Evening star., 1901-11-23
WITH;
~ BOOKS
UIlE9

Curtis fmpreSseS his evident intention to be
fair He realizes Jefferson's greatness, but
he shows that even greatness has it's weak
ness. He says of him: THE purpose of his
life, which appears on almost every page,
was to build nation upon this continent,
with human freedom and equality as it's
foundations. In his efforts to accomplish
this end he often incurred the criticisms of
his friends as well as the condemnation of
his enemies. His faults were as conspic
uous as his abilities, and to form correct
estimate of his character both should re-
ceive equal and honest consideration"
OF course, the chapter of most timely in
terest is that relating to the acquisition OF
Louisiana. Mr.. Curtis gives graphic and
humorous picture of Jeffersons final de-
cision to go ahead. regardless of his con-
victionS that he was not acting in accord
ance with the Constitution to consummate
TN deal for that vast territory In the
m1CSt of his anxiety says Mr. Curtis,
came a dispatch which effectually dissi-
pated all of Jefferson's conscientious scru-
Pies. Livingston described the tremendous
opposition which had developed in France
10 the cession of the territory, and was so
alarmed lest Napoleon might withdraw
from the bargain that jefferson was deter
mined to ratify the treaty at once. Consti-
tuition or no Constitution and to do it be-
fore anybody could interpose objections. To
Madison, then Secretary of State, he wrote:
The less we say about the constitutional
difficulties respecting Louisiana the better,
and what is necessary for surmounting
IHeul must De done SUP Sllentla. by the
time Congress had assembled JeferSOnS
doubt as to the constitutional power of ad
hitting the new territory into the Union
seems to have vanished. He does not ap
pear to have believed. however. that the
territory had become Incorporated into the
Union or would become so incorporated by
virtue of the new treaty of cession. In his
message to Congress- transmitted ON Octo-
bef II, he referred to that body the subject
of the territory as well as its incorporation
into the Union, saying: With the wisdom of
Congress it will rest to take those ulteror
measures which may be necessary for the
Immediate occupation and temporary gov
erlment of the country; for its incorpora-
tiOn into the Union" "
Jefferson was eager to secure the acquisi-
ton of Florida by force if necessary and
was an earnest advocate of the annexation
of Cuba, but was opposed to acquiring any
territory which would require a navy to
defend it. Mr.. Curtis regards the acQuisi-
ton of Louisiana as the greatest triumph
of jenerson's career, and says that it seems
inexplicable that he did not include it in his
epitaph, which mentions but threee of his
achievements. 1t was without question the
greatest benefit he conferred upon his coun-
try. and contributed more to his honor
than any other incident or public act with
which he was connected. At the same time,
it was the first instance in which a Presi-
dent of the United States ever used his per-
sOnal and political influence TO crowd
through Congress under gag law an act
and for his justification Jefferson believed
confidently that the wisdom of his course
would be recognized and approved by all
geHerations-aS it has been.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY: His Life and Work. By
Charles II. Grosvenor. Washington: The Con-
tnental Assembly.
Great care has been taken in the prepara-
tion Of this memorial volume, edited by one
of President McKinley's closest personal
and political friends, Representative Charles
H Grosvenor of Ohio. Gen, Grosv enor had
the most abundant opportunity to study
his subject. Throughout his political ca
reer he stood by his side and his work
now, although his personal contribution is
comparatively brief shows evidences OF
the deep love for the man which this close
association bred. The volume is in the best
of taste, presenting in handsome typo
graphical form a variety of matters per-
tanning to and eu1ogistic of the late Pres
ident. Following a note by the author ex-
planatOry of the fact that his personal in
terest in the work consists in a care that
a certain share of the proceeds shall be
devoted to the Mckinley Memorial Fund,
comes Gen. Grosvenors life" which is
printed precisely as it was written last
January, months before the Presidents
death, together with a foot-note explana-
tory of the fact and completing the sad
record Then come many pages of editor
American people, through the leading news
papers of the country, occaSioned by the
death of their executive. These express
sions have been carefully chosen to repre-
sent all parts of the country and all shades
of political sentiment. There is no break
in the note of sorrow and praise. Express
slons of the sentiments of the governors of
the states next occur, concluding with the
address delivered by Governor Nash of
Ohio at the Mckinley memorial meeting
at Columbus the 21st of September
Appropriately added is President McKfn-
leys last speech, that delivered at Buffalo
the day before he was shot, which leads to
reproduction of an interview with Will
lam Mckiniey's mother, printed by a New
York newspaper shortly after his election,
descriptive of her sentiments toward him in
his hour of exultation- Among the con-
Guiding miscellany the prayer delivered
at the funeral services in the Capitol ro-
tunda in this city by Rev. DR.. Henry r.
Naylor: the words of the hymn, Some Day
wen Understand sung at those services
by Mrs. Thomas C. Noyes; ex-Prcsident
Cleveland's eulogy delivered at Princeton
University. and the last words of famous
men and women, headed by that now i'm
mortal utterance of the subject of the vol
ume, which forms the motto of the book
1t is Gods way-His will, not ours be
done. A finely executed portrait Of the
late President forms frontispiece to the
volume, giving 1t truly memorial char
acter, which is sustained in dignity and ef-
fectiveness by the contents, both in their
nature and the admirable manner in wh1cn
they are prepared.
ST. NAZARIUS. By A. c. Farquharson New
York: The Macmillan Company. Washington:
Brentanos.
A strong study of mems character is en-
bodied in this novel Of early European life,
period and place unidentified. Some of the
elements suggest a modern setting while
others. such as the long travel distances
and the difficulties of communication. in
dicate remote time. But it is a novel
which can be studied without reference to
the atmosphere of the times or the place 1t
Is the story of the struggle of the love of
two young men for each other, which cul-
inmates In the effort of each to relinauish
Tor the others sake the woman mutually
loved by them. One of them is destined for
the church, but yet unordained. The
other is strange compound of emotions.
morose In his dominant moods intense in
MS directions, musician of unusual quail
lty, and altogether a strange compound of
elements. 1t is he who. through the course
OF circumstances, marries at last the wo-
man in the case, but he dies a few years
later. Meanwhile the period of the others
novitiate has drawn to its close, and Just
on the eve of the expiration the Young
clerical receives word of his Cousins death