New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-09

Mr. Richard had an admirable theme ana an
oxcallent opportunity fof writing history, but
he has produced only voluminous panphiet'
the burden Of which is an attack on the memory
Of Francis Parkman. In tracing the course OF
the conflict which ended in the defeat or the
French bv the En- zlish on the continent of North
America Parlman was obliged to dwell at least
briefly upon the expulsion of the Acadians from
their lands in Nova Scotia. For romantic and
tragic interest this expulsion s one of the great
themes Of history. But in its bearing on the
settlement and civilization of America II Is only
one Of many topics. Parkman confined his ac-
count Of Acadia to two chapters in the seventh
part of his history. that which beers the ute
"Montcalm and Wolfe.' The brcv.ty or his
narrative is one Of Mr. Richards grievances. II
is grievance which nobody VIII ever nave oc-
casion to allege against Mr.. Richard. Couid
Parkman rise from the dead he would perhaps
be astonished to see how large part MS sup
posed peculiarities as writer play III 'he MS
tory of a people on whom he bestowed ON! t"e
words necessary to show their relation 10 t"e
warning mowers between which they suffered to
the verge OF extinction.
Mr. Richards only apology for publishing his
book as it stands is that tho attack upon PARK
man was written before the latter's death. But
general estimate of Parkman's methods as a
historian which is almost grotesquc In its ab-
surditv Students of American history are called
unon ia believe that Parkman was superficial
and dishonest that he tortured and INITIATED
th. meaning CT documents. that he was lack
,ry IN judicial temper that he tried his hand
at every kind Of subterfuge." that he IL OF all
writer's with whom Mr. Richard Is acquainted
"the most suhtilely one-sidcd the most expert IN
docontion" They are 10 be told b. gentle
man II whom they never heard perhaps TIL TINS
moment that Parkman was neither historian
nor a novelist. that his claim T. transient sue
cess rested on his brilliant qualities as mar
rator and T. his agility In skipping tn ara
tracts Of history and alightng upon stirring tales
ana spicy anecdotes. "iIe is never accurate.
exclallns Mr. Richard. He Is continually DO
ceivlrg his readers much by what he says as
by what he omits to say. Were all his workS
submitted to a searching examination, not ore
page perhaps would stand scrutiny All thlS
is because as Mr. Richard imagines. Parkman
felt a downright anupathy for the Acshiahs.
The reader might puzzle his brains TIL dooma-
day to think Of an occasion for this antipathy' II
Mr. Richard did not kindly add the exclusive
Information that IL was due t. bitter Jealousy
In Parkman's mind against Longfeow. II was
the popularity Of "Evangeline" that made PARK
man limit his remarks on the Acadians 10 ninety
pages and keep those remarks down To the level
Of plain prose!
From what Mr. Richard. with a strange abuse
OF words calls q Character Sketch = Park
man" It might Re Inferred that he had made
general study of P1ikman's work; but ~
gives NJ other sign that his ccnsures extend
beyond the Acadian chapters. HIS belief thh'
not a page of Parkmsn's books would stAnh
scrutiny Is based On pure gucfswork s" thAt u"
convic.s himself ri the outset u Ia" very 'i-
fence which he charges against another hu'
that Is not all His book rests It's reason Tor eN-
istencc on the new historical discoveries OF inc
author some OF which are documentary. Others
the resul, Of prodigious thought Passing he
obvious query as 10 the value Of facts wTunS
from III. inner consciousness OF the historian
the reader finds that one u Mr.. Richards pfin-
Opal "disco,cries is the Innocence II the British
Government: in the affair OF the Acadans. Tine
expulsion was wholly II colonial movement. Many
pages Of these volumes are devoted To this mat
ter 1t would naturally be supposed that this
question had never occurred - any previous
historian; but IT has long been well known that
in this case as In every other case Of the kind
the British Government justly evaded diplomatic
ductions to Longfeilow's poem. and was clearly
understood by Parkman, who makes the eN-
pulsion solely the act Of tho Governor and Coun-
Gil Of Nova Scotia. though he quotes some Of
the correspondence from London. which led up
to the final catastrophe. Parkman would have
been justified by the general diplomatic history
Of European nations In paying no attention TO
q disclaimer Of responsibility on the part Of any
home government In case similar 10 that of
the Acadians But his indifference is turned by
Mr. Richard into material for an accusation. He
Is charged with suppressng a fact In order TO
relieve the colonists IF the odium Of an act which
the world condemned
Another Of Mr. Richards discoveries" relates
TO the motive OF those Immediately concerned in
the expulsion OF the Acadans. These were
Colonel Lawrence, then CO vernon Of Nova Scotia
and the members OF his Council 1t is here, II
anywhere that he and Parkman necessarily take
opposite views of the whole subject To the one
1t is a small matter that the Acadians refused
for years to be British subjects; 70 the other
this refusal Is the substance Of the whole affair
In ordinary cases 1t is enough that people arc
born in given country 10 make them subjects
Of that countTy's Government. But generations
of Acadians born under the British flag insisted
that they could not take up arms against the
King Of France or against any frenchman. For
many long years their protest was respected
They were allowed to tke an oath Of fealty
with the understanding that they should not
be expected to fight either the French Or the
Indians. Mr.. Richard intmates that even now
French Canadians would not fight In foreign
war against France. How far such scruples Oh
their part would be respected If the Dominion
were drawn into life and death struggle be-
tween France and England only the event can
determine. But 1t IL plain that the principle in
sisted upon by the Acadians would be fatal to
country like the United States, where men OF
diverse origin meet on the common ground OF
citizenship. The state Of things was far more
threatening in the times Of French and English
conflict in North America. Nevertheless. the
neutrality Of the Acadans was respected with
rare exceptions. Here Parkman and Mr.. Rich