New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-21
GEORGE RANCROET.

In considering the literary position and merits
Of the late George Bancroft the critic is at some
disadvantage for, while in his intellectual
preparation and also largely in his dominant
lines of thought the venerable historian belongs
| 10 period so distant as the second decade Of
| the century. in many other respects MS
| relations are contemporancous. and too close
| 10 justify or render possible perfect
| ly impartial and unbiased conclusions
There can indeed he no question that,
though his diplomatic labors must always
secure for him a highly respectable place in
american history. his enduring fame will rest
| mainly upon the great historical work to which
he best energies Of his life were devoted Nor
IS it perhaps doubtful that the interest and
popularity Of that history will be maintained
FOR a long time by the principles underlying
IL which distinguish it most sharply from
The work Of the now school hat has arisen since
llr. Bancroft received his education ut Harvard
and Gottingcn. Tho persistence Of that new
school indeed. Cannot hc regarded aS wholly
assured Notwithstanding the superior science q
Us methods. \ rigid analysis OF such work Is
he Greens. Frccm1nS RanhcS. SyhcN and the
French specialists have done may demonstrate
he relatively greater precision and cOlorlc>S-
ness Of these writings. but much moro is in
volvcd. \ history 10 live must interest quite
rs much rs it inN,ructS, and even when it is
known 10 be inaccurate in many respects. pro-
vdcd il is sufficiently attractive in form and
style il will command wider SulfragcS than the
most painfully exact chronicle which is dry.
H. has been said that llidrcih is in many
particulars moro Trustworthy than Bancroft.
Interpreted rightly. this means that llildrcthS
narrative is less colorcd and more sober. But
The readers Of lIdroth never have been more
han small percentage Of tho readers of Ban
roft. and th, principally because IIildicth does
not interest and attract rs Bancroft does. The
latter in Planning his history adopted dan
qcrous principle lie undertook to illustrate
prcconccycd view. Nothing. all the modern
scientific historians assert is so misleading and
pcrycrting rs such a method. History should
he written. they maintain with single eye
10 the bringing ont of the truth. PhiloSophic
concentrations from historical facts or
ducnccS or periods are simply temptations or
he Evil One. and to be avoided above all else.
Not that the scientific historians always keep
clear Of philOSophic concentrations themselves
only they call these Weddings to temptation
logical and necessary deductions from fact
There is great deal of virtue in a name
Shakespeare to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Mr Bancroft belonged to the old school. He
was n Democrat. which fact may perhaps be
regretted. His Democracy. however. did net
affect his history miSchicyouSly. unless in con-
nection with HE estimate of certain Reyou-
ionay personalities. Had the work been
brought down to later years it is probable that
it would have cngcndcrcd much controversy
and partisan feeling. As it was. the political
philosophy Of the author took the harmless and
effective form of sustained conviction as to
tho illustrative value of American development
in relation to the growth Of human liberty
The general effect upon the work was to
give it a certain elevation of tone and certain
frmneSS and clearncSs Of treatment which.
whether justified or not by the facts of history
impaired to it Il peculiar interest and attIac-
ton. not alone for Americans but for intel
ectual and speculative peoples like the Ger
mans. No history Of the United States has
been so popular in Germany rs Mr. Bancroft's.
and the reason is here. In his own country
the characteristics of his work which most
tended to make critics vince were such rs IN
commend it in an especial manner to the aver
age citizen, who is always and naturally glat-
fled by laudaions of his own beliefs AMI in
situations, and who does not as a rule, feel
the need Of a HISTORICAL philosophy which sur
vcyS human progress from the icy heights of
absolute impartaity. Bancroft has been
charged with a-AmericaniSm. and with al
most a Revolutionary French affection for theo
retical democracy. Neither of these accusa-
tons has done him harm or diminished has