The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-16
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES


lDROFESSOR WILLIAM ROBERT SHEP-
L HERD of Columbia university, who has just
died in the midst of honors abroad, was a
! learned scholar, thoughtful historian, talent
ed educator and a courageous publicist.
He quickly demonstrated his capacity to
shake off the provincalism which narrowed the
outlook of so many American historians.
First of all, he broadened our notion of Amer
! lean history by pointing out that there is good
deal of America north of the St. Lawrence and
south of the Rio Grande.
! He thus helped to put end to that pre-
poSterous tendency to identify American His
tory" exclusively with the history of the United
States
More than a quarter of a century ago. he had
already established himself as our foremost
authority on the history of Latin America He
participated in most of the important Latin
American and Pan-American conferences, was
| the recipient of numerous honors from Latin
American states and institutions of higher
learning and really founded the scientific study
of Latin American history and institutions in
this country.
Important as were Professor Shepherds con-
tributions to Latin American history, his most
epoch making work was his part in creating the
So-called new history" at Columbia university.
1t was he who first compelled American his
torianS to look beyond national or even con-
tinental boundaries and discern the dynamic in
fluence of the contact of world cultures.
He ended the long controversy over the
origins of modern times by showing that the
causes of the modern age were to be detected in
the expansion of Europe overseas after 1892 and
in the backwash of this expansion upon Europe
itself.
TINE Renaissance, the Reformation and the
Il religious butchery in Europe during the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries never
again could be vested with their former dis
torted Importance once one had acquired some
iota with d'c
breadth of view in approaching the dawn of
modern history.
But Professor Shepherd did not rest content
merely with indicating the bearing of world
conditions upon the beginnings of modern times
He traced the influence OF such lnteractlon be-
tween peoples upon the progress of mankind
from Columbus to Admiral Byrd No American
historian has made greater contribution to the
Qualification of our perspective on the growth of
modern civilization
PROFESSOR SHEPHERD refused to accept
the common notion that an historian can
not venture out of his library without losing his
reputation as scholar He believed that it was
a false philosophy which prevented intelligent
and well -buttressed opinions from being ex-
pressed so as to contribute to the betterment of
mankind
Accordingly, he sharply criticised narrow ma
tionalism and nsularity and insisted upon that
tolerance and breadth of vision which can only
come from viewing modern problems in their
world setting. OF late years, he had particular
ly worked for better understanding between
the Occldent and the Orient.
Not the least commendable of Professor
Shepherds qualities was his courage in defend
| ing what he conceived to be the truth in the
face of widespread popular opinion to the con-
trary.
TN an age in which American Imperialism in
Il Latin-America was accepted as almost axi-
omatic and above criticism he never hesitated
to criticise our wrongful or Oppressive deeds or
to state clearly the Latin American point of
view.
At time when sentimentalists were de-
handing the cancellation of war debts, Profess
sor Shepherd suggested that Great Britain
might demonstrate her integrity by handing
over her colonies in the Caribbean in part pay
ment of her debts.
During the World war, when most American
historians had turned propagandists for the
entente, Professor Shepherd insisted upon main
tanning the same regard for truth to which he
had subscribed before 1914. He remained an
historian to the end of the conflict in spite of
the bitter hostility Of many colleagues in the his
torcal guild
In day when the ideal historian now is held
up to us as an industrious clerk buried in the
archives, the loss of a scholar of Professor Shep-
herds perspective and breadth of interests is
particularly devastating to the historical profess
sion and the American public alike.