The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-11-18
rho Centennial ana the Study or
American History.

1t Is one Of the great benefits OF the
Centennial year that it will stimulate
the study OF American history, and
oy refreshing the memory OF the pat
riotic devotion OF the fathers and that
OF their ancestors; will inspire q noble
emulation. To most cultivated Amer
icsns the history of England has a
charm which our own has not. "Why
Is it ?" asked q distinguished Judge,
THAT the story OF English politics Is
so interesting, and that of our own so
dull and dry 2" There is, in reply,
the constant charm of distance to be
considered, and the scenery and
events which q great literature has
Illustrated, and the fascination OF a
long extending multitude OF men of
genius OF our own RAGS devOting their
powers to our wSlfsre. England it.
self is touched with poetic association,
while America is as yet, and with
great exceptions, bare OF that interest.
But the more closely our history is
studied. the more heroic and satisfac-
tory it will be. We are still too near
the early epoch for tradition to re-
solve itself into legend. We cannot
crops and Csdmus and RomulHs and
Remus are too nesr the eye. Our an.
tiquity encounters the modern time
of England, and our istOry, there
fore, lacks that vague and vast set
ting OF mystery and remOtensss
which the imaginatiOn loves.
Then, colonial annals are always
reflective. The last century In this
country was not so interesting in its
Indian and French wars az in the
details of uneventful life, in the TOu-
tine OF towns, and the romance of
settlement. The governor was alittle
shadow of king, and his council OF q
parliament. But the moment the
great debate of the Revolution begins,
the interest in our history is COM
mAnding. We had, indeed, and un-
fortunately,n NO men so conspicuous for
genius as many Englishmen, no ora
torical figure, for instance, so superb
rs Burke, whose single splendOr fills
his time with light. Patrick Henry
and James Otis were electric speakers,
who fired an assembly and kiDdled
people. But they have left nothing
which Is q part OF the treasures of our
and over which the poet,
the statesman, and the student all
hang with delight. Jefferson said OF
Henry that It was the inspiration OF
hearing him which was his great gift.
He could not remember what he said.
Lord Chatham was correct In saying
that the Continental Congress was an
OF sages as illustrious and
dignified as any of Greece or Rome.
But it was weight OF character, purity
Of purpose, heroism, patriotism, good
sense, and intelligence which distin-
guished them. There was no Pym,
no Stafford, no Falkland, no Crom-
well. -r...
Yet, when all this is conceded, there
the fact of the unobserved
growth OF nation upon this eonti-
nent, the development under the most
conditions, OF many OF the
most characteristic institutions Of the
which England and her colo.
nies sprung, and the mastery manage
ment of one of the greatest iAternS-
tiOnal debates in history, conducted
by men Of the ciearest insight and the
utmost intrepidity, and of remarkable
ability. It Is the setting, the scene,
which is wanting to the imaginative
reader but it Is little more for our
fathers cause was that Of England
herself, and their attitude and devo-
ton were the qualities and that had
made the glory OF great epochs in
England. It Is quite tlme that there
was 3 more careful study Of American
history Ia schools and colleges, and
the Centennial year will Quickenfan
Interest 10 1t which Is sure TO be re-
psId.-G. W. Curtis, in HaTper's Mag.
dziRe.