The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-22
SOME NEW hooks.
The Louisiana Purchase and the Westward
Increment.


The latest addition 20 "The History OF
North America. edited 10y DR.. GUY Garlic
roN LEE George Barrie * sons)' Is a
volume Of 500 pages, devoted 10 an
ACCOUNT of TIE Louisiana Purchase ana
the Westward Movement by DR.. CURTIS NJ
GErs, a IN mber Of the faoulmes on me
Hartford Theological Seminary and Bates
College. From one point oil view inns
hoax ia unique. the author having under
taken the exposition OF an e1coNuonalIy
oapacious theme, 70. although the
Ln;I,dana Purchase was our FIRST and great
est land acquisition, and has influenced
our history more deeply than any other
event since the adoption OF the Constltu-
ton. vet the trans-Alleghany movement
began before the Declaration OF lnde-
pendenoe was signed and has continued
To this day. What is here essayed Is not
a oonspectus. of a single period, much
less OF a few memorable events, but the
history of a movement The authors aim
Is 10 show how the country west OF tne
original Thirteen Colonies became populhteo
and how these Western people estaonsheo
their governments. While not oontempat-
ing, Of course in the space at his command
an exhaustive narrative, he tries 10 present
the essential elements in the changes whloh
transformed a wilderness into sell -goVeru-
ing States and to exhibit the processes oy
which the transformation was accomplished
He begins by pointing out how geogra phlcal
conditions affected the westward trend OF
nonulation. Attention is directed TO the
fact that the mountain barriers, even IN
the South. were not difficult to pass, ana
that from the Northern States the journey
10 the West was much easier The influence
of the rivers and their valleys on the dstn-
button of settlements is indicated. we
scarcely need say that special emphasis
is placed on the Mississippi. and its most
important branch, historically, the ohlo'
Until the advent OF railroads these two
rivers we're the highways OF imml grafton
and commerce The Great Lakes, also,
promoted the rapid colonization OF the land
beyond the Alleghanies and it's commercial
development. The river system made this
portion OF the continent geographical unit
which had the Mississippi for its natural
artery. Some consideration is givcn to
the effect which this fact has had upo the
political development of the West.
In the course of his book the author has
occasion TO explain how the institutions OF
the Atlantic States, on passing into the
Mississippi Valley. were modified so as 70
meet new conditions. Not only we're the
settlers in that valley confronted with
changed circumstances, 10 which they
had TO fit their institutions, but the nation
az whole encountered problem FOR
which it was III prepared and upon which
no light was thrown by any Of its precedents.
II ia, as DR.. Geer reminds us, n matter not
only of historic interest but Of present day
political importance TO understand how
the Federal Government met the questions
which arose as results of expansion. From
a Constitutional point Of view the growth OF
the West has profoundly influenced the
nation. Drastic changes In the interpre-
tation of the Constitution had TO be made
10 deal with the unexpected conditions re-
sulting from the westward movement.
1t soon came TO pass. moreover. that men
who we're neither Northern nor Southern,
but Western, claimed and secured share
in constituting our Federal organic law and
in influencing the administration Of national
affairs.
We commend heartily to the reader every
one OF the authors twenty-four chapters.
Every one OF them will be found stocked
with information and suggestion. For the
purpose Of this review, however, we invite
particular notice to the chapters that treat
Of trans-Aleghany settlements In colonial
days; of the part played by the West in the
Revolution; of the political situation in
the West before 1883; OF the organization
and admission of the first new States 10
tho onion; of the events preceding and
justifying the Louisiana Purchase, and Of
81.
concerning the admission OF the State OF
Louisiana to the Union. We should not
omit. either. to glance at the authors
general conclusions, including what he has
to say about the character Of the North
western settlers before 1880 and about the
material changes which subsequently took
place in the elements OF Westward emil
grafton.