New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-25
HISTORY TO ORDER,


ing, it appears, to the people of that State
on behalf of the Southern Historical AS
ISOLATION; in other words trying to raise
money to promote the objects Of that as
ISOLATION; and the Ptcdyune calls upon all
patriotic Southerners to lend helping
hand. Historical associations are useful
in measure; they collect materials in the
rough for others to examine, sift, discard
or use as may be deemed suitable. This
particular association, intended as its
name indicates to be sectional machine,
will be likely to afford employment to
many otherwise unoccupied individuals,
first in collecting and afterward in as
sorting its materials, very large proper
ton of which will probably have to be
discorded as their seeming Importance
gradually lessons in the course of time.
In fact, the writing of history
being essentially SLOW work. a his.
tory written to order may be
found by the time it is done not to fit.
The minds for which it is intended may
have grown larger. Thus it may turn out
with the labors of this association in the
long run; but in the meanwhile they hope
to make hay while the sun shines by pub
fishing their crude materials in the form
of Southern magazine. The object of
this enterprise being to furnish ordinary
literary matter like other magazines,
while making specially OF retailing our
history from Southern standpoint, and
at the same time printing twenty extra
pages, monthly, containing the names Of
the rank and file of the Confederate army,
it will probably find favor with that class
of persons who buy pencil-cases contain.
ing fruit knives. nut pickers, cork-screws
and nail-trimmers combined. for one dol.
lar. As rule it is better to have differ
ent articles in separate cases.
Seriously, the history Of the great
struggle through which our country has
recently passed is one which, when fairly
written, must interest the whole thinking
world. 1t must be presented from
neither Northern or a Southern
standpoint. but from that Of truth.
The time for writing that history has
not yet come: nay. in all probability
the man to write is not yet born. North.
ern and Southern pen pictures Of the va.
riors battles which distinguished it. with
contrasting sectional tints te,npering their
prevailing carmine colors. representing
the opposing Generals and their men with
fulsome praise Or ungeneyous censure.
may continue to issue from the press and
be sought for or sighted according TO the
locality for which they are prepared: but
such are not history. Elaborate essays
maintaining that the principles which
actuated one side or the other are in &C.
cordance with those which governed our
revolutionary fathers. and attempting to
prove the same by historical comparisons.
will doubtless continue to be published
and read. but this is not history.
The Southern Historical Association
may redouble its zeal in tha col.
lection, collation. and publication Of
historical materials intended to edo honor
to che South and to ''perpetuate the
names of the gallant dead who fell in her
cause" they may continue to publish
their paper for the express purpose of
keeping the Southern mind duly biased
in sectional direction. but it will avail
little. People. no matter how sectional
in their feelings. will not take paper
which does not interest them by its gen.
eral matter. simply because it panders TO
some Of their prejudices: they will not
read dull history because it tells them
with needless probity what they believe
already. viz: that their side was always
right in principle. and almost always
successful in battle. They will Judge of
history as Of other literary work, and
will purchase and read the best which the
market affords, wherever written. Like.
wise with magazines, people will persist
emily take those which interest or amuse
them, and can not be cajoled nor bullied
into patronizing others claiming support
on other grounds than those of merit
If the South produces the great historian
who Is to picture our late war in brighter,
truer colors, to set forth its causes and re-