The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-06
GEORGE BANCROFT.

One Of the most interesting figures in mod
ern society is the venerable George BAN
croft who celebrated his ninetieth birthday
on Friday at his residence at Newport
being cOtemporary of or Governor Bur
nett and Colonel Stevenson. The life of
these three nOnogenarians, if written in de-
tail, would constitute memoir of the
United States for the century.
George Bancroft flied lar larger place
in the public eye forty odd years ago than
he does now. Had he died forty years ago
his biography would have covered nearly as
much space as it now can. Born in the
purple he was able to crafty his thirst for
knowledge and to devote his early manhood
to study and travel. Thus, in the early
days, when Jackson and Van Buren,, Clay
and Webster, were the monatchs of the day
in politics, lie and Washington Irving.
James K. Paulding, Eyert Duyckinck, JOS
eph Coggswel and others, long since for
gotten, stung to the quick by Sydney
Smiths sneeTs at American books, resolved
that they would found an American litera-
ture, Their intentions ere good, but they
we're unequal 10 the task OF the whole
c0terie only one, Washington Irving, sur
wives. Who ever heard OF George Bancroft's
poems?
Most Of his associates continued to write
to the day Of their death, hoping to win from
posterity an appreciation which their CO.
tempOraries refused to award. But Ban
croft with wise forecast, plunged into poll
tics. He became one of the most effective
speakers and writer's on behalf of the cause
which was championed by Martin Van
Buren,, Azariah c. Flag, Silas Wright, Will
lam l.. Marcy and promising young man
named Samuel J. Tilden. lie was re-
warded by Mir. Polk, first with the Office Of
Secretary OF the Navy and then with the EN-
bassy to England. While he was Minister
to the Court Of st. James the British Gov
eminent revived its old claim that citizen
ship was perpetual and that the claims of
the mother country on persons born under
her flag could not be defeated by American
naturalization. That doctrine Mr.. Bancroft
successfully controverted and won high
place among authorities on international law
and immense popularity among his own
people. Returning home in 1S49 he devoted
eighteen years to literary work, and then
returned to the congenial field of diplomacy.
For seven years he was Minister to Ger
many. He served throughout the Franco
German war, and established claims on
Bismarck's regard which enabled him to
rectify the status OF German born Ameri-
cans on their return to their birthplace.
But of the seventy years Of Bancrofts
active life by far the greater portion was
given to The work on which he proposed
that his fame should reSt-his "History of
the United States" Il is sad to state of
this very thorough compilation that it was
dead before it was finished. Mr.. Bancroft
had neither the industry which enabled him
to master details nor the judgment which
fitted him to appreciate historical events at
their true value. His style is smooth, and
at times ornate; bis narrative is accurate;
his delineation of character is generally re-
liable; but he neither paints the times of
which he became the historian nor graspS
the full significance of the events he relates.
His Shortcomings in these respects can be
measured by comparison Of his v0lumin-
Gus work with the two volumes OF Professor
McMaster or with the admirable histories
Of John Lotbrop Motley. Bancroft's mind
is not philOsOphic, nor has he ever
learned the lesson that history to be of value
must concern itself rather with people than
with politicians or soldiers The conse-
dnence is that his work lies neglected on
library shelves
One Of the reasons Of his failure was con-
genital. He was born and bred in the
school Of the old colonial aristocrats, who
could never quite bring themselves to admit
that the common people were capable of
self government In this respect he might
have knelt at the feet of John Adams and
Washington. Not many years ago a visitor
who was admitted to his confidence inquired
whether he proposed to bring his history
down to the war of the rebellion. mo,
sir" replied the old man sadly; 81 shall
stop at the revolution. Everything since
then l regard as mere experiment"