Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-08
IEI PuBLIclrIeIs.

volumes of Mr.. Bancroft's works. that have
been examined in the past two or three
months contemporaneously, and read par
allel with each other, and hence n.
grouped in this brief review. The series
of Bancroft's histories now rapidly sp'
proaches completion. Probably by the
time these lines reach our readers the final
or thirty-ninth volume will have been
issued.
On repeated occasions We have deemed ii
our duty to commend the series, the method
of the author and the marvellous research
his works prove him to have made. II he
does not in the present receive that just
commentator from the press that his linn
itless inquiry int historic facts justifies, and
that his conclusions reached in what CORE
spends to Judicial attitude entitle him
| to, the years are not far distant when the
public judgment of his nearly thirty years
| of untiring labor in historical research will
| be one more than hattering to his energy,
! his assiduity and his capacity.
The series is voluminous, it is bulky,
and the chief objection of critics in which
there is strength, resides in that fact. Bat
! if it is considered that it was evidently the
purpose from the outset to make the series
the compendium and repository OF the pith
of all historic records known to man touch
ing upon the history of the Pacific coast OF
two great continents, their tribes OF men, the
development of States, and the details of
local contentious, growth, industry, art, lit
erature and commerce, it will not be con-
tended that the library thus compacted into
thirty-nine volumes is too yolumlnous, or
that it will prove less useful to man be-
cause it is so elaborate IN recital, argument
and citation of authorities.
We have before deliberately considered
Mr.. Bancroft's treatment of the History of
California and found it to be the most
faithful, searching and satisfactory of any
of the yery many that have been written
of the State. The concluding volume Of
the History of California tVol. VII is
marked by the same fearlessness that
prompted its author in the earlier volumes
to speak of the occupation by Suffer with
truth and severity, Notwithstanding the
antagonisms his criticisms were certain to
arouse. In this last volume, the XAIVth
of the series of Bancroft's works, our State
history is brought down to the year 1o9O,
on the same plan observed IN the previous
volumes. The history OF California rail
roads is given with great fullness and with
fairness. in stating both sides to each con-
troversy that has arisen regarding them
While we may not be able to agree with
the historian in all his views OF the claim
for consideration of the equities of the
Central Pacific Railroad in Its settlement
with the Federal Government, We concede
to him conscientious purpose, and manly
frankness in setting forth the conclusions
he reaches. The marvellous detail into
which he has gone, proves how thorough
a searcher-out OF facts be IS.
We can Judge of Mr.. Bancrofts twenty
fifth volume of Nevada, Colorado, Wyom-
ing from no personal knowledge of any
considerable extent, of those sections. We
take up the book, which covers the period
between 1910 and 1888, without having
read any other histories OF either OF the
three States. Nor have we as yet COM
pleted examination of this volume, some
cbapters remain to be read, but have pro-
crossed sufficiently in its reading to war
rant verdict approving the scope and de-
tail of the work and the treatment pursued.
II is not to Californians of the interest of
the works of the author upon Mexico, Gen.
trail America, California and the northwest
coast. Yet the history Of the Silver" and
the Centennial States" grouped together
in this volume, is Of sustained interest.
The region embraced by those States is full
of natural wonders; the history Of the sill
yer discoveries and the succeeding excite
ments is one of dramatic intensity; the
great immigration to Pixies Peak, the over
fiow of California into Nevada, the sudden
ness, with which the latter sprang into
Statehood. the romance of the scenery Of
Wyoming, her hunting grounds the gold
fields. and the wilderness that so suddenly
hlossomed into civilization-all these give
TO the area treated in this volume profound
in crest. The volume is exhaustive, and
while largely statistical, and treating OF
many details of development in State
building. is full of material historic matter
that has not by any other author been SO
thoroughly compiled nor 80 attractively
dressed.
By all means the chapters devoted to the
history of Colorado are, to our mind, OF
the greatest interest OF any in the volume.
The author has treated OF the topography,
geologic discovery. the landscape effects,
the m ountain nights and elevated plateaus,
the lakes in the clouds, rs it we're; of the
discovery and occupation OF the region, its
reclamation to American civilization, OF
its magic wealth, the amazing swiftness
with which the people Of the East swept
into and populated it, the building OF its
cities. the opening of its mines, its wars and
political contests, and q score of other SUBJ
;ects. with a vigor and earnestness that is
little in advance of any other chapter he
has written upon States of the north cont.
nent, excepting only California. In writing
her history he has done no better work.
Volume XXXVI11. is one Of the mostin-
teresting of the series. 1t consists OF essays
and miscellany relating wholly to the early
and later periods of development of the Pa
cifc States. 1t opens with review of the
work of the early American chroniclers.
and the chapters that follow are The New
Civilization" which concludes with cita-
| tion of the reasons that make the latest
civilization the best. Root Diggers and
| Cold Diggers,n by its title indicates the
| character of the chapter. Our Treatment
of the Native Races" is the essay that to
our mind should, and probably does, COM
maud the widest interest. That the Gov
eminent is criticised sharply is true, but
| that it is Just criticism is also true. The
| conclusion is reached that our whole sys-
tenn of Indian reservations has been one Of
prolonged error.
History Writing"is the fifth chapter, and
is one of wide range and comprehensive
scope. Criticism" is an essay that opens
mn ouestions upon which writers have diff
+! fered in all time. With no little acerbity
the author criticises the critics who with
haste, or from Indifferent reading, or
from standpoints OF misinformation, re-
view and criticise works that are the pro.
ducts of years of assiduous labor, and con-
denim or find fault with that they have
been unable to fathom or have failed to
digest. 1t is chapter of much truth and
much bitterness, but withal it is just con-
tending for unbiased criticism, true meth
DDS and high standards, and severely scor.
ing mere fault-finding. flaw picking, and
carping. Who Is there at all informed
upon the subject who will not concur in
the rather blunt statement Of the author
"In no department of literature is there
more skilled humbug employed than in
criticism. Writers of every other class sal
under colors which enable the reader tc
form some idea of their craft. and whittier
il is driving" But he wisely and merci