New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-10

tariff as ubiquitous" But what are we TO think
Of historian especially of sticker for ehron-
illogical order. who gravely asserts that when
the slave States began to secede IN the winter
of 1SGO-61 the legitimate grievance OF the
South was the protectiOnist system Of the Union
The Morrill, tariff. then force, was an iniqui-
tous one? South Carolina seeded on Decem-
Der 90, 1850; Mississippi on January 9; Florida
on January 10; Alabama on January II; GeOr-
gia January 10; Louisiana on January 8.
and Texas on February L, 1SG1- The Con-
federate Congress met on February 4. and JET
ferson Davis was elected President OF the Con-
federacy on February Q. 1851 The Morrill, tariff
did not become a law until March ?. 1861, not
having passed the Senate until the Southern
members had left that body; and did not go
into force until April 1.
Nor are we sure that Mr. Paul is much hap
pier in his discussion of some topics in purely
English history. As a Cobdenite he inveghs
against the old Navigation laws; especially be-
cause he says. they failed TO fulfl Adam Smiths
purpose Of providing for the national defence
The great defensive force Of the British En-
pire" he says, lis the navy, and the navy as Il
existed in the time Of the Navigation laws Is
not fit to be compared with the navy OF today"
No: and might say that the armies that
fought at Minden and Blenheim and Waterloo
to-day But what injustice. not to say lack Of
discretion. such a statement displays. Compared
with the condition of those times. and with the
foes they had to meet. the fleets OF Rodney and
Nelson were at least as efficient as those which
to-day fly the Cross of st. George Again. Mr..
Paul regards the repeal Of the Navigation laws
as the cause Of England's great commercial e1-
pansion. Without entering into the controversy
which RACES over that point. we may at least
suggest that there is abundant statistical au-
thOrity for regarding the expansion as the
cause. or at least the antecedent, OF the repeal
It was not until she had secured a practical
monopoly Of the mercantile carrying trade that
England repealed the laws under which she had
secured it.
Sense OF proportion as well chronological
order and accuracy Of date and detail. are to
our mind essential in the ideal historian We
can therefore scarcely regard as satisfactory
Mr.. PauFs ten-line mention Of the Clayton-bui-
wer treaty. IL is true that that convention pro-
vided merely that amy canal made between tns
Atlantic and Pacific oceans across Central
America shs1ld be for the joint benefit anu
under the joint superintendent OF the Two pow
ers." But TO imply that that was all that was
involved in the treaty and its attendant nego-
tiatiOns and its results would be an gorgeous
error The Clayton BuIwer treaty involved
trail America Of the political hegemouy Of that
region and Of the validity OF the Monroe LUZ
trine itself. When Mr.. Paul. in later Volumes
comes to deal with later phases Of Angl0-AHlel-
lean relations in that quarter. we fear De WIN
soreIy feel the need of having given NUS
more space to expIicatiOn of that nterestihs
passage in history. His generally just anu
even sympathetic tone toward America HldAe'
us regret his occasional lack OF information OK
OF care in referring TO this country mus 10
speaks OF IdncOin's memorable contest W.
Douglas for the Senate Of Illinois. lls'eN
of for the United States SenatOrship- lie rels1s
TO Dupont's and T. W. Sherman's capture u
Port ROYAL in a way that comes Perilously near
to suggesting his confusion of T. W with
lam Tecumseh Sherman He tells Us tAl.
was not until after the fan Of Nicksours l La.
Grants name first became prominent IA 10
history Of the war" We ourselves hau SUI
posed Unconditional Surrender" Grant
prettv well known from the date Of Fort Donss
son and Shiloh Again. il was on Aprh d, A0O~'
according TO Mr. Paul, that RICHMOND SUI
rendered and General Lee handed his s"Oiu
General Grant" Richmond was taken on Api-
8 but Lee did not surrender until six days l1OeA'
at Appornattox- Once more our historian u"Sl-.
with qualification upon the friendliness OF LIE
working people Of Lancashire to the OHl
cause despite their great sufferings rom ~
cotton famine But there Is not so much aS
mention of Henry Ward Beecher and his mar
veIlous series Of public addresses in that reslOa