The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-07
SOME NEW hooks.


Bnncrof''s History of tho Northwest Coast.
Tho second volume OF the history OF The
Northeast Coast. by HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT
tSan Francisco A. l.. Bancroft). brings down
from 1900 to lsiG tho record Of exploration and
settlement in the region lying west of tho Mis-
souri Rivor and north OF California A,noni:
tho topics hero discussed with tho am uencc of
detail for which oil OF Mr.. Bnncrofts books
nrc conspicuous arc tho adventurous Jour-
ncys o! Lewis and Clarke. tho foundation of
Fort Astoria and tho Astor overland ex-
petition. tho operations OF the British
Northwest Company between the Rocky Noun
tans and the Pacific. and the long controversy
between the United States and England re-
gar1ing tho Oregon boundary. The reader
who recalls the wearisomo aridity OF much OF
tho literature relating to these subjects will
scarcely be disposed to cavil at tho authors ut
tempt to reproduce In certain chapters OF this
book tho vivid aud picturesque impress
sion mado by the journals and reports
OF tho early explorers and first col
onists. 1t is nevertheless true that ANNA
ton OF style and the desire to excite the fancy
and the sympathios. which are legitimate
enough in tho nrraying OF evidence and expo
sition OF facts. need to bs somewhat checked
and tempered when tho historian puts on tho
cap OF Judgment to pronounce final sentence.
Without in the least wishing to appear hyper
critical wo may say that on such occasions Mr..
Bancroft does not always evnco the snlf-ro-
straint. sobriety, and moderation which on
hanco tho weight and dignity of judicial
utterancc.
The account OF tho Oregon controversy Is on
haustive and impartial and the conclusions
reached seem to us sound and imprcgnable.
Patriotism has NO. blinded Mr.. Bancroft to tho
many elements OF weakness in tho American
claim embodied in the party cry of Fifty
four Forty or Fight" He at no time loses
sight Of tho fundamental point that II. as
American dplomatists more ,..an once incau-
tiously admitted. our pretensions rested Who'll
ly on the rights conveyed by Spain in 1919.
our case would hardly bear close scrutiny in
the light OF the Nootka agreement and
the treaties of 1894 and 1914 between Spain
and Great Britain. He recognizes more frank.
~ and fully than many American writer's have
been disposed to do. the profound obligation OF
this country to John Jacob Aston whose Settle
ments in the debatable territory gavs plausi-
bility and substance to an otherwise dsputabe
claim. We are by no means sure indeed, that
even Mr. Bancroft quite appreciates the Value
OF tho services rendered by Astor to the
United States. The most" he says. that
can be asserted for the acts of Astor's company
IL that they gave to the United States the Same
Niih VI ElslltS us TIlbldnu uRu gained
from the founding of Forts Frazer Stuart, and
others in the north: that Is. that the founding
OF Astoria was Legitimate act of occupation,
giving national title-permanent II the sot-
tlement should not be abandonod-to q certain
territory. the extent Of which would depend on
subsequent operations of this company"
There Is much virtue in this most"
When Aston assured to his adopted country
the same kind Of territorial rights" as those
on which Engand's pretensons were based,
he Gavo us our solo cogent argument for an
equitable division Of the northwest coast and
averted a conflict which. under tho naval and
military conditions OF 1896 must have irrevo-
cably walled us of from the Pacific. and through
the alliance between Mexico and Great Britain
which would have accompanied a war on the
Oregon question. would probably have frus-
trated the acquisition OF Texas.
Here and there in the wide range OF tho au-
thor's illusions to events and persons We come
upon some unimportant Slips Thus the
Christian name OF the Scotch hnancier who
blew the Mississippi bubble for the Regent Or
leans was John. not George" as 1t is twice
printed on pages 2 and 8. And In a note on
page 500 a Lord RUSSELL Is twice mentioned.
No such person ns Lord Russell" existed In
Great Britain at the period in question. or
course Mr.. Bancroft is referring to tho we'll
known leader Of the Wings then commoner.
Lord John Russell