New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-17

posite American FROM the beginning the Mid
ole Colonies were more cosmopolitan than their
neighbors. Dutch Swedes, Englishmen and later
French Huguenots and Germans. New-Eng
landers and Virginians, Quakers and Roman
Catholics, all contributed before the Revolution
10 the formation OF this group Of rich. comfort
able, rather uninspired and uninspiring COM
monwealths. which have taken and held the
lead in the development Of the material power
Of the nation.
Professor Harris plan Of the cooperative his
tory contemplates a series of twentyeght
smaller volumes. including index volume and
a book Of maps. This history is more popular
in its scope than Professor Lees, but not less
authoritative and scientific IN its scholarship.
Original documents are rarely quoted at any
length. but the material which they contain has
been transmitted into narratives of much less
detail than those edited by Professor Lee pre-
senting for the general reader a most useful
study. not only of the facts but also of the
philosophy Of American history. In the first
volume European Backgrounds Of American
History Professor Edward Potts Cheney, OF
the University of Pennsylvania, gives an admir-
able sketch Of mediavaI European commerce,
the changes which turned attention to explora-
ton, the different systems of religion and gov
eminent which differentiated colonial develop
nerts and the history of the commercial COM
panies which played so important a part in the
. esta bshment Of all except the Spanish and
Portuguese settlements, which were always ad-
rainistered under direct and, in the golden age
of those countries, Intelligent and efficient
governmental control. We note, however, that
in his account of the extravagant value placed
by Western nations upon Oriental luxuries par
ticularly spices to make palatable their coarse
aD41o ar1Tn NJ
aIIspice. as one of the products of the Malay
Archipelago. whereas it is a native Of Jamaica,
and one Of the New Worlds contributions to the
Old Worlds cooks
Professor Livingston Farrand, OF Columbia
University writes of The Basis of American
History" He begins with an account or the
rhvsiography of North America its waterways
portages. primitive trails, mountain passes,
timber. agricultural products and animal life
all Of which exercised important influence
on aboriginal life and on the character and
direction Of civilization. The Indians are classi
fed and the different groups described IN detail
and several chapters deal with the social, in
d,errIal religious and other features of Indian
life The foundations in Europe and America
being thus laid, the story of Spain IN America
&c +ol51 by Professor Edward Gaylord Bourne or
ysIa University. In his earlier chapters he
.raverses the controverted points regarding the
discovery and, while taking account OF the
| weaknesses Of Columbus and the origin OF his
e,e-,e-ra rl7tcal conceptions. he gives him fuil
credit as an epoch-making discoverer by the
force Of his own genius. He follows the various
crarish discoveries and explorers. but particu-
1arlv, interesting is his study Of the Spanish
colonial policy. The crUelties of the conquests
ond tbe first exploitation of the natives to the
noin+ of determination in many places have OBJ
s,,,rad the brighter features OF the developed
snanish system. Power was always abused.
~. 6, theory and to a considerable degree in
rrae+ice the natives were regarded as Spanish
s,hiacts and the colonies were governed on u
sba-,e q hout as liberal that applied to Spain
;tseY4 In lieu of taxes stipend of work was
required OF the Indians as or the natives OF
lava. bv the Dutch to-day This was conceived
- - "a much a measure OF civilization OF
revenue If left TO themselves they could not
he Cbrlstianized. and conversion was ali inpor-
tant 10 the religious Spaniaro. On the mainland
the Indian races were preserved, improved and
are to-day an important part Of the population.
As for the negro. the Spanish alave code was