New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-08-07
DR.. D. J.HILL ON HISTORY
Discusses It's Ethical Function Be-
fore Congress IN Berlin.

Berlin. Aug s.-The international Congress Of
Historical Sciences, whose annual session has at
traeted scientists from all parts of the world. was
opened to-day in the Philha rmonic Hall here, to
| continue until August II The governing body Sc
| lected DIR. David Jayne Hill. Ambassador of the
United States to Germany, TO deliver the opening
| address Prince Frederick Leopold was present as
the representative of Emperor William. Or. Beth
mann Hollweg. Minister of the Interior, welcomed
the delegates in the name of Chancellor Won Bilow
and the empire. The Mayor of Berlin made
speech in behalf Of the municipality. in which he
said he hoped the congress would be second peace
conference.
Dr. Hill then read his address in German, at the
conclusion of which he warmly appiauded- His
subject was The Ethical Function of the His
| torian." and. in part, he said:
The question. What is history" is closely CON
is human life?" For whatever in reality human
may De- proseF Is ihf It's es
fundamental problem for the historian is TO de-
greeted at the very threshold Of his inquiry with
) Wat m IS fse nature Of
toric truth? How does history differ from otner
seen from vhn and Wha in
the chief function of the historian?
s5 to 0R the wiso WG 3 the
Of f s @ Trqgge Sn n ef ne to posi-
ton OF permanent security? Does II NOT 1npy II,
which he realizes his part in the general develop
ment of man and his duty as member OF lns
that its true nature is made apparent Only those
who have lived through them and nave ha1 so1s
of the historic process for it is only as par ~
defeat in the march Of triumph fainting on the
field of battle knows that the social UNI coui,o
IN which humanity moves on from one to another
stadium in the realization of its destiny ~
It is no derogation of the rank and posluon, OF
history in the hierarchy of knowledge to say tnat
And Is evident
ton of the historian in dealing with historical ma.
tsr s IS an s ethical n With h0s ali other
science to discover and to state the truth with
Because the whole substance Of history is Of an
ethical t natg inward is Or ths w0Th Of
development displayed in the various fo1ns b o.
Iterstnre and potics and If possible to bring to
light by following the successive tps forces
ana and conditions that in fact produced IL and
the effect of particular ncton on the part
of the historian grows directly on: OF t the
the historic +sG,tW nav be and in some is de-
endent upon the natural energies that underne
s sena Of Testion to the past and 70 the
that IS hs' fo Creatures OF the organic world
And this historic consciousness not only ncIdes
soiicide Of the past but there is perhaips; no
human individual certainly no tSp'e sat,nr in and
through him whatsoever they are, have ENDS tha'
ought TO De factor in the historic process is
human nature which is sometimes goyeFbn a b,sI
~ ;storisn therefore is not TO make MS
tory seem reasonable by placing upon sisnlay The
[f that nave Determined the historic process
as has N hs exn3s,tfon Of motive and result his
Sork viii have far greater scientfc Value I "a
from other sciences dealing with rex Intellectual
different nature or Preanets ST o. this Importation is
to impart history an appearances nsss 81
pOint OF view, we sec
function of the historian is not to deal WIFI tb the
formlthe9 Of human conduct and to measure rs
success and Its failure upon snnrd Of mans efforts
to solve the problem with which MS nature
enVGon5ef That although living in universe GOV
~ ra6 h law as result Of its freedom II nas SUI S
times gone N gTeat nssincples it wrong again
The best antdote &c TINS sfber Il be for good
@ zvj as men OF science dealing win me I
and most lns bonnd h. that scientific conscience
bicb Is the test the badge and the s,oa! u
profession Cords 9 @Te e wetgeschiehe st das Welt
gericft' -.
Dr ReinhoId Koser was elected president =. - -
congress Honorary presidents were seie''eu
tta representatives of each Of the Twelve couh' res
represented. Ambassador mn pe
America. .....o,s 4o- MIR
The delegates will form separate sections lor put
-oeas Of discussion. Tomorrow there VIII DC WI
ous excursions for the delegates ana huihpel "
raoar1+iops and dinners nave Deeh eii0'sN
entertainment. :, ,.a
The subjects to be discussed comprise an peiio
"a governments Of ancient and modern history ana
research and the lecturers include large huiiDei
~ ,,-o7oinent historians and professors
The presidents Of the organizing comrnlt'ee aFe
mr. raeinhold Koser. general director OF the Prus-
sian Roval State Archives; DR.. Eduard Meyer. OF
prlin university and DR.. Ulrich Won WilannowitE-
MoeIlendorf OF Berlin
Among the principal speakers at the general SIT
t,ngs are G. Maspero Cairo; F. Wilkhof, Vienna;
7 Hefbers Copenhagen: Sir Frederick POLLOCK
Iondon: z r Cumont, Client: M. Rostowzev' 81
oe+a-ebure; Prince Of Teano. Rome; l. Pelissier,
nTontpelier: Sir William Ramsay. Aberdeen H.
t3arne Irpsal; P. Rama. Florence, and A. Bugge,
Christiania-
The United States is represented by the Ambas-
ssdor G Reisner Of Cambridge, who lectures on
1.-THE Royal Tonabs OF the Fourth Dynasty E
C,apps Of Princeton. THE Ancient Greek Man
uaIs and Their Use by Later Writers as HISTORICAL
Source Books; H. Haskns, of Cambridge. on
Normandy under William the Conqueror' NJ Jas
trow of Philadelphia, on Historical References
in the Omen Texts Of Babylonia and Assyria": A
c. McGifert, of New York. "Prolegonena TO
the History of Protestant Thought and K
Frarcke OF Cambridge on The Tasks and Objects
Of the Ciernanic Museum of Harvard"