ating
editor of the _Liberator_, of Wendell Phillips, the abolition orator,
of Prudence Crandall, the sacrificing worker, and of Elijah Lovejoy,
the martyr in the cause. Prof. Channing does not go into details as to
the achievements of the abolitionists. His account is merely
sufficient to connect this movement with other forces at work in the
country at that time.

Most of this volume is devoted to changes in religion, education,
literature, and politics, effected by such outstanding figures as
James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John C.
Calhoun and Daniel Webster. The book shows an extensive treatment of
the territorial expansion of that time, especially the efforts to
secure Texas, California and Oregon, and the war with Mexico. On the
whole, this book has a decided economic and social trend. It is an
effort to account for the significant upheavals in our history through
connection with important industrial and economic events which have
materially influenced the history of the United States during the last
century. The book emphasizes the fact that current history can not be
easily written, that one must be far removed from situations in the
past in order to weigh the influences having a bearing thereon to
determine exactly how the country has become what it is today.

_Recent History of the United States_. By FREDERICK L. PAXSON.
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Pp. 588.

This book beginning with the inauguration of Hayes shows how he
reestablished home rule in the South, thus clearing the way for a
realization of education and economic reconstruction of both South and
North. The author then treats the civil and border strife as expressed
in the Mexican Revolution of 1876, Indian wars, social unrest,
national labor unions, and the War with Spain. Then follows the
treatment of post-bellum ideals as expressed by literary periodicals
and new writers showing a revolution in literature, and especially in
historical writing.

In his treatment of silver, greenbacks, railroad and mine booms, and
the like, he shows that the country had reached a new stage in its
development when a transition both economic and political was
apparent. This is made evident by his discussion of election frauds,
Republican factions, office holders in politics, the abuse of
patronage and the necessity for civil service reform. Next the author
takes up the era of prosperity, the disappearance of the front