The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-02
Pollard and History.

So many matters of graver importance
have recently occupied our attention, that
perhaps few of our readers remember the
protest we urged against the Mercury's
commendation of Mr.. Pollard and his forth
coming Life of Jefferson Davis. The sub
stance of what we had to say was this: l.
We could not agree with our contemporary
that Mr.. Pollard had laid the Southern peo-
pie under any obligation by his historical
works, which were often incorrect, and were
unsupported by any weight of personal
character. q We deprecated any attack
from the South upon Mr.. Davis, especially
while he is under prosecution for our sake,
as unreasonable, ungrateful and criminal
To this article, ell the assertions Of which
are notoriously and in every particular cor
rect, Mr.. Pollard publishes characteristic
reply in the 'sSouthern Opinion" He has
denied neither of our positions; indeed,
how could he? To our criticisms he furi-
cusly objects-ef course. Our reference to
facts in his career, which unfit him for the
digni6ed Office of Southern historiographer,
and which are known to the uttermost limit
of newspaper circulation, ore anonymous
'libels of newspaper printed thousand
"miles away:"-would Mr.. Pollard have
drawn upon his vocabulary quite 80 freely,
if our article, as well as his card, had been
published in paper of Richmond or Balti-
more? We have no fancy for drawing from
police reports; but will our historiographer
please tell US what single statement or i'm
plication in our criticism varies from the
truth by shadow of shade? And if what
we said is indisputably true, had not the
time come when that truth should be spo-
ken in behalf of the Southern people whom
this writer intended again "to represent
ssand lay under obligations" and in behalf
of Mr.. Davis whom, in our name, he again
undertook to assail =?
We have no cause for personal aversion
to Mr.. Pollard; we only protest against
being championed by him. Instead Of help
ing the Southern people, he has, in our
judgment, gravely prejudiced their cause.
Instead of shielding the prosecuted South
ern leader, he aggravates his fall and EN-
bitters his exile. Instead of yindicating
Southern fame, he aouts at their "chivalry,"
as in his latest "card" in Richmond. He mas
left their camp. Let him, then, accept the
fortunes of free lance, and no longer
pretend to be fighting under their banners.
A ruse de guerre may be practiced little
too often; and this Mr.. Pollard may fud
when his new Trojan horse is flushed.
Nobody expects our author to restrain
tongue or pen as long as life lasts; but why
should he disincline to represent himself,
his OWE historic self
'Only this and nothing more?"
There must be dissatisfaction and loud
voiced protest when he says: 81 have main
"tained the reputation of the Southern peo-
''ple and the virtue of their cause; but have
''only been able to do 1t consistently with
'the unworthiness of Mr.. Davis, and on the
"hypothesis that he was weak and derelict."
But when he says: "Now if am a rowdy,
"capable of writing history, my rowdyism
sis of no matter; or rather, it is an admirable
phenomenon, considering its extraordina-
cry gifts Whatever We may think of the
logic, there is no one who can help admir-
ing the sublime selfconsciousness. And
when he closes his aatteripg card with the
modest request that we shall publish it over
again, and with the reminder that the pub
lie will know, despite our silence, that we
are suffering from his resentment, we have
no words to express our pleasure. Here it
is nature itself that speaks!
But seriously, the avowed purpose Of MIR.
Pollard is sufficient to condemn him as