New-York tribune., 1906-11-14

hoeE its tue IL = 80
f'., e.. 50 far as it goes 80 heeuIes. :
~ ~, recent history conned that pFooao4s 70
rsnt sha . ne, the Presidential election Of
naioF'' -atra chiefly because It was dis
$50 I.N ,,a,suse II was finally decided by the
paee S1o - ~ g single vote Nor is that
ua-To" ,-o-,,y OF remembrance OF OF ex-
,ssiurs hook so. doubtless, worthy and
plciAD..- t.,os might be written about Colum-
his'ss-- hia.. from Palos 10 the Island Of the
pSss - hout the daily routine incidents
hoR - without reference TO the fact that
BE &c, ,ovaee he gave a new world 70
illO"s -,s-yIe such q work would. however.
lsOA - - accounted an adequate and compre-
81. ,.,-,ent os the great historic theme.
ras.,e p, ne regard Air. Haworth's volume as
VI sseouare or complete presentation Of
F-s ~ ,oost striking incidents in the political
- - America. or as giving anything more
somewhat restricted view of one phase
-. incident. and that by no means the most
Go o.. memorable phase. This limitation
- moreover. Is evidently the result OF
..,ss-s.a choice. perhaps prompted by misap-
-, in selecting merely the dispute over
-. ~ The electoral votes as the lett motif,
- * ;, the paramount feature OF which that
s.--,,s vas merely sn accessory.
-t,s --r1e that The Fayes-Tilden election
: s,snured and was finally decided by a sin
-,.s But those circUmstances do not IN
s..-ss,ves make Il uniquely memorable There
-. bssn many disputed elections IN various
..ss ~ this Union. and il was no epoch-rnaklng
=. fo- the whole nation 70 have e touch OF
:. sane experience which many OF the states
-. .y4ered There had. long before 1876, been
L.,+,-sI campaigns for the Presidency far more
..,.,,,a-e,v fought than that. which, in fact.
aTa haH
=, decided BY q majority Of only two
-..s while two elections had been thrown
=, ne House Of Representatives. Dis
-r-ss elections per Sc. are not and never have
-, s-rsage 10 our political system. They are
contemplated as possible, and are provided for
~ he constitutions and laws OF both the indi-
,isus, states and If the nation. Il is true that
,his me was after much controversy, disposed
shs UNIQUE and special fashion. But even
.bs- feature of T. was transitory. That Electoral
Commission bill which AIr. Haworth esteers
-r,sues-ionsbly one Of the most important
measures ever considered by an American Con-
r--ss" was purely and simply 4 measure Of the
ssv sppNcabls % that emergency and nothing
-urs Il SCI no precedent. IL established no prin-
erls and II another such dispute should here
sns- arise, recourse would not be had 10 such a
device as that Of 1851.
Nor can we regard Mr.. Haworth's treatment OF
me one subordinate phase Of the subject which
he has chosen for exploitation as altogether sat
ilcto-y L Is detailed and elaborate II is pains
taxing n its careful uteralnesE. His studies Of
va-aus Congressional documents, and Of the
Hlss q certain newspapers and reviews. have
been kbo-ious Z not always n the highest de-
grss p-oarable HIS recapitulstion % facts OF
record Is largely. though not entirely, compre-
hssive- His mental attitude and his utterances
gn generally impartial. though we must regret
hh errors Of now and then mentioning some in
nuzdo or disproved accusation without suff-
Gently making Gear is baselessness. Thus he
Hlk US that AIr. Blaine's availability as candi
Gate a. Cincinnati was vastly lessened by the
disclosure, not long before the convention met, OF
ne celebrated 1IuIligan letters, which pur-
po.sd 70 make some uncomfortable revelations
sgIrd-ag his alleged improper relations with The
affairs Of the Little Rock & Fort Smith Rail
fost' and ne ADDS not & word 10 indicate the
astv ana fu-,Ii-y OF that attack. Nor IS an
t1oge,her accurate impression conveyed by his
reference 70 The Tribune as then as now hotly
Republican" Republican this journal undoubt-
ely was But Z ss certainly was not the thick
and thin supporter os the second Grant admin
!s,ration, and what 9rr. Haworth calls the Re
f-N-~-' --4 -A-S I'M -o--4-CN SAAAe-
szg!a;ned chara cterLzaIon might imply.
These, however are occasional and incidental
Apses. a far mora grave defect IS found in the
a!-as-dust style Of the narrative and in the
s1iaors lauen-ehle failure 70 appreciate or 10
s1isr into the spirit Of the occurrences which
h hrecords and which he assumes 70 discuss with
elnca- authority. He regards the whole passion
Aae1 drama from The very antipodes Of Terence,
tFpa-ErrLV rar oh h. ie ma N
le things which concern humanity are alien 10
Nh L is pupper show which he portrays 70
Is with the r-attsr-of-fact dryness os a picture
~A-og1e. The dramatIs persona, comprising
A'1s q The most striking. picturesque, humoc-
'-s ahc heroic figures in the history OF our times
= 70 him only 50 many lay figures OF papieI
14-ne, with names or numbers stenciLed upon
s-- ior the Distinguishing Of one from another
'-I does this uIsympathe-ic and unappreciative
s'-'-oe appear 70 be unconscious or uninten-
VIA On The contrary. we may not unrea SON
=. assume L 10 have been deliberately adopted
seriously cultivated. probably for the sake
= '0-A appearing and being aUsterely impartial
--s story Of The inpsssloned debates IN Con.
1 80 is tod tn echoes from The Congressiona
f1 and from House and Senate documents
episode of Justice Davis's election 10 III,
---sl states Senate. one OF the most interesting
10Y least important OF al. IS passed by witt
60 ~ lhappreciative lines The framing ant
F-g ot The Electoral Commission bill. "on,
~ most Important measures ever considered
a. q American Congress" and the progress
-'llaation Of the historic count" are toll
-'1 me same tone IN which one might repor
: yesterday the weather was wet and the de,
e.ore twas dry. -
A. 60 from this almost fatal lack ot syrapa+b
e. 80 AR Eaworth tells The story ot III
err. g. g. ne election, the' dispute and n
usr,-...'.-1 - coherenoe and with general &C
fsr we might complain that he paw
S.. "l1e attention and gives too Ii+ri
sht 10 The --eeraacJ, ~ o. - ~
re which was SO corsricro,s go.
-2-a- poLl-ics az that time er5 81 -
". ~ BON Grant and Hayes won lasting c~eI.