The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-04-20
the language must correspond, sub

the language must correspond, sub.
Unity must be sublimely ex pressed
and, in every part must the expires
sion and Gen iment be suited to sbs
occasion, yet never be without dig
nifty. True to nature, true to facts
yet smid all one style, o mode OF
expression and one sentiment must
be shown throughout, rising and
falling Is circumstances deepen in
interest or expand in incident.
Historians often fail to obtain a
proper conception Of facts, or clear
understanding OF the times they
write OF, hence a Uses obscurity and
| lack of distinctneSs. Masters in
historical word painting, as Mac
aulay, Prescott, or Motley, and
numerous others we might name,
transport us in mind to the midst
of the scenes the Y describe. We see
the calm statesman and the dissolute
nebIe, the growth of the common
people, rise of free cities and towns,
the curse Of intolerance on change
of the old for the new religion, the
last blaze of chivalry that led to the
vsnquishment of the dusky Nor
each and all pass before the mental
vision with realistic force and cor
rectness. Where conception is thus
vivi where the past appears "a g
vision, or rather as panorama OF
actual life transporting i'm
mediately arouDd;w where the feelings
are warmed with the generosity, the
patriotism, the integrity and truths
fulness-or shocked by the deprav-
ity, the RIGHTEOUSNESS aud wicked4
ness of the times, We may look for
forcible expression, truthful ansly-
sis and honorable impartiaity. The
mind feels deeply, conceives truth
fully and utters eloquenlly. No one
can write f1uently or rulhfulIy who
has no clear concep ion Of the ideas
he wishes to explsin, no difference
his subject-he must feel his words
II he exerts a powerful influence
upon others.
Regarding facts men will differ
and have differed from the time his
tory originated. HerOdOtus and
Xenophen materially differ on the
character and actions of the Great
Cyrus; nor are their differences any
more glazing than scores of others
that we meet with. If we take the
character and career of the first
Napoleon and compare the state
ments of different authors we find
wide divergence one from the other,
more especially in regard to per-
sonal character = Scott, Alison,
Lockhart. Bourienne, Madame Re-
musat, M. Theirs and John 8. @.
Abbott, to mention no more, and
what a wide difference we find.
Many Of them are unjust, especially
bitter, and the latter (Abbot) de
tends him in his excuses, and
makes him out demigod. How
are we to estimate his character?
Certainly not by an Unlimited con-
fdence or belief in either views. We
must exercise our own judgments,
sum up evidence for and against and
draw our conclusions from his whole
career, not from isolated portions.
Because one act was blsmeworthy
we should not misjudge all his acts
because one deed was great and
good, not count all glorious-but
holding the scale OF justice evenly
balanced see whether evil or good
predominates.
Impulse, or bias, should never be /
followed in treating upon facts.
Facts are stated and writer's make |
their deductions and draw conclns-
ions therefr0m; and, it is in those
or opinions, they often
est fail. Even fanciful opinions are
necessary for some readers-they |
allow writer to think for them.
The eye O. candid Partially, OF
luxurious research, is unsstisfied
with his decision and must know
the grounds upon which that deci-
sion rests. Implicit confidence is
placed in no narration, no relation
Of incidents, unless the writer's own
character has d sufficient proof of
Criticism is usually
the guide of the public, for not
every one is capable of going to the
'ountsin head and testing the purity
If the epring or source. Even that,
1t times, is foul, is fallibie and
'wayed by prejudice and dislike.