The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09
LIFE OF
ANDREW JACKSON
A Critical Biography Which Shows
The Authors Treless Energy and
Thorough Scholarship.

Professor J. S. Bassett. now Of
Smith College. Mass, formerly Of
trinity College, n. c., has just pub |
nshed through Doubleday. Page &
company, a two-vOlume Life OF An
drew Jackson" which has attracted
a widespread interest in historical
circles. The book is a monument to
sn. authors energy and a credit to
his scholarship. 1t reveals ~tireless in
~.estigation. profound research, full
and thorough knowledge of the sub
let and his times. keen insight into
his complex character. and. perhaps.
most remarkable of ALL. considering
she subject, tempered judgment. Tenn
rcred judgment is something, l be-
ucye. Andrew Jackson never received
berore. living or dead, from friend or
enemy. The authors style is simple,
.Ira~ and concise.
The work has been we'll received
even enthusiastically welcomed by
3. nolars. but it is not likely to appeal
g. a large circle Of general readers.
There is no Straining after herOicS.
Those events in Old Hickory's career,
which would have tempted a less
Thoroughly trained and self~-contained
writer han DR.. Bassett to dramatics,
nave been treated with the cool, calm
snjrit Of the critical scholar, or have
tItEn lis aAtoeSNi4S ~
book will find a permanent place on
che shelf Of the student, but will not
.npear in the list of best sellers of
che year. for the author has preferred
the task of the historian to that OF
me dramatist. This is more than can
D.. said OF all Of JackSOn's biOgraph-
prS.
Professor BasSett has written as "a
critical historian. He has not feared
~ demolish the popular idol when it
Ycrded demolition. He has no pre-
conceived notions to maintain. He is
not 4 herp-worshipper. 70 him his
hero is but a man: yet. how much
more of a hero because he was but a
man. Yet, it must not be supposed
ihat he writes unsympathetically, for
ia spite of much c~rudeness, much
xllgarisn. much sordidneSs of many
disgusting episodes, of great AFRO
gance. tyranny and cruelty-in spite
If all these, portrayed with impair
tai accuracy and unreseryedly, there
was so much of the noble, Of the
great, Of the heroic in the old hero,
that he energies out Of it all a. hero
stin; and this even Professor Bassetr s
calm. critical. impartial pen cannot
prevent. That Jackson can withstand
the keen research n pitiless judg-
ment of this trained investigator and
critical scholar and come forth a
noble. heroic figure in our history, is
z higher tribute to the value Of his
services and the greatness Of his
character than any eulOgy could pos
sibly be.
without attempting the impossible
task of presenting in this brief review
ann idea Of the career OF Jackson, as
Skctched by Professor Bassett, 1t ma!
be Of interest for us to catch {
glimpse Of him through the author's
eyes.s His portrait, as DR.. Basset'
draws ii, is not exactly like the popu
lar conception. 70 instance, he tell
us that Jackson had common sense
integrity, courage. and impartiality.'
Common sense. courage, and integrit!
are always associated With him, bu
whoever thought before of catalog
uing "impartiality" among his virtues
He was "strong-willed.' II was tn
s"ul of generosity" II loved jus
tIce-but perhaps we had bette
qualify this phrase by adding, accord
ing TO his own conceptions Of justice
he had. we are fully prepared to be
iieve, a "strict sense Of honor, W
by nature exceedingly chivalrous, an
bore himself toward women with
protecting Difference which mad
them all. even the fine ladies of Ne1
Orleans and Washington, his warn
friends" He was mentally an ego
lst; that is to say, one who relied o
himself. Ideas came to him original
u. and in obedience to a strong ma
ural aptness for knowing what h
wanted: it was not his nature to tax
Them from Others" In another plac
the author speaks Of the "turbuleE
egotism. which for Jackson. in man
critical periods, was a source Of weak
hess as we'll as Of strength. . .
IN whatever position he was throw
he was apt to take the place of leader
both by reason Of his own pretensio
and through the acouiescence of otE
ers." This very egotism gave him q
STRAIGHTFORWARD way of dealing whic
ever made him friends he was bolt
he had the faculty of leading, he wa
Just to a fault, he did not counte
nance doub1e-dealing, and he spoil
his mind frankly" OF course, thes