The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-26
IN THE LITERARY WORLD.

While ii lasts, bat when reconciliation
does come the affection is strength
! ened between men of the same blood.
/ Writing from a Southern standpoint,
the author has. successfully had in
mind the desire to make each section
/ understand and appreciate that the
| other was Conscientious patriotic and
| lovable. A critic writing of the book
truly says with an impartiality that
seems to be perfect, he has written
such book as might be expected fifty
years hence" He believes the en-
counter was inevitable, that it is far
! better for the South that the Union
side won, and that 'the great men
| have learned that slavery both eff
terminated and paralyzed the whites
and was smothering incubus upon
our due social and material develop
ment." Next to his desire to show
that combatants on both sides were
honorable and courageous, the au-
thor shows he was greatly in earnest
in his desire to vindicatei Calhoun,
Toombs and Davis, because, as he
says. Il want my Northern readers
to know what true Americans they
We're" His chapters as Webster, Cal
houn and Davis are especially strong
and ought to be read by every stu
dent of history and all who have in
them (and who has not) anything
of hero worship. From first to last
the author has made his story-oN2
that has been often told-as interest
ing as if the characters and scenes
were new. Perhaps the best idea Of
the scope and style of the book can
be found by the authors estimate of
Webster evidently deemed by him the
greatest of Americans except Wash
ington, OF the temporary waning Of
WebSters power when the abolition
the names of detracting agitatorS and
mere politicians written over his in
the temple of fame are now fading
off. and how the invincible and low
able champion of the brothers union
looms larger upon US every year," He
adds, touching upon Webster and Linz
coin:
What is Weoster's highest and best
fame We feel he is higher
in his profound love for his whole
country than in his unequalled elo-
quence. He and Lincoln We're the SUI
per-eminent Americans who could
never, never forget that the people
of the other section were their own
full-blood brothers and sisters. They
are the supreme opponents Of that
American brotherhood, more deeply
founded and more lasting than either
enc of the nationalizations which we
nave explained, out of which a con-
tinental is first, and then a world
union to come. To save our union
was also to do the better deed OF saw
ing that brotherhood. For this each
strove in his own way"
The two ablest debaters and greatest
leaders of that period, in the opinion
of the author were Mr.. Webster and
Mr.. Toombs. Of whom he writes thus:
CAS- Webster was the special apos-
tie of the preservation of the Union,
TOombS was the same of secession.
Their mission We're parallel. in that
each one was the foremost champion
of his nationality, Webster Of the Pan
American as we may call it, and
Toombs of the southern. All through
the brothers war their phrases were
on the lips and fired the hearts Of
each host, those of Webster impell
ing to fight for the the Union, those
of Toombs for the southern Confed-
eracy Each was probably the ablest
lawyer of his day. Each was surely
the ablest debater to be found. Each
was of sublime courage i'm defyinS
what he thought to be unjust COM
mands of his constituents"