The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-24
The MeekIenburg Declaration OF In
dependence.

dependence.
We publish q letter from Charlotte, the
county seat of Mecklenburg, defending the
disputed authenticity OF the Mecklenbulg
Declaration of Independence. Our CORE
spondent sets forth the North Carolina claims
with the best arguments that can be adduced
in their support. But our readers must bear
IN mind that this is a question to which there
are two sides, and as we have made arrange
ments for presenting both sides in our col
umns by some of the ablest and most erudite
pens in the country, we advise them to hold
their judgment in suspense until they see the
best that can be said pro and con on this con-
troverted point The HERALD is trying to
avail itself of the great interest awakened by
the current centennial celebrations to edu-
cate the American public in the revolutionary
history of the country. Even on points
respecting which our own opinion IS
fixed we will not dogmatze, because
the greatest benefit we can confer on
our readers is to familiarize them with the
nature Of historical reasoning OF which they
will see admirable specimens in connection
lenburg Declaration Of Independence. We
conceive that we shall confer far greater
benefit in teaching the popular mind how to
reason on this class of questions than by
reaching and announcing conclusions Of our
own and asking the public to accept them in
Difference to our judgment. There is one
point on which we totally dissent from our
IL IL
that even if the Mecklenburg Declaration Of
independence il merely patriotic myth it is
not wise to disturb so pleasant an illusion.
On the contrary, we consider the claims Of
truth as paramount to all other claims. The
country would lose one of the chief advan-
tages OF these centennial celebrations if the
deep interest they excite were not utilized in
deciding the disputed points in our national
history. The great events which are recalled
to the public mind by these centennial
observaLces are SO splendid and glo-
rious that there is no need Of trucking them
out with fictitious plumes The simple,
naked, majestic truth will amply vindicate the
claim Of our patriotic forefathers to deep
gratitude and lasting admiration. Our ma
tional history is too great to need the aid of
fiction, and every true lover Of his country
should disdain and scorn meretricious decora-
tions Of what is 50 admirable in the simple
light Of truth.
There are some points in the Meckenburg
affair which no intelligent historical inquirer
calls in question. 1t is undisputed and indis-
putable that in the month of May, 1775, there
was courageous demonstration in Mecklen-
burg county against the pretensions Of the
British government But it is disputed that
the Goth Of May was the date Of that patriotic
demonstration, and it is disputed that the
resolutions copied in the letter Of our North
Carolina correspondent are genuine. The
grounds for contesting these claims will be
very ably presented in our columns
by writers whose acuteness and research
entitle their arguments to critical
examination and their opinions to great def
erence. These accomplished scholars Will
maintain that the 31st Of May and not the
Goth is the great North Carolina date; that
the series OF resolutions copied by our North
Carolina correspondent are apochryphal; that
the resolutions actually adopted are those
from which Mr.. Bancroft quotes in the
seventh volume Of his history; and that if .
centennial celebration takes place in Char
lotte on the goth Of May instead of the 31st it
will commemorate a fiction and not fact
Having thus stated the points in dispute we
have prepared our readers for the interesting
discussion which will follow by writer's whose
mastery Of the subject will enable them to
present instructive examples Of historical
criticism.