Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-02
A NEW HISTORY NEEDED,


something, and he made some remarks at
the recent banquet of the Sons of the
Revolution, at Meriden which, are bearing
fruit. He suggested that sons of Conneoti-
cut living outside the State might find
profit and pleasure in forming associations
and holding occasional reunions at which
friendships might be strengthened and the
glory of old Connecticut remembered and
celebrated. This remark has already found
favor in New York, where there are many
sons of Connecticut, and 1t is commended
by the Tribune in an article which was
perhaps written by son of Connecticut
who much appreciates his State and is
much appreciated in It,
But the remark of Senator Platt to which
we wish to call special attention is that
concerning the need of new history of
the State. Come to think of it, 1t is lit
tie surprising that this need hasn't at
tracted more attention, for 1t is a real and
an important one. There ia no good and
adequate history of Connecticut. There
are Colonial records, some arranged and
some not arranged. Trumbull's History,
good as far as it goes, is out of print. So
is HOLSTERS. 3arber's work is quaint
and interesting, but does not deal with the
modern history of the State. The only
histories which do that are, We believe,
Sanford's book, for the use of schools, and
Johnston's, a email history published in the
Commonwealth series. Neither of them is
full or adequate, and both can be sharply
and justly criticised.
There Is abundant material ready for the
man who knows how to use 1t and can
make a sufficient and satisfactory history
of the State. The old histories were writ
ten with care. There are many excellent
local histories reaching unto this day, such,
for instance, as Blake's History of Ham
den, a model work of its kind. We wish
we could speak as we'll of the work that is
called the History of New Haven, but We
cannot. Still, there is much of interest
and value in it. And other towns and
cities of the State have their his
tories. All of them would aid q
writer of new and up to-date
history of the State. There are few
States in the Union which have more or
| better material for the historian. From
the first settlement in this part of the State
to the failure to settle the question, Who
is governorl the record is full of interest,
| and IL dotted with romantic incidents,
great men and great achievements, wonders
of invention aud material progress, the
play of great theological and educational
forces, high and low political action, dis
plays of unselfsh patriotism, military
glory, and sweet and fitting deaths for the
country. 1t is, on the whole, an honora-
BILE record, with comparatively little to
make ashamed. Connecticut has been,
in the main, a land of steady
habits, and If we can get rid
of the pool rooms and few other
things which are now hurting both the
character and the reputation of the State,
we can be called fairly steady now.
We earnestly hope that Connecticut may
soon have history worthy of her. There
are several men in the State sufficiently
imbued with the spirit of the State, and
of sufficient and requisite ability to write
one. 1t would be cheering to see one of
them induced to undertake the work,
which ought to bring him suitable reward
in fame and In money.