JAMES BRYCE—A TRIBUTE
Historical students
everywhere were saddened at the opening of the present year (January
22) by the announcement of the death of James Bryce—Viscount Bryce,
to speak more accurately—but he will always be remembered
affectionately in America as James Bryce. Bryce like so many of the
familiar British type was a manysided public man but he will be most
widely known in America perhaps because of his studies in history
and government. Son of a school teacher, born in Ireland, educated
in Scotland and England, he began life as a lawyer and was then
called back to Oxford as Regius professor of civil law. At the age
of 26 he made a name for himself by his prize composition, The Holy
Roman Empire, which is still the standard work in its field. His
great work The American Commonwealth (1888, revised 1910) was the
first serious study of the American government from the standpoint
of the historian and constitutional lawyer. It became a classic at
once and was very widely used as a text book in colleges and
universities. Serious scientific study of our government may be said
to begin with Bryce. His Studies in History and Jurisprudence
appeared in 1901, followed two years later by Studies in
Contemporary Biography. In 1897 following a visit to South Africa he
published a volume of Impressions that had a large influence in
Liberal circles when the Boer War was being discussed. A similarly
illuminating volume on South America recorded his observations
there. Perhaps his crowning work was Modern Democracies which was
produced at the age of eighty-three . As late as August 1921 Bryce
delivered eight lectures before the Institute of Politics at
Williams College on International Relations, and in the same year as
first occupant of the Chair of American History, Literature and
Institutions founded by the Anglo-American Society rendered a
brilliant interpretation on The Study of American History.
The versatility of the man is evidenced by activities in other
lines. In early life he became an expert alpinist, and published a
scientific volume on The Flora of the Island of Arran. In 1880,
Bryce was elected to Parliament as a Liberal, later he became in
rapid succession, under secretary for foreign affairs, chancellor of
the duchy of Lancaster, president of the Board of Trade, chairman of
the Royal Commission on Secondary Education, chief secretary for
Ireland, and finally British Ambassador at Washington.
As Ambassador Bryce took leave of party politics and his work in
this capacity entitled him to be regarded as one of the real
builders of a better civilization. “If every nation could send to
every other nation an ambassador who understood and loved both his
home country and the country to which he was accredited as James
Bryce knew and loved Great Britain and the United States, nothing
could be more difficult than to start a war * * * With Bryce there
could be neither patronizing nor obsequiousness; any class melted
away in the sun of his geniality, his humor, his common sense, and
his abiding friendliness.”
As Americans we owe him an additional measure of gratitude for his
pioneer work in the study of our institutions. Every thoughtful
student should read his American Commonwealth and hold in grateful
remembrance its author’s name—James Bryce, scholar, historian,
statesman.
The Right Hon.
James Bryce, O.M.
AN article upon Bryce is a large order indeed. Tho1 small in stature
he knows so much, has done so much, and is still doing. At present
he is going round the world and undoubtedly is “ taking notes, and,
faith, he’ll prent them ”.
He spent the year before last making a tour thru 1 the Southern
American Republics, and the result is a book cramed full of
knowledge; little or
nothing is passed over. One of the many needed lessons he
demonstrates is that the Monroe Doctrine has done its work. This was
not news to some of us. The 60,000,000 of our southern nabors are
quite assured that no European Power is so bold as to attempt the
acquisition of territory in that domain. Upon another point they are
equally confident—if any did, it would be a failure. They are quite
able to defend themselves and would unite in driving out the
invader. The attempt of Napoleon some years ago which ended in a
gentle intimation that Mexico was a good place for the French to
migrate from was sufficient. The Americans should take due notice of
the fact that our southern brethren, especially of the leading
nations, are quite able to expel intruders.
Mr. Bryce has added one branch of knowledge to another all his days.
He is master of agriculture, botany, horticulture and other
branches, even the tiniest flower that grows. Walking thru the
woods, or over the heather, or in gardens, he rarely fails to
discover something new or unexpected. Once at Skibo he heard of the
Linncza borealis having been seen some miles from us and never
rested until he found it, but find it he did.
His greatest work so far—I don’t vouch for the future—is by common
consent “The American Commonwealth,” which he revised recently. It
is a standard, I may say the standard, book and is destined to last.
Much good has it done by spreading a true knowledge of ourselves,
from which both native and foreigner may derive advantage. We hear
of his intention to favor the world with another book, but this so
far is only hearsay. It will be looked for with deep and widespread
interest.
His reputation, as a statesman is founded upon many years of public
service in his native land. I may mention that he is Scotch, a point
not to be overlooked in studying him, but beyond all his many
qualifications his fame as an ambassador to our country in recent
years has broadened him into the international citizen, who is a
bond of union uniting the two branches of the English-speaking race
as no living man ever has done or is likely ever to do.
Were the mother and child land ever to have a serious difference,
seemingly insoluble, it would not be surprising if the intelligent
citizens of both countries were to look to Bryce for advice,
confident that he was an international statesman, the admirer and
lover of both branches of our race, devoted to both, and above all
such is his high character that all men would feel that nothing but
riteous judgment would be conscientiously given, in the form of
friendly counsel. The intelligent, conscientious citizen on both
sides of the Atlantic would inevitably accept Bryce’s counsel as
sincere—fortunately it is not within the bounds of probability that
there ever will be a serious quarrel between the two nations in
which Shakespeare’s tongue is spoken there, And songs of Burns are
in the air.
Let us keep our eyes upon Bryce as one of the foremost men of our
day and may his example stir others. So far he is a model for all of
us to follow. He points the way to permanent, genuine ascendancy
among his fellows, and the lesson comes to us in three words—“Beware
thou character ”.
ANDREW CARNEGIE
American Commonwealth
By James Bryce (1906) (pdf)
James
Bryce
(Viscount Bryce of Dechmont) by H. A. L. Fisher (1927) (pdf)
