The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-11-12
SOME NEW hooks,
p.."rorr. History Of the rnciac states.

M HuHrRr II. BANcRoFr has become
wlduy and houOrably known to students Of
American archaeology by his exhaustive COM
pilation of materials relating TO the history Of
THE Native Races of the Pacific States" The re-
searches into the character and customs OF the
aboriginal inhabitants of tho western portion
Of North America cost tho inquirer many years.
much money and n vast amount of wcll-dircct-
cd industry. The result OF his Investigations
was published in 1873, Since which time he has
gone on gathering materials. and has added,
we are told, some 10000 volumes to his collec-
lion. including numerous copies OF original
documents contained In r.plc and private
archives. and about 800 manuscripts. He now
offers ,is the first installment Of II new work. in
which he purposes to trace the history OF Cen
trial America. Mexico, and all Anglo American
domains west of the Rocky Mountains.
The present volume begins with n glance at
European society. and particularly Spanish civ
ilization IA it existed at about tho close OF
the fifteenth century. This is followed
by summary OF maritime exploration
from the fourth century to tho year 1910. with
some notices If tho earliest American books.
The volume. which is but tho first OF long
series. concludes with narrative OF the at
tempts of the Spaniards to invade and occupy
Central America during what may be termed
1880. Mr. Bancroft's plan regards the order
Equalization is to proceed geographically from
south to north. portraying. however. the history
OF the several countries in more detail as
he advances northward. In all the ter
ritorial subdivisions. moreover. he discusses
the beginnings and earliest development more
exclusively than later events. After tho con-
quest. the chronicles OF Central America and
Mexico will be presented on II scale sufficiently
tl,n,,
The northern Mexican States on the other
hand including California. having Ind more
varied experience arising from contact with
more progressive people. are to receive some
what more attention in respect of detail than
other parts OF the territory surveyed.
When we bear in mind that tho materials for
a history OF Spanish North America might
never have been collected but for Mr.. Ban
croft's ndsfatigab!c industry and lavish cx-
penditure and that certainly no treatment of
the theme upon anything like the scale now
contemplated would have been practicable in
our generation. it becomes Of great Importance
to learn the authors conception Of the prnci-
pies which ought to govern the historian. 1t is
set forth with distinctnoss in the introduction
to this volume and while it may not meet the
views OF those who think. with Buckle. that the
facts of history should be made to generate or
confirm particular biological hypothesis. or
those who imagine that the time is ripe or that
materials ample for the evolution Of COM
plcte science of sociology. it will commend
itself.we think to cautious and judicious minds.
Mr.. Bancroft has sought to find and keep in
his narrative mean between the indis-
criminate chronicle of happenings trivial and
momentous on the one hand. and the his
torico philosophical essay on the other He
insists that an accurate record OF events must
form the foundation Of all historical writing
but he fully recognizes the truth so Impress
lively embodied in "Spencer's Descriptive So
colosy" that the foundation is by no means SO
important as the superstructure; that a cata-
logue. in other words of events pure and sim
pie Is comparatively sterile beside the record OF
the institutionary development which events
cause or accompany. Men. institutions in
dustries." says Mr.. Bancroft. must be
studied equally" and he adds a pro-
viso which some recent historians seem to
overlook. that a mans character and in6u-
once. no less than his actions. demand atten-
ton" He sees that the historian must classify
and teach well rs record but no submits
that. after all we have heard about the phioso-
ply OF history. there is only ono way to
write anything which is to tell the truth
plainly and concisey. But. in order
to adequately perform the hard task
OF truth..eing. a historian must be just and
humble. must join to clear and penetrating
fcity OF opinion. In connection with this
declaration Of principles Mr.. Bancroft well says
that the historical writer who would in the
deepest sense be true and just must bear ever
in mind the occult forces that move mankind
and the laws by which are formulated belief.
conscience. and character. In the assiduous
reproduction Of phenomena the central
truth must not be overlooked. that. while
the actions of men are governed by prox-
20 Bate ,;ul
generated both from antecedent states OF
mind and antecedent states OF body powerfully
Influenced by social and natural environment.
Such is the conception Of a historians duty.
with which Mr.. Bancroft has undertaken a
labor Of exceptional difficulty and magnitude
and we think no careful reader of this prelm-
mary volume will be disposed to stint the
preston Of his weighty obligations to the
author, to deny that the work was worth doing
and that it has been done we'll.
In his review Of the historical and social con-
dition. the customs and the character Of the
Spanish people at the epoch Of its conuucsts in
Mexico and Central America. Mr. Bancroft en-
tors upon n striking comparison Of tho Eu-
ropoan and native American civilizations
which were brought into close contact and de-
strucive collision. He has in mind on the one
hand the Spanish race which. at the end II the
fifteenth century. was "a intellectual. moral.
and. with the exception of the Italians.
as refined as any European people. while
1t was more sincerely relisious on the
other hand tho more highly developed
American peoples OF Nahua stock. like the
Toltecs and Aztecs OF Mexico. or those OF the
Maya type like the peoples OF Central America
and Yucatan. Mr. Bancroft is not one OF those
who aver that in America at the epoch of the
conquest there were marks Of as high
culture in all directions rs were ex-
hibited In the Europe of that day. 1t is
nevertheless true that in the ono continent
rs In the other, was to be found that most
incxpcable OF phenomena the evolution
OF highly organized social structure.
Tho New World could show some eIab-
crate civilizations while in the Old World sur
vived not a few traces OF barbarism; on Mcxi-
can and Peruvian highlands were nations vi
city builders AS far superior in culture to the
Islanders and coast dwellcrs seen 10y Columbus
"a wore the European discoycrcrs themselves
to the contemporary Iiighlanders Of Scotland,