The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-21
slavery In the Unit ed States,

In the two volumes collectively entitled
a Political History Of Slavery. by WILLIAM
HENRY SMITH Putnams,. We have an
account of the slavery controversy in the
United States from the earliest agitations
in the eighteenth century to the close of
the reconstruction period We are told
by Mr.. Whitelaw Reid, who contributes
an introduction. that the work was left
substantially finished when the author
died in 1885, The book has a specific as
well az a general aim for, while the pri-
mary purpose is to set forth the history of
slavery in the United States from politi-
cal viewpoint, the author desires in the
second place to show to how large an extent
the shaping of the fate of the institution
in it's political relations was due to states
men of the Middle West. by such men as
Chase Brough and Morton. Mclean. Cor
win, Giddings. Julian. Hayes. Speed, Deni-
son. Shellabarger and Trumbull. Mr..
Smith has undertaken to show that these
men played more important parts in the
political drama which ended with the
passage of the Fifteenth Amendment than
were played by Eastern statesmen like
Seward and Sumner We are not sure that
Mr. Smith does justice to the so-called
'agitators," among whom Garrison and
Phillips were most conspicuous, for, with
out the electrifying influence which they
exerted, it may be doubted whether public
opinion would have sustained the states
men who brought about emancipation.
Only the first chapter Of this work is
allotted to the signs of anti-savery agita-
ton which were exhibited in the United
States from l742 to 1892. 1t ia only after
the year last named that the narrative be-
comes detailed We shall exemplify its
interest and value by directing attention
to the chapters in which are discussed
Lincoln's Administration and the failure of
reconstruction. There is no doubt that
Linco'ns candidacy for a second term
forms an important part of the history of
1894. As Mr.. Smith points out, there were
two Lincolns filing the Office of President
the Lincoln of the plain people and the
Lincoln of the Washington community
~ the eyes of the former, the Chief Magis-
trate was one man: in those Of the latter
quite another. To the plain people Lincoln
was lomely, honest. conscientious and
kindly man, who was disinterestedly seek
ing the welfare of the nation. surrounded
by difficulties and temptations and having
to contend with the Vaccinations Of crafty
and ambitious men. To them he was the
embodiment of benevolence. of tender.
ness of fatherly solctude. for they had
heard Of the pardonng of a youthful soldier
condemned to death by the stern law Of
war for sleeping at his post.
To them he was also an oracle of wisdom.
This was by no means the view of Lincoln
that commended itself to official Wash.
ington. Congress disapprovrd of him,
while supporting him with all the power
of the Legislature and all tho wealth OF
the nation Functionaries. even members
of his Cabinet, disapproved of him, because
OF his strange and unbusnesslike methods
There was" says Mr., Smith. "a poetic
quality in Lincon's nature that constantly
rebeled against the prosac duties of his
position. He could think profoundly. he
could express his thoughts in original and
forcefll language. and. when tho occasion
called for It, he proved himself greater
master of statecraft than any of his COM
peers. Rut he longed for human sympath thy;
he loved the bright, tho genial the COM
panionahle side of life; his heart melted
in the presence Of distress and sorrow;
he hated the sight nf bonds. the cold rieidity
of formal rules The author of this book
goes on TO recall, having in mind tn. 81 ate
of things in the ear Y half of 1904, that 80
misunderstood was Lincoln in official Wash
ington that the question was asked, Can
this man ever be serious? II was remarked
by Richard Henry Dana in letter written
at about this period that in the political
life Of Washington. "thc most striking
thing WIS the absence of personal loyalty
to the President; he had no admirers, no
Ont husiastic supporters, none to bet on his
head" This lack Of loyalty is attributed
by Mr. Smith IN part to the aiena, ion Of
friends who had failed to receive Official
appointments. and in part to offended
pride or recruitment following the rejection