence may be made OF good deal of
account in the world II he only exer-
cises il honestly and to the best of his
lights. (For sale by Preston and Rounds.
Price $3.50
The late David A. Wells was per-
sonally well known to many Rhode
Islanders who will be interested To
know that the important work COM
l~1 n to rna
ory and Practice OF Taxation" has just
been published by ID. Appleton and
Company.
It's appearance at this time. when
questions relating To taxation are at
tracing serious attention, is oppor-
tune. For many years DR.. Wells had
in view the preparation of this vol
ume, i'm order to present record of
his own experiences in practical con-
tact with state and national tax sys-
TENS, and OF his studies and conclu-
sions drawn from the history of taxa
ticn in other countries,
He sifted facts and theories with a
view to combining the best of bills into
volume which might serve as an ac-
count OF existing tax methods and as
an index or guide TO a better system.
In his later chapters the law OF the
diffusion OF taxesi is developed. and the
author discus Ses the best methods Of
taxation. Or. Weil~' work will remain
an invaluable summary OF the subject
and a most useful guide In the consid-
Grafton of the many questions which
confront individuals. corporations, and
the public. price $500. For sale by
Gregory
Under the title Makers of Litera-
turer CThe Macmillan Company.
George Edward woodberry has collect
ed his essays on Shelley, Landor,
Browning, Byron. Arnold Colerdge,
Lowell, Whittier, Crabbe. and others.
Mr.. Woodberry's critical work is ia
miliar to many students OF literature
and this little volume contains what
has heretofore been published IN book
form as we'll as later essays that have
appeared in the periodicals. all indeed
which, i'm the opinion OF the author.
il is desirable TO tf IS place in perma-
nent form. In connection with the
books of the respective authors who
are reviea,ed as To their personal ties
and their work and such Biographies
as are available. these essays provide "a
a