The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-11
BANCROFT VOTED OUT
The Frisco Pioneers Declare His
History to Be ScandalOus.
What He Said of Fremont, Grant, Stock
ton, Kearney, Suffer and Others Who
Are Revered on the Coast.
San Francisco Chronicle.

San Francisco Chronicle.
Hubert Howe Bancroft has been expelled
from the Society Of California Pioneers.
His name has been erased from the roll of
honorary membership as unworthy Of a
place on the parchment where the name of
General Grant was written.
There was q full attendance at the meet
ing last evening. c. V. S. Gibbs presided.
While the secretary was reading the long
indictment against Hubert Howe bancroft
the keenest attention was paid to every
word. Then to make the fact more binding
the society, by a rising vote, declared its
adoption of this resolution introduced by
DR.. Washington Aver, as follows:
Whereas, Statements have been made by
an honorary member of this society in a
quasi history published by one Hubert
Howe Bancroft, which are at variance with
historical records and reflect upon the
honor, dignity and integrity Of the Cali
fornia pioneers; and
Whereas, AL such statements have no
foundation of truth, and are unworthy the
labors of an upright historian, and only
becoming to one who, in our judgment,
strayed far from the domain OF an honest
writer with the purpose in view TO mislead
the reader and wrong the founders or a
new State upon the extreme Western boun-
0arN OF our country, anu ny SUCH Sldlc-
ments did wantonly and maliciously wrong
the old argonauts; therefore,
Resolved, That the name of Hubert Howe
Bancroft be stricken from the list of hon
orary members Of this society, and that
the secretary be requested 10 SEND nm a
coDy of this preamble and resolution"
The resolution was adopted but afterward
reconsidered in order TO give Mr.. Bancroft
the opportunity of answering the charges
If he so desired. The indictment is based
on passages In the Bancroft histories. IN
the first count are included the aspersions
cast upon the characters OF Fremont, stock
ton, Suffer and the members or the Bear
Flag party" One of the paragraphs to
which the Pioneers take exception in the
Bancroft histories contains the following:
al Monterey, though Commodore Sloat
would not adopt his view, Fremont found
in Stockton a hlibuster after his own heart,
willing to incorporate the Gav1lan episode
and the Bear Flag. revolt in the sacred
cause of the United States" And again,
speaking of the controversy which subse-
quently arose between stockton and hear-
ney, in which Fremont was loyal to Stock
ton, Bancroft remarks: Enough teen
nichally disobeying military orders, Fremont
could not consistently, with the honor that
should prevail among nllbusters, as We'll as
thieves, abandon mis- chief.
ADVENTURER FREMONT.
He closed his biographical sketch of FIRE.
mont as follows:
He is to be regarded as an adventurer of
marvellous good fortune. If it be good fort
une for a man of moderate abilities to be
made conspicuous before the world or TO
enjoy opportunities that cannot be utilized"
The indictment goes on at length to emu
merate the many unpleasant things which
Bancroft wrote concerning men whom the
Pioneers honor. OF Sutter a series Of quota
tons from Bancrofts books are taken as
follows:
"A German-Swiss trader. compelled by
bankruptcy 10 become an adventurer in
America" None of the pioneers in this
register have received SO much praise from
so many sources, few have deserved so
little" He was but an adv%enturer from
the rrst. entitled to no admiration or sym
pathy. His career in New Mexico was at
the best discreditable. He came 10 Cali
fornia in the false character OF an eX-cap-
tain in the French army" "Of principle or
honor. Of respect for the rights of others,
we find but slight trace in him There was
no side of any controversy he would not
readily adopt at the call OF interest. Ma
tionality, religion, friendship, obligation.
consistency counted for little or nothing.
There were no classes OF his associates.
hardly an individual, with whom he did