New-York tribune., 1921-11-06
Chronicles Which Interpret
Declaration and Constitution
Completion of What May. Well BE the Deflnitive
history OF the United States and It's
Colonial Antecedents

cannot be blind to the grave errors Of
those Incompatible rhetoriciars.
1t We say that of all modern writer's
none, not even Motley, has more tri-
umphantly attainsd the standard or
Asfodotus than Green, re may with
equal confidence declare that no other
group OF writer's has quits SO surely
done so rs have the historians OF these
Chronicles. We have hitherto spoken
OF tho extraordinary unity OF design
which pervades these fifty volumes by
almost as many different authors and
which could have been realized ONLY
through unusual esprit de corps-let US
say, in the vernacular, teamwork-and
similarly excellent editorial direction.
Now that unity is triuae, and its three
elements arc the three principles OF
WHICH we have been speaking. The
gucst OF original sources ard ind!spu-
table authorities has illustrated the
genius of taking irfai.e pains. There
- not fact OF moment in the whole
vast epic OF which the anteceden.s and
the consequences are not made clear.
The style is such as reminds US Of the
golden age when annalists were bards
and romancers,
1t will be worth while 70 dwell for
moment longer upon the second Of
these principles, since il is Of most
intense practical interest and inpor-
tance to this nation. Il is we'll within
bounds of reason to recken that in the
last hundred years the majority Of our
domestic troubles and foreign conflicts,
whether OF words or arms, have arisen
more or less directly from failure to
understand Alright the history Of our
own country snd its goveramcns. We
have all read Of the planting OF the
Colonies. But why we're they planted
and what was their real significance
We ali talk gliols enough OF the Dec
/ larAtion Of independence and the Con
| stitution Of the United States. But who
shall interpret them in terms ee the
twentieth century? It is the crown;ng
merit ard value OF these Chronicles
that they supply this interpreta ton,
not alone Of colonization and iadeoend-
eDnce and Constitution, but also OF all
other substatial steps and achievements
IN our history, from the very FIRST open
ing Of this continent to European civili-
cation. With al due appreciation Of
other fine histories, which have thus
dealt with certain chronological parts
or certain phases Of the American
record, we know OF no other work
which affords so comprehensive, de-
tailed and multiform al Interpretation
Of al. America to all America, nor any,
which, because os its authorship, Is 50
little the oietum Of single mind and
SO much TIE consensus Of many studi-
Gus, sincere and illuminated minds.
Thus Rppreheaded, it does not seem
eZtravasant to esteem the Chronicles
OF America as the noblest American
work since the writing OF ths Declara-
tlon O. Independence and the framing
OF the Constitution. That is because,
more than any other work. it is calcu-
lated to make those Instruments ret
mere historical landmarks, however
stately ard sacred, but rather part
Of the vital mental and spiritual fur-
niture Of every American citizen who !
reads it's luminous pages. The Dec
laration in few terss sentences made /
us a free and independent people and +
opened the door to nationality. The I
Constitution conserved that independ-
ence and made us an organized nation
of ilitnitable potentiality. There is 10