New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-25
AMERICAN POLITICS.
n Ncsv History of the Republican
Party-RooseUelts addresses.

THE REP PT a. gARTxi IT IsT0 HND OF
RECORD OF ITS MEASURES AND ,, Lt Lap;
by President Roosevelt, and introductons ~
Wam y FRYE PTeaiaeit pTo anInB sneaker
United States House Of REPRESENTATIVES Ocia-
70. vols; p2. XXI. OSz; v. $50. G. T. Putnam
ADDRESSES AND PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGES
an introdHction by Henry Cabot Lodge. Octave.
PIP. <, 4s5. G. p. Putnam's Sons
TIE WORKS OF THEODORE ROOSEV EFT:
PREsIDENTIAL ADDRESSES AND STATE
PAPERS. m TWO parts; octave, pp. XVII SZS.
p F. Collier Son.
MI Curtis has produced in his history Of the
Republican party a creditable book Of reference.
He has made a useful record OF that party's
activities Of its measures. policies and plat
forms SITS organization and leadership He has
summarized acceptably the notable achieve
ments Of the party, its memorable contributions
20 national security and national progress. But
il cannot be said that he approaches his sub
5ect IN an altogether dispassionate and critical
spirit He writes a partisan. las avowed
Republican" and both the quality Of HIS par
tisanship and the limitations OF his point Of
view as a historian ara frankly disclosed in his
declaration that the Republican party Itself
never knowingly committed but one error, the
one exception 10 prove the rule" This error
consisted apparently in the authors judgment,
sn RENTING through our reciprocity treaty with
Cuba, 20 per cent Of the protective duties on
Cuban products competing with similar natural
products Of the United States.
The Republican party was organized with
single purpose-to combat the slave power and
TO prevent the extension TO the Territories OF The
slave system. Its membership was drawn from
the ranks of the old Wing. Know Nothing, Anti
Masonic and Free Soil parties. Swept into
power and forced to carry a gigantic war.
A. became a high tariff and broad construction
party II adopted Wing theories OF protection
and revived Federalist traditions Of national
powers and national sovereignty. 1t abolished
slavery, undertook the task OF reconstruction
and became the champion Of the negro's civil
and political rights. Sectionalism and secession
vastly altered the normal relations of the two
great parties in this country-one naturally
founded on Jenersonan theories, the other nat
ura!ly continuing Federalist and Wing tradi-
iions.
The Democratic party was turned absolutely
for a generation from its true path Of develop
ment 1t has not yet recovered its bearings or
taken a thorough grip again on its essential
principles Nor can it do so so long as section
alism blocks the way and solid South, with
only idea in politics-the maintenance or
white Observation-Disclosures its councils and
weights down its energies The Republican
party has lacked the opportunity. too. TO show
fits Utmost character and purposes These can
be fully defined only when the Democratic party
becomes again truly Jeffersonian and Demo-
cratic. But they can be guessed at between the
lines Of its history, and account Of the party
can be truly critical or satisfactory which does
not try to seize and make ineligible the rela-
tions of present day Republicanism not only
10 present day Democracy. but TO Whigism. TO
Federalism and TO the Democracy Of the past.
Mr. CuTtis's book does not DO this II is, how
sTfa md OF he %
progress Of the party, and contains many docu-
lnents Of service both 10 the student and 10 the
casual reader. The work is carefully done and
notably free from errors Of fact and figure.
There are a few slips. however. 1t seems queer
10 read on page 335. Vol. H., that Senator
Vance Of Louisiana" seconded the nomination
of Major Mckinley in the Republican National
Convention Of 1886. Perhaps Mr.. ]. Madison
Vance, Of Louisiana. is meant The impression
should not be given that Mr.. Vance IS or was a
United States Senator. On page 407 Of the same
volume we are told that Judge John B. Rich
ardson, OF Tennessee" was permanent chair
man Of the Democratic National Convention Of
1900. II is hard TO recognize in this guise the
Hon. James d. Richardson, of Tennessee long
a Representative IN Congress and leader Of the
Democratic minority in the House from 1899 TO
1903. The Hon. James W. Bailey" on page 30
same volume is undoubtedly the Hon Joseph
now Senator from Texas. On page 3S1, Vol IL,
the author says: Senator William A Clark
was refused seat at this session, a resolution
being passed to the effect that he had not been
duly and legally elected" This is a mistake
Mr.. Clark took his seat in December 1899 and
served until May -, 1900. He resigned while
& resolution affecting his title, reported by the
Committee on Privileges and Elections was
pending, but that resolution, declaring his seat
vacant, was never acted on. Mr.. Clark was re-
appointed Senator by the acting Governor OF
Montana to I'LL the vacancy caused by his own
resignation These credentials were challenged
and Mr.. Clark decided not TO ask for readnis-
sion on them. He was elected bv the Montana
Legislature on January l6, 1901, for a new term.
The two collections OF President Roosevelt's
speeches messages and other public utterances
since his installation IN office published bv G.
p. Putnam's Sons and by P. F. Collier & Son.
differ little in scope and makeup. They con-
tain material already widely published and read
IN the newspapers, but bring together in Access
sible form the many interesting and important
oeliverances which the President has made since
1SOl In his official character Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge furnishes an introduction IN the
Putnam reprint and Albert Shaw an in+roduc
Ton 10 the Collier one. The latter includes also
some messages by Mr. Roosevelt when Governor
OF Aew-fork. These collections viii have a sne
elal value during the Presidential campaign.