The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-24

Bayard Tuckernan has written life
of Gen. Philip Schuyler. in which he
shows Schuyler the soldier rather than
SCHUYLER the citizen, the man of affairs
and the politician. In portrayinG this
much misunderstood and vilified patriot
he has been. perhaps, at unnecessary pains
TO prove that he was not only q far-See1ng
commander but true American. The
ashes of the Revolutionary war had not
grown cold ere it was almost generally
admitted that mistake had been made
in superseding Schuyler, and not since
then have the ISLANDERS against him been
renewed 1t Is evident, however, that Mr.
Tuckeman deems it necessary to dilate
upon the old charges if only for the pur-
pose of making his account of the real
Schuyler the more persuasive. This be
ing the case, even the New England critic,
who may object to the historians pres
entation of the attitude of New England
statesmen toward Schuyler and of the
conduct of the New England militiamen
under his command, must feel himself
disarmed. Mr.. Tuckerman scores Gates,
whose ambition was SchuylerS military
undoing. but does this solely with refer
ence to his Vaccinations against the lat
ter, and it is pleasant to note that he does
not dwell upon the alleged lack of per-
sonal courage for which Gates has by
others been attacked. The work Is in
deed, model of sobriety, and if wanting
in color it has at least the great merit
of stating facts clearly and conclsely.
This deepens, we may add, our regret that
the author has seen fit to adhere so close
~ to the military side of his subject
There is so much that would appeal to
the reader in for example, Schuyler's
relations with the Six Nation Indians In
his political relations. too, there is much
of general interest notably in his inter-
course with his sOn-in-law, Alexander
Hamilton; in the part he played in the
matter of the Hampshire Grants and in
his promotion of the development of the
canal system in New York state. On ali
these points the writer touches but light
ly So far as Hamilton is concerned, it is
worth passing comment that mass or
important information, to which MI
Tuckerman would III all probability nave
had access. was destroyed by the son of
one of Schuylers executors, who took 1T
upon himself to burn all the political cor
respondence that had passed between
Hamilton and the general AS the author
notes, this correspondence would un-
doubtedly have thrown much light on
the early history of the Federal party,
and might have cleared up some Incl
dents which now remain obscure"
So far as the work partakes of the ma
ture of character study we can have for
it nothing but praise. the writer reveal,
ing the possession of true psychological
insight into the mental and moral con-
Stitution of his hero. He has also played
the part of the psychologist i'll deivinS
into the ancestry and environment that
contributed to make Philip Schuyler what
he was. He contriVes deftly to intro
duoe not q little of the past history of
such families as the Van Rensselaers, the
Van CortlandtS and the LivingStonS,
whose intimate relations in the eighteenth
century with each other and with the
Schuylers made them a part of the time
and the events of which the writer treats.
The interest of his work is further in
creased by the glimpses he gives us OF
life in contemporary New York and AL
but marvel at the Gotham of Schuyler s
youth with its trees and ponds and sim
nle life as compared with the Sly-scrap-
ing bustling, noisy metropolis that GreetS
the twentieth century. Only by mentally
putting himself in Schuyler's place can
he fully comprehend the forces that acted
upon this youth. The country born, of
course, better than the men OF the city
will be in position to appreciate the IN
fiuence of his life in the open air. bray
ing the perils of the river and the wilder
ness in pursuit of barter, leading the life
of the coureur de bOis as well us the
uufeter life of the pioneer; learning TO
know what woodcraft meant. what inter-
course with the Indians entailedi learn
ing.Sbest of all, to know men. Mr.. Tuck
crnlan aids his readers in putting them
selves in Schuyler's place, but he dose
not lay too much stress upon the environ
ment always keeping in mind the in
fiuence of heredity and making plain the
part played by each in molding the grow
ing lad.
The martial side of young Schuyler re-