Year: 1876

Co.


Tho motive and scope of this work clearly set
orth in the preface by Mr. Bryant, which aiords an
attractive specimen of the terse and vigorous prose
At which he is so eminent master. II is intended
10 be a history adapted TO the wants of the large
sass who have no leisure for the more elaborate
narratives which exhibit in complete detail the
annals of the nation. At the same time 1T aims at
fuller treatment of the subject than is found Ill the
convenient compends designed for the use OF
schools. Nor is it a compilation drawn from previous
histories, but its materials have been obtained
through independent research from original sources
The plan of the work includes copious selection of
Illustrations comprising portraits of distinguished
men, views of memorable places and buildings. and
representations of social usages and manners at an
early day. But this statement presents only
superficial idea of the breadth of the plan 1t Is IT.
tended to describe the series Of changes which have
occurred in tho Republic. that possess an interest
for every civilized nation. aud the history OF which
could not he fully written until the present TINE.


Mr. BRYANT proceeds to give a brief sketch of these
changes which have given character to modern
history aud which will be fully treated III the
progress of the work. During the two centuries
and half Of existence as an offshoot from the
European stock a great drama has been enacted on
the American continent, closing in bloody catas-
.rophe with result favorable to liberty and human
rights. Within that time slavery, which had grown
to be a gigantic power within the Republic. has
been utterly destroyed after a terrible national con-
dict. We stand accordingly at point where the
whole duration of slavery in country lies before
as as on chart, aud no history of the Republic can
be complete which does not conduct the reader
through the various stages Of its existence MT bry-
ant presents adeepy interesting outline OF Its gradual
development and progress. In its earlier years
slavery was admitted by the most eminent men
where it had taken the deepest root to be great
wrong. At subsequent period, it was defended
as Just and benefcent institution, and the basis oi
the most perfect social state that was known to the
world. The controversy assumed larger proportions
as the wears went on. On the side of slavery stood
forth men singularly fitted to be its champions
Able plausibe trained to public life, they exercised
q large personal influence. Their VIII was NODDED
to fierce determination by the despotism over ther
bondmen which prevailed on the plantation. On the
other side were enthusiasts for liberty of no less ILL
flexible purpose restless and aggressive with the
spirit of martyrs ready to attest their sincerity 10y
the sacrifice of their lives SO fierce the quarrel,
that even in the free States the name OF abOtlonst
was term of reproach and scorn. To apply this
name to q man i'll some places the same thlnS as
to commend him to the mercy of mob Still the
hostility to slavery was gathering strength under
new form. The friends of the institution demanded
that it should be recognized all the territory ol
the Union not yet formed into States. party was
at once created to resist the application OF this doc
trine and after long aud vehement contest elected
its candidate President of the United States. Inc
friends of slavery fearing they should hereafter
be in q minority, instantly revolted against the
Union and rushed into war in which their defeat
carried with it the fall of slavery. Thousands OF
private fortunes were dragged down; some of the
fairest portions of the regions whence it issued Its
laff1 desc atp nd
time were given over to a confusion little short oil
anarchy 1t is too early in the day to record the
history of the institution Slavery has become
thing of the past The dispute as to its rights under
our Constitution has closed forever. slavery Is no
longer either denounced OF defended from the pull
pits. 1t is not made an issue in any political con
tests The champions of slavery on the one side ana
the champions of the slave on the other as they no"
mass in review before the historian, can be judged
with "a calmness belonging 10 new political era.
Still it must be maintained that the existence OF
slavery in our Republic was at variance with the
spirt of our free institutions. Ii could not be pre-
served in the vast proportions which it had reached
without altering their nature and impartng to them
somewhat of its own despOtlc character. Abundant
examples of this shown In the severe laws against
sedtiou in the slave States in the enforced silence
ON the subject of human liberty, in an expurgaied
popular literature and the visitors to the slave
States chased back By mobs across the frontier Not
long before the civil war 1t was even maintained
by certain journals in the South that the time had
come for the question whether the entire laO"!1hg
class of whatever color should not be made the serfs
of the landholders and other opulent members of so
ciety. No history pretending to completeness could
fail TO describe the growth and downfall of iIst
tuition which welded vast an influence both in So
ciety and poliucs To have broken oil the narrative
before reaching the catastrophe would have been
like rising from the spectacle of drama at the end
of the fourth act Few episodes In the worlds his
tory have been so complete in themselves as that OF
American slavery. Few have brought such mighty
agencies into activity, occupied vast thcater,
OF been closed although amid such fearful carnage,
In manner so satisfactory to the sense of natural
Justice.


Another important conclusion, Mr. Bryant sug-
pcsts is to be drawn from the result Of the civil
war 1t has proved the strength Of our political
system When the slave States first rcvoted, it was
taken for granted evcn By the friends of the North
in the OLD World, that the Union could endure no
longer and the bond once broken could never be re-
stored. The governments of Europe had no conf
dence in the stability of our political faric 1t was
composed. as they thought, of discorlant elements
loosely put together, whose imperfect cohesion
shock like that Of the Southern revolt would destroy
forever. But il survived the shock and partly at
least, by reason of It's peculiar structure II sur
yiyed because every man i'm the free States felt that
q part of the government was lodged in his own
person. He felt that he was challenged when the
Federal Government was dcfed, that he was robbed
when the rebels took possession Of the forts of the
Federal Government and its munitions Of war. The
quarrel became his personal concern. All the conse-
aueuces of the war. il is added. have not been
equally fortunate. 1t encouraged the brutal III