Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-08-21
G,Sp7 - w ~ I1s33 n 100
Romantic History
Story of Territorial Growth of the
United States.
T1HERE are two very separate

MERE are two very separate
I and distinct classes of histor-
] Il ans. There are those who at
tribute all evolution and pro-
| sress to the aVaricious desire of ac-
emulation on the part of a few men
who are led by egotistic rather than
altruistic motives. To them it is in,-
| possible to conceive an optimistic and
underlying idealism in the trend of
human events. They would have US
believe that we are the accidental re-
suits Of the selfish ambitions of few
adventurers. and that on this basis the
human race. with all its riches. has
been built,
AS opposed to these misanthropic
gentlemen there Is d class of histor-
sians which believes that. beneath all
expansion and accumulation of wealth
in national prosperity, there is an
energy Of some divine destiny work
Ing out our parts, and that race evolu--
ton has in IT more of romance than
of realism. 4i
Such a historian Is H Addlngton
Bruce. who recently has published an
of American EXPANSION" (Moffat.
Yard & CO.. New York SD
In this book, the history OF our ac-i
emulation of TERRITORY Is told through
"a series of biographical studies. Each
of these stories takes .tuu some crucial
period in American development and
gives an accurate and interesting pic.
ture of the time in which great ex-
pansive step was taken. The eight
famous historical personages which
Mr.. Bruce has chosen are; first, Daniel
Boone. who forced his way through
the untrodden timber lands. across the
mountains and painless valleys. and
opened that great country In the VAL
ley ofthe Mississippi. Second. Thomas
Jefferson. the eXVansionist. Who even
before becoming President. aided in
acquiring Northern Ohio country, and
as president wrote his name In our
history as one OF our greatest presi-
dents through the acquisition OF the
Louisiana purchase. Third. Mr.. Bruce
names Andrew Jackson. to whom we
owe the possession Of Florida: and
fourth. Sam Houston. but for whose
courage we might not have acquired
Texas. Fifth. Thomas Burton. who
wrested Oregon from the British. Sixth
John G. Fremont of California fame
Seventh, William H. Seward. through
whose negotiations the Alaskan ter
ritory was made part OF our posses
sions. Eighth. William j Mckinley
was a powerful and individual states
man who, by his own sheer force,
succeeded in the annexation OF the
Philippines.
Mr.. Bruce. In this very distinct. his
torical production, has done a very ex-
celient thing. The story he has told Is
not pondcrous. as is the majority of
histories, There Is no great weight of
data and statistics which render, un-
readable many similar works His Eng
lish is direct and pithy; and the bulk
of his "Romance" Is as interesting ms
the average novel Throughout his
work there runs a robust optimism; and
the old material which he has used, in
his hands. becomes fused with new life.
The most interesting chapter in the
book believe to be the account of Mr..
work in his acquisition of
Alaska, which, as we remember, he.
named personally. There was n great
deal of opposition to Mr.. Stewards bill,
not the least Of which was the denun-
citation of Washburn of Wisconsin,;
and Mr.. Seward had no easy time in 4
the government that it
should buy this territory But the
soundness of his Judgment has since
ka has already contributed to our
wealth over 5000. 900. COO.
The whole book Is based on exhaust
i've research. and there is some valuable
included here which has
not before been brought together. A
distinctive feature Of the book Is In
.Hints for Further Reading. which
contains a carefullyselected bibliogra-
ply Of authoritative volumes covering
the most useful literature relating to
zach successive forward step In Ameri-
lean expansion. There are many por-
traits in the book taken for reproduce
ton from the best available sources.