New-York tribune., 1908-01-04

To write contemporarv history in the modern
scientific spirit is a task which must try the
mettle of the most conscientious student, and
it cannot be asserted that Mr.. Sidney Low and
his colleague. Mr.. Lloyd c. Sanders, nave SO
far succeeded entirely to conceal their pollt-
cal bias and party affiliations. The history OF
Queen Victoria's long reign is written from the
standpoint of a Conservative, a fact which De-
comes increasingly evident Mr. Low reaches
the period which is covered by his personal
memory and during which he was taking an
active interest in politics. Notwithstanding
this distinctly perceptible bias, the authors
cannot be accused of unfairness in their treat
ment of the great Liberal leaders who were
members of Mr. Gladstones administrations
Nor do they withhold from the Liberal party
any of the credit which is due to it for the
great reform measures which put the franchise
democratic basis; gave some serbance OF
a national system Of education to England;
placed the trade unions on a safe and legal
basis: recast factory and labor legislation in
accordance with +--e spirit of justice and hu-
manity: liberated v N from their most op-
pressive legal DISABILITIES, and instituted pop
uiar and representative government in the
rural districts of England. Even the two great
reform measures which were carried by Con-
servatives-the second reform act of 1861,
ingmen in the towns, and the County Councils
act of 1855 which redeemed London from
the deep disgrace of being the only badly
governed city in Great Britain, and which
superseded the olgarchcal rule of the county
magistracy by popularity elected councils-arc
rightly credited TO the influence of the Liberals
rather than the principles policy of the
Conservative governments by which they were
enacted
Nevertheless, there are many indications Of
the Conservative feanings of the authors Very
little attention is given to the enormous growth
Of democratic sentiment and power, which is
one of the outstanding features of the last half
OF the nineteenth century. Trade unions and
labor representation in Parliament are little
more than mentioned. although the labor MEM
ber made his appearance in the House of Com
mons in 1868 and before the death of Queen
Victoria labor had been represented in Parlia-
nent by as many as seventeen members. No
sympathy is shown for the 'NonConformist
Conscience"-that sturdy force in middle class
England which, albeit somewhat unbending
and lacking in graciousness. has still been the
salt of the nation. and has kept the national
life sound and wholesome. With another great
movement which has accomplished marvels iii
the redemption and uplifting of hundreds Of
nation. Mr.. Low again shows curious lack Of
sympathy. The organization known as the
Salvation Army he writes. was established
by General William Booth. d Nottingham
Methodist preacher in 1878 The army was a
combination Of theatrical sensat ationalism. re-
lgious revivalism and genuine philanthropic
activity. Vulgar as were some of its methods
i did much hard work, especially among those
classes whom the churches and charitable agen-
cies had failed touch. though it may be
doubted whether the results II achieved were
commensurate with the vast expenditure in
cured The great advance that has been
made in England by the movement for munich
pal ownership is summed up in a few lines ap-
pended TO a paragraph describing the new
unionism that arose out of the London dock
strike of 1888. Speaking Of the representatives
OF the new unionism," the authors say:
Many Of them were strongly socialistic in their
should be improved by the direct action of the
G1antIy succeeded in carrying with them the ma
jory of the trade union delegates at the congress
in resolutions recommending the naturalization of
land Of railways and of mining royalties. and the
fixing Of hours of adult labor by legislation. In
local affairs the collectivist was allowed fuller
scope. Municipal functions were widely extended
especially in directions which touched the life of
the working class population Free libraries. baths
The rtes the local authorities undertook the sppIV
Of gas. water. electric light public loconotion and
selves became large employers of labor. and they
were, . rule. willing 70 recognize the authority
pay not less than the current union rate of wages
to those in their service.
The cooperative movement which was begun
a quarter of a century before Queen Victoria
came TO the throne, by Robert Owen and his
fellow workers. but which a successful COM
nerciaI enterprise belongs wholly to Mr.. Lows
period is passed without mention. al
though between 1881 and 1901 the annual turn
over of the cooperative societies of Great
Britain wholesale and retail, had attained the
enormous total Of fS7000000. Ten lines
are all that are given TO the growth and de-
veIopnent of the newspaper press during the
sixty years of Queen Victora's reign. This is
deemed sufficientfor institution that in these
wears was freed from its fiscal disabilities and
changed from luxury of the rich to daily ne
cessity of the people
These shortcomings, If they to be re-
earded. are perhaps inevitable in volume
which attempts to cover the sXty-three event
f,I wears of Queen Victoria's long reign in the
er,act. of 4e9 pages. Messrs. Low and Sanders
have strictly limited themselves to writing
,,oliticaI history Of England. The social. indus
triaI and literary history of the reign is left to
other hands In the field which they have oc
c,,nied there is no competitor. The most note
worthy histories Of portions of the period which
have previously appeared are Justin McCarthy's
,,.. .,f Our Own Times" which is scarcely
80, i,pnortant work; Mr. Herbert Paufs Mod
I-r,ord',-the work of brilliant jour
=. ~, of one who considers himself abun-
-, c.nahIe of sitting In judgment on every
action of every politician or statesman who has