New-York tribune., 1907-04-24


state government in this country is the work of
an Fnglisbman. Ambassador Bryce's Amer
lean Commonwealth" is, as yet, without rival
either for popular reading for the student.
Il Is an Engllshman who is now giving us the
r,ost complete and most scholarly history yet
written Of the American colonies before the
Revolution. Mr.. Doyle began the series in 1882
with the story Of Virginia and the Carolinas
Then followed. in 1856. the volumes on the New
England colonies The first of the two volumes
inst published includes the story of New York
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, while
he second continues the history of all the colonies
from the beginning of the eighteenth century 10
the outbreak Of the troubles with the mother
country that preceded the Revolution. The col
onization Of Georgia and the conquest Of Can
ada each form a chapter in this last volume
Georgia. the last OF the English colonies, was
not taken up until the history of the earlier
colonies had been carried down to the middle
OF the eighteenth century.
By far the best part Of the fourth volume in
Mr.. Doyles series is that which deals with the
foundation and growth OF New York. II has
been the fate of the English TO follow the Dutch
taking up colonies and settlements OF Dutch
origin IN various parts of the world The Dutch
East Indies. Cape Colony and Natal and more
recently. the Transvaai and the Orange River
Colony. follow in their main lines much the
these colonies there loyalty to race which
formed an obstacle to the anglicizing of the
community, but in none of them did attachment
10 Holland and its traditions give any trouble
20 the incoming government. There was a
strong contrast between the Beers OF South AZ
rica and The Dutch of the New Netherlands
Manhattan Island and the Hudson River had
become the home not Of a settled farming popu-
lstion, living almost exclusively rural life
like that of the Beers in Cape Colony, Natal and
the late South African republics but Of a cluster
Of merchants and traders. The chief interest Of
the Dutch III The back country lay in the profits
TO be made out of dealings with the Indians The
trading character of the settlements. however
brought about result which in South Africa
was produced by the discovery of diamonds and
gold in Dutch territory 1t brought together in
old New York population nearly as cosmo-
politan that which characterizes the New
York Of the present day. By the middle of the
seventeenth century New York had become the
centre Of a miscellaneous and cosmopolitan horde
Of adventurers and refugees with no common
traditions, strong bonds Of union and no
sense Of corporate life Mr.. Doyle quotes Father
Jogues Jesuit visitor in 1914 as stating that
he found in New Amsterdam eighteen lam
guages IN common use-a record which could
scarcely be surpassed to-day. Father Jogues
may have INDUCED in some exaggeration. but
besides the Dutch and English the existence
can clearly be traced. in the old records, of
French Huguenots. Walloons, Waldenses,
Swedes. Nennonites. Ecotchmen from the Gaelic
Highlands. and Jews OF various nationalities.
A community brought together for purposes
Of trade and composed Of so many diverse ele-
Inents unlikely to have the strong religious
feeling that characterized New England or the
TransvaaL Religious federation was one result
Of this diversity. but along with religious tolera-
Don there was a lack OF corporate unity and OF
fhe power OF self-government which were the
outstanding features Of the New England town
ships. Fortunately for the fate of New York
and Of the future American republic. of which
at that time New York formed the key the
pressure of outside forces upon the diverse ele- /
ments Of population in the colony was sufIi-
cient TO weld them into a concrete whole. New
York was the gateway TO the West and to Can
ada. From other OF the English colonies on
the Atlantic Coast, in those days Of roadless
forest and swamp, could men pass to the Great
Lakes and TO that mighty West from which
The French sought TO shut out their rivals. The
brunt Of the attacks Of French and Indians had
70 be borne by New York, and in the face of so
great outward danger some kind of unity and
organization was inevitable IL the colony was
10 survive In the end tbs very cosmopolitanism
Of New York tended 10 unity within the colony
and 10 a fusion with New England and with the
colonies to the southwark. Where so many ma
tionalities are present it is impossible to have
definite communities founded race. and the J
tendency in the long run is TO amalgamate and
to adopt the traditions language and civilization
% The race that is acknowledged 10 be dominant /
Mr. Doyle is not quite successful in his 4
sreatment Of Pennsylvania, as when writing Of
Sew York or New England. lie has SYM |
pathy with Quakerism, and an insufficient |
knowledge Of the history and tenets Of the sect.
Eis mind always leans toward a well ordered, /
strictly governed ecclesjasticism. and 10 him az
orderly respectable church government free /
from fanaticism and Irregularities. is the ideal
Cor the religious life of a community. This turn l
Of mind enables him TO do justice TO the church |
life Of New England. although he is not in SYM
pathy with any form of dissent from the Epis- I
c0pal Church where that is the dominant and |
established religion. Next to well ordered /
episcopate. which he evidently thinks might |
have been established over the colonies, had il
not been for the supineness and neglect of the /
British government. the corporate church life /
g New England appeals 10 Mr.. Doyle. How he I
Fesards the SvorS Of missionary enthusiasts
herd as he strives 10 do justice TO every force |
that affected the lives Of the co!onists-may be
seen from his treatment Of the controversy be-
tween Whiteheld and the Rev. Alexander Gar /
oen, OF South Carolina. The relations between |
Garden and Whitefeld at first were friendly. /
Out this good understanding shortlived. /
Garden was justly incensed." writes Mr. Doyle, /
az the audacty with which Whifeleld. him
seR nominally a clergyman IN. the Church of |
Engiand. defed his authority and claimed the 4
1'sht 10 ofIiciate when and where he pleased"
Whi;efeld pleaded that as he himself had no
.ked duty in South Carolina. but belonged TO
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