The times., 1897-05-16

For some time the literary world has
been looking forward to the appearance
of the new historical work of Moses Colt
Tyler, professor of American history in
Cornell University, which was some time
ago announced Prof. Tylers credited
eruditiou, demonstrated not only In his
pedagogic capacity, but in several former
literary achievements, particular pres
tige to its announcement. The new work
appeared last week-at least the first
volume of the two. tits Literary His
tory of the American Revolution" So
much as is now published covers the period
from 1863 to 1776, and the second volume
is promised shortly
The work, Prof. Tyler assures us, is the
result OF over twenty years ofpatient study
OF his subject The magnificent result
justifies the time and energy bestowed
The present work is one of the most sig
nificant, subjectively, of any contribution
TO the literature of American history. 1t
is individual In its view point scholarly
in its treatment, and permanent in it's
value.
The author, better than anyone else, un-
dersta nds his own method, and he explains
it in his preface The work is the product
of new method, or at least of a method
never before applied to the American
Revolution. The outward and visible his
tory has been many times written. In Prof.
Tyier's work, for the first time III ri:y
sympathetic and complete way, is set forth
the inward history of our Revolution-the
history OF it's ideas, its spiritual moods, its
motives, its passions, even of its slortive
caprices and whimS, as these uttered them
selves at the time, whether consciously Or
not, in the various writings of the two
parties of Americans who promoted or re-
sisted that great movement.
By comparison, then, with the usual
way of dealing with the subject, this study
of the American Revolution brings about a
somewhat different adjustment Of casual
forces, of its instruments, its sequences, its
acts, and Its actors The proceedings Of
legislative bodies, the doings of cabinet
ministers and Of colonial politicians, the
movements of the armies are not altogether
disregarded, but they are subordinated to
the ideas or emotions which, lay back Of
them OF in front OF them, which caused
them or were caused by them. One result
of this method also. is an entirely new dis
tribution Of the tokens of historic promi-
considerable business. Instead of fixing
our eyes almost exclusively, as is commonly
done, on statesmen and generals, upon
party leaders, upon armies and navies,
upon Congress, upon Parliament, upon min
istersof the brain sick king, and the monarch
himself, Prof Tyler directs our attention
toward certain persons hitherto much neg
lected, in many cases wholly forgotten
toward persons, who as mere writer's, and
whether otherwise pr omine mt or not,
nourished the springs of great historic
events by creating and shaping and direct
ing public opinion during all that robust
time; who, in present regard, welded only
spiritual weapons; who still Illustrate for
allwho choose to see, the majestic operation
OF ideas, the creative and decisive play of
spiritual forces, In the development Of his
tory, in the rise and fall of nations, In the
aggregation and the division of races.
Hence In the present history the heroes
are mere penmen-only essayists, song
writer's, tale tellers or satirists. And We
are thus brought into a direct and IA
miliar acouaintance with the American