Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-01

! llaL the sentiment Is SEOHiD6 osAO-SN
among readers that late csptious criticisms
the historical labors of Mr. Bancroft were no
called for, is certain. Because the works n
is issuing are voluminous, and can scarcely
receive the attention the usual newspaper re
viewer gives to books placsd upon his table
| is no reason for Uplifting the nose at TIT
work itself. We have the conviction. and d.
not hesitate to utter it, thst the future vii
give the full credit due to the gentleman who
is massing SO much of hitherto unpublished
and ungsthered fact relating to the history Of
the Pacific coast Nor will that future be
distant. In the discussions that have already
taken place relative to the record he presents,
is revealed the value of the new light these
histories are shedding. We have yet to note
o solitary instance of exception being well
taken as to the record of facts recited in these
works. There have been numerous criticisms
of the style of Mr.. Bancroft, csptious ob]ec-
tions to the voluminous character OF the
work, and one selfsh-not to say ylndlctlve-
assault, which fell short of its aim, upon the
methods employed to collate the historical
data upon which these works rest Some OF
the purely literary criticisms have been, in
some respects, well taken. The style Of
the author has been, not altogether IN
justly criticised as lapsing here and
there into the forid, and as not free
at times from mere platitudes, and
as occasionally msrred by too sophomoric
a tone, and some inelegance of dictIon. But
we repeat that these defects are wholly i'm
material and are not nearly SO serious, for
instance, as those curiosities of bOtch-work
and rhetorical absurdiiiss, which James Rus
sell Lowell points out in - Merivale's History
of the Romans under the Empire" Ban
croft at no time has been the just subject Of
such criticisms as that distinguished scholars
text has been found open Co. Yet no one
would be 80 bold as to seek to displace the
works Of that eminent historian from the
high rank they occupy in the authorship Of
the world. We read Mr. Bancroft's volumes
IS they appear for the 'meat we find in
them, and not for improvement Of literary
style, although it is graceful and at times
lofty; nor yet for the mere dedication Of the
intellectual sense. That which leads US t.
their thorough perusal, Is tie historical value
they possess. and the store OF Information
they contain, and we venture TO say that
whoever mas sincerely taken upon himself the
pleasant task Of reading anew the history of
this coast, filed as it is with the romance and
poetry of q postic race, and ROBBED with the
almost supernatural charm which invests the
whole history of tbs tropic regions of Ameri-
ca, will not be able to fad anywhere so salts
factory and complete a work as that unGsr
notice, the dctiOn Of which is certainly that
of no ordinary standard. 1t invites to its
own reading, and the entry of the
student upon its first volume must
carry him with growing interest into and
through the second. We confess that the
satisfied Us that there would come no
weariness from its continuation. The story
Of Central America cannot be coldiy told
Its romances would inspire the most method
zeal historian with something Of the poetic
fervor, and lead his fancy in paths bordered
by the fantastic and the supernatural, and
tempt him to flights and speculatiors which
the recital Of the tales OF less fervid chimes
would never suggest. Our author deals with
all the romance Of the land of which he
writes, heartily. Iustsad of his flights being
affectstiOns and literary bsllocniug," to use
a homely phrase, they are ir fact, earnest
entries into and sympathy with the atmos-
phere of the era, ard the land of which he
writes. And this constitutes an at
traction for all history. Holland opcs de.
olared, with the vigor for which that jour
nalistic critic was noted, that we should read
the history that will best make us acquainted
with our predecessors as they have lived and
acted under various institutions and circum-
stances-that history in whose instructive
liz at we may weave the history of our own
time. The history of Central America, 80
little read, so i'll understood, furnishes all the
- food Tor starved imaginations that dis
.inguished author reckoned so many men need
in these busy business days. 1t is fact, with
the charm CT fiction; stern history, with all
the poetry of song startling reality, with all
possible dramatic attrsctiveness. 1t takes in
It's sweep the buccaneer, the soldier of for.
tune, the loves and hates of kings and
princes, the craft of diplomstists and priests,
he schemes of politicians, the greed of con-
quest, the woe of humiliation, the sufferirgs
If innocent victims under the advance of
civilization by the edge of the sword, the
avariCs of the cOnquerors, and the hatred,
envy and revenges Of the men and women
who were tbs agencies through which the des-
inies Of the continent were revealed and
made possible of early realization. With such
themes our author hiss written out of the full
ness OF his soul. Ii inspiration Is but depth
# feeling, hs has given US inspirational
-esults but al the time maintaining that
judicial attitude which alone can give the
historian warrant for the title. Max Muller
las said that the INQUIRY with regard to o
llTays be When was it written by whom
md are the authorities on which it is based
coutemporaneous with the events which they
,elate, and were they under the sway of party
feeling, or other disturbing Influence? ~ APP.
plying these tests to the volumes thus far
noticed in the Bancroft series, and the honest
mind must conclude that the author has not
only been loyal TO the truth, irrespective of
he results of its telling, but that he has, &C.
;ording TO those rules of evidence which are
recognized as crowniug the summit Of human
knowledge, sifted the false from the true
With deliberate impar;iality and a patient
and evolved the tru.h TO lust
he extent that such evolution Is
possible, to the genius of man.
Certainly, ct no other time, and for no
other work relating to the history of the west
coast of the continents or the tropic regions
If the hemisphere has there been made such
lXhsustivS research among the archives Of
he world for the truth at 10 other time,
md on no other historical subjact, has there
)een greater outlay of money, time and pa.
ienc7, to gather from every conceivable
luarter and source every possible scrap wor-
by Of examination. to throw light upon the !
work Ii hand or illuminate with the rays of |
rue evidence even the least important evante. /
Ar. Bancroft asks rs to take nothing for /
,EhulsQ Ne gives MS huLnOrlty Tor his text I
L every instsnce, and challenges the readers |
honest judgment upon every material point 1
" placing before him, and very often more
ully than is needed, aud frequently more ex- !
sndedly than his own text, tbs authorities 1
rom which the recorded truth is evoked. 1t /
8 in this light that the work before US pre-
ents itself. We have given it reading ex- |
ending over several weeks, and have permit !
ed no haste to notice it to abridge critical /
consideration of its historical value, and to !
hat end have been at pains to examine ear |
Ter works TO some extent on test points. We |
10 not propose to outline the matter in the /
-olume. That may not be done with any
considerable degree Of justice, or any salts |
action either to the reviewer or the reader /
c must suffice to say that our object will 1
lave been attained if we induce the |
esder himself to take up the work .
nd the proofs of is verify and refresh him. |
elf ia the records of the history of coun-
~ and people around which romance, as
eslty, has thrown a wondrous attractive /
ODE The volume begins with 1924, with
ketch Of the origin and character of the .
couqusror of Peru, and traces !
Trough the years Of over two centuries the /
istory Of the Spanish conquest and colouiz
ton ia Central America, from the time /
,hen Pizarro determined - undertake an
xpsdi5iOn from Panama southwark, and on /
he 14,h of November, 1924. sailed with 100 4
leB 81 his back, snd for two years thereafter
Murdered the coast as for as the equator, to |
he close Of the eighteenth century. During |
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