The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-21

In no respect is the modern age more
sharply in contrast with the medieval than 10
its skeptical spirit This spirit is not con-
fined TO religion. but extends to every orahcn
of thought and inquiry. 1t is largely the To-
suit of tho expansion of natural SCIENCE
which demands the most exact information
as TO facts. and which is disposed to reject "a
worthless every statement which rests upon
ground that only justifes a reasonable sur
mise. Nothing il 10 be left TO conjecture or
probability. All things accepted as having
positive existence must be capable o, a de-
monstration as irrefutabls as a geometrlcal
solution.
In no field Of investigation is the inquring
or skeptical spirit more active at the present
time than in the historical. Here 1t takes the
form Of iconoclasm because historical research
is necessarily much more fertile IN the destruc-
tive than in the constructive. All the histori-
cal doubts that have obtained any hearing have
originated with historical writers Of the last
one hundred years, Walpoes famous volume
being one of the earliest precursors IN this
line. Then came tho works Of the German
school. led by Neibhur and Wolf, who with
impartial hands tore down to their own salts
faction the whole fabric of early Roman his
tory and the traditions of the authorship Of
the Homeric poems. Homer the blind old
poet Romulus the founder, Horatius the de-
fender Of the bridge. all were but myths
woven in the tales which were told for the
delight Of children at the knees Of their
mothers ana nurses
So far was the skeptcal historical spirit
carried that very convincing book was writ
ten by distinguished prelste Of England to
show that no such man as Napoleon ever ex-
listed. All tho modern European legends have
met with but little mercy. William Tell
never shot the apple from the head of the
boy: Rosamunde never drank the fatal cup
Francis never exclaimed: All is lost save
honor. Cambronne never uttered the famous
reference TO the unyielding fidelity of the
old Guard.
American writer's have been rapidly imi-
tating the European historical spirit Of icono-
clasm. Some have been considerate enough
to confne their doubts to English history,
like Mr.. Donnelly. who has written a book to
prove that Bacon was Shakespeare. task re-
sembling that of Whateley when he under
took to show that Napoleon never liz ed, only
the latter wrote in irony. the former seriously.
As the larger proportion Of the American his
torical investigators and skeptics are men of
Northern training. it seems quite natural tina.
they should exhibit the spirit of doubling
Thomases only in connection with the early
history of Virginia. and that they should seize
upon the works OF Captain John Smith as the
field in which to exercise their prowess. The
story of Pocahontas is the most beautiful of
its kind in the whole range of history, and
the most exquisite incident in that story is
the rescue by the Indian princess of the
English hero from the clubs Of his savage
captors.
The first person TO cast any doubt upon this
incident was Harvard professor and the
example which he has set has been followed
in turn. we believe, by every Northern
writer who has written on the subject, and
we are very sorry 10 say by a very distin-
guished Southern writer. As great reputa-
tons have been made in Europe by seeking
10 tear down the whole fabric of early
Roman, Greek and English history, why
cannot American writer's win equal distinction
by destroying the basis of the earliest Viz
gilman history. The difference however, lies in
this. that the earliest history of the Euro
pean countries rests mainly on tradition.
whereas. the early history Of Virginia rests
upon the detailed documents Of contempt
rares and eyewitness which cannot be
overthrow in part without being overthrown
as whole, a moral impossibility.