The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-04
NEWS OF THE BOOK WORLD
THE UNEASY CHAIR

Novel by Thomas e. Watson, PopulIst
Presidential Nominees: a Story Of the
South Before and During the Civil War;
For those by whom novels are regarded
as offenses against the public veal, tom
Watson has laid himself open to serious
criticism--he has written novel, and
historical novel at that. This should not
deter democrats from voting for him next
Tuesday, but should bar him definitely
and finally from any republican support
that may have been leaning his way.
That is a subtle bit Of logic, on which we
have not space here to dilate. It is not
based upon the qualities of the book, but
upon fundamental principles.
To turn from logic to the book which
is to turn from logic to logic, it may be
said at once that the book, which bears
the title Bethany, is more of a review Of
the conditions and the causes that re-
suited III the civil war, as seen thru the
eyes of Georgian community, than it is
a novel. The romantic element of the
STORY while done in manner that
appeals strongly to the sympathies and
in a thoroly natural manner, is not large,
and is subordinate in interest to the pic
ture of southern life before and during
the attitude of the south toward the
north in the great struggle which culIni-
mated in the Sanguinary contest Of 1916
Mr.. Watson's statement of the attitude
of the south toward the north, while clear
and forceful, shows a strong populiStic
| coloring. See the following interjected in
a chapter headed 'Our Last Hope:
Looking down the avenue of time and catch
ing a clear view of the results-a million men
slaughtered; accumulated prosperity swept away
| by the hundreds of millions; public morals de.
bauched; labor systems revolutionized corpora
lions enthroned; the public treasury handed over
to, the service of the banks; the national credit
farmed out to privileged class; tariff laws
made just as protected interests dictate; the
government kept in debt in order that there
may be bonds in which untaXed wealth shall
escape all burdens of government; tens of mil
| hons OF the annual taxes of the people poured
| into the pockets of corruptionists under the pre-
tense Of making internal Improvements
j But why go on? One reading tina
could easily believe that he was readin,
a political speech fresh from the lip
of Mr.. Watson. Yet the book is in n
sense plea for populistic theories. Con
slderlng the opportunities he had in writ
ing the story, Mr.. Watson has exercise
great restraint in that direction. Th
strongest claim the book has is II
its picture of events just preceding seces
sion. The account of Herschel " John
sons speech before the Georgia conven
ton in January, 1861 is one to stir tn
blood. Johnson opposed secession, an
his words, ooh. madmen of the south
What is it you are about to do? Are 70
blind that you do not see that you ar
laying mines under the very foundation
of constitutional government" and wha
7 follows, shows the intense pitch to Whic
the feelings of the south had been aroused
Mr.. Watson is not a great novelist, bu
f he has written "a story of the old south
that possesses great interest and is we
worth the time and trouble required
: read it.
$ D. Appleton Co., New York. Price $3.50.