The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25
SOME NEW BOOKS.
phsdes,s 4Histery OF the United sssses-
Concluding yblume

Concluding volumes.
With the sixth and seventh volumes now
Issued by the Macmillan Company, DR..
JAMES FORD RHODES has brought 10 an
end his History Of the United Strtes, the
scope OF which extends from the Com
promise of 1857 q the final restoration OF
home rule at tho South In 1877. There In
something roundst and epical In the theme
chosen for exposition. One perceives In IL
at a glance a beginning, a middle and an
sod. As the author himself POINTS out on
ne last page Of his long narrative, The
twenty-sever Gears which ave formed the
subject Of his patient and almost exhaustive
study opened with the compromise on
slavery which great statesmen devised
and then Witnessed SUGGEST vely the up
setting OF that compromise by an ambitious
Northern Senator; the form alton Of the
Republican party; the renewed and in
tensifed agitation OF the slavery question;
the exhibition Of arrogance and aggression
on the Tart Of the South; the election Of
lincoln. a minority candidate; n refusal
OF the South to abide by the decision OF
che ballot box; the resultant civil war; the
great work done by Lincoln; he abolition
of slavery; the defeat Of the South: the
EuDrcQucut TtCOUrtIutttOu DbsCu hpOh uAh~
versal negro suffrage; the consequent
oppression of the South by the North, and
finally. the triumph OF Southern intelligence
and character over the ignorance and cor
ruption that so long had thriven under
Northern misconceptions. The discussion
Of the main theme, typihed at the outset
by webeter's 9TH Of March speech, and at
Che close OF the period by Hayes's order TO
remove the Federal troops from the State
Houses OF South Carolina and Louisiana,
has been diversified by q consideration OF
many collateral topics.
1t is the general verdict Of those students
Of American history who are competent
% weigh the merits Of this work. TO which
che author has devoted nineteen years Of
his life, that-whatever exception may be
taken to this or that detail-Mr. Rhodes
has on the whole fulfilled his fundamental
aim, which was to uphold. throughout his
researches and deductions, such standards
Of evidence and judgment as were likely
10 elicit the maximum of truth attainable
at a date so near to the events described
that the right perspective could scarcely
at all times be hoped for. Already in the
last volume may be disoerned q slight
change in the point OF view from which
che first was written. It is a change which
has anected all thoughtful men at the North,
as well as at the South, and which the author
could no more escape than he could with
draw himself from the influence OF the
atmosphere that envelops him. The audi
ence to which his last volume will appeal
takes a different view Of many OF the ques-
lions discussed in his narrative from that
which was taken by the audience 90 which
he first addressed himself.
There are. Of course, two methods OF
writing history. One may treat it as an
art, and try to make the narrative a. inter-
esting as a novel. One may treat IL as a
science. and try to make the outcome Of
investigation and reflection as s%crlpulously
accurate and trustworthy as the decision
Of a supreme judicial tribunal. We do not
look for scientific precision in a work which
appeals to the imagination. We do not
expect the grace and charm Of artistic COM
position in a treatise on physics or biology.
BY deliberate choice Mr.. Rhodes Is a pupil,
not OF the school of Macaulay and Froude,
hut of the school OF Stubs and Gardiner.
Gibbon is the only English historian who
has succeeded in combining extreme ac-
ouracy with extreme attractiveness. With
Ene auLnOr Oh Jne Work before us aCtraC-
tiveness was only a secondary object; yet
his pages are neither dull nor dry. Not
satisfied with the Immense labor expended
by him in exploring and winnowins a vast
mass OF material, he has striven earnestly
and successfully TO present his conclusions
In a simple. lucid and engaging way. That
ts why his book is sure to be widely read,
while his right to a high place among au-
thorities will be undisputed.
For the purpose Of exemplifying the
method and the value Of this history. we
shall confine ourselves mainly TO marking
In the sixth volume Wharf.-The author has to
say about the impeachment of President
johnson, and about the Treaty Of Wash
ington, with the resultant enc Arbitra-
ton; and in he seventh volume, to the
authors consideration Of the policy OF
negro suffrage and OF Congressional recon-
struction, and his discussion OF the decision
of the Electoral Commission of 1877. and Of
the events which Immediately preceded and
followed IL. Neither should We entirely
overlook Mr.. Rhodes's on the
liberal Republican movement of 1872 and
on the Credit Mobilier affair.