The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-03

Mr.. JUSTIN MCCARTHY CALLED TO
Acct Vt.
HIS BIASED STA TENENT or TIE
NORTHERN DEFEAT.
THE VICTORY DUE TO SUPERIOR
SOUTHERN MANHOOD.
Mr. McCarihs', iaiacies Completely 20
futed His Contribution 10 90 = i,torY''
Likely tu find #. Way to The
Waste Basket.

Mr. Justin McCauhv. several years
ago, gave 10 the world O most cnteriain.
ing account OF the events of the past
forty or fifty wears in his History of
Our own Times rs q literary pro-
duciiOn n was Success. IN reading his
brilliant pages Wc ave not only led cap
tive by the gracc- of bis stvle. but are
constrained % admire the enthusiasm. If
not audaciiy, with which he states hi>
propositions and draws hi- own conclu-
sions. In particular is this the case
when IL is evident that his statements
are in accord with hi, own per onal
opinions Then fancy lends wings 90
bis narrative. The story il so well told
it seems impossible 10 doubt that o
wriier who so confidently arraRges and
states his facts can by possibility De mis-
taken. II is "A happy gift OF mind
in one who thus deludes himself with
the idea that he is writing history, when
in truth he is unwarily writing 90 amusc
rather than 10 give information Our
author was evidently under this deiu-
sion when in his chapter ON the civil
war In America. Ao undertook tO give an
D
defeat of the Northern army ai the first
battle of Manassas fought ON the 2lst OF
July. 1861. and often improperly dee
,crbcd as the battle of Bull Run The
latter. as Is we'll known, took place on
Thursday, the 18Th, three days before
Ii cannot be expected that writer's ot
history are 10 satisfy everybody Mis-.
takes must be made from various causes
often from the inability % scr accurate
informetion, but more frequently from
/ the effect OfprecOnceiyel opinions formed
by the writer ln the chapter referred
10 our author has afforded a striking exc
ample of the latter and has shown how
easily q generous mind may De intu-
enced by lifelong associations and educ
cation IT, IS not alone in This respect
Hatred of slavery in the abstract and
ignorance Of thc institution as 10 existed
IN the United States. hai their effects
upon the opinions and pIciudices o. ai
foreigners who have undertaken 90 write
accounts of our late civil war Ihi.
fact however, does not excuse any OF
those vino have assumed tho grave
responsibility OF putting uDon the pages
OF history the whole truth iu regard Co.
that terrible Struggle W. are justified
in the opinion That the author ol 'thc
History of Our own Times did u0f avail
himself of the opportunity of acquiring
the Information requisite tO 70 fair .tate-
ment Of The facts a- they existed before
the war broke our. as well IT'S after DO bad
actually begun if, therefore Dee should
plead ignorance he cannot Dee excused
much Jess can De hc acquitted should Doc
Doe proven guilty of the wiltll peiyer.i0n
of The facts rs they appear n bis ac-
count
The reader may decide upon which
horn Of thc dilemma our Wn'luf is -u--
pended after he is made acquainted with
the facts OF the ease. The history of The
United States. ii- form OF government
It's written constitution. and those oi tlr
several States forming be Union. are not
only open 10 the inspection oi the world
but have been made familiar io all we'll
informed students and writer. of p0iit.
cal philosophy ever since the foundation
of the American Republic This being
true the absence of ordinary iulorma-
ton upon This subject exposes the writer
10 merited condemnation, when his i.uO-
rance shall have been proven
Ia his chapter on tho civil War Ia
America MI McCarly writes as fol-
lows. The battle OF Bull Run took place
on July n, 1851 and the r1c hus of
the North We're defeated. thrown into
confusion, and in some instances driven
into i-nominious flight This was not
very surprising The Southern men
were infinitely blner htd for n, jegio-
mig ~ II r'r than thc men of the North
The Southenels had always taste io.
soldering, and had kcp, up TAR slut
maNH sWtlms rM aa a1ll. g8ht stletItt,s
which The business men Ot the North
had neither the time nor fhe inclination
to initiate The Southern militia systems
.ceit sp'H8R training slt..s fof Jfms. and
became the nucleus each OF au excellent
army. when at last the war broke ONT
The Northern government had yielded
TO ii popular cry. and made q premature
movement upon Richmond in Virginia
now the Southern capital in
was not very surprising, therefore
thai the South should have won ,he first
battle. j. was not very surpri Lgg
either, ii some of the hastily raised
Northern regiments Ut volunteers should
have proven wrttchei soldiers aud
should have yielded 10 The sudden iufu-
ence Of the panic &C.
The complacency with which our au-
thor here deliver. himself of bis oacuAr
and prcconcgivcl opinions wolid De
amusing were il hot ihat they are ele-
waited 10 the dignity OF history. and uu-
less cOniladiCtci. must be- received a-
true lie attempts with undis-uiscd
zeal 10 apologize for The defeat OF the
Northern army 40 The hfat battle Of Ma
nassas By statements as barren
Of truth az fiction itself So an-
parent is this that the reader unless
otherwise informed, would have night
70 infer that this had been the only y.c-
tory ever gained by the Confederate
armies over the unfortunate and unpre-
pared North That as soon as the latter
bad found out the mistake they bad
made in allowing popular crr 10
hurry them ON prematurely % Richmond
hey had ever afterwards had 70 smooth
road 10 victory His purpose seems 90
be twO-fOld First, 20 prove that the
~Outherners were not on that occasion
az Least. entitled 10 the credit OF the d
brilliant victory they had gained. by tca-
son Of any inherent virtue in themselves
but because OF their iOng-est8blIshcd ape
titude and facilities for making var. and ;
their experience as trained soldiers H.
would have Ill. reader 60 think That the I
unsuspecting North had been totally un. ,
prepared for such an onset. and bad been :
suddenly hurried into an unequal con- G
llict with the veterans OF the swanps s
and cotton fields of the South Tie
other design Of our author seems 90 he I
10 preserve intact, if possible the pres a
uge which ultimate success finally D
brought to the Northern armies, by 5
which success the accuracy of his state
ments and his preconceiyed opinions q
were thereby confirmed lie had begged d
q question which Was afterwards deter 5
mined by causes unforeseen and there C
fore unprotected by himself lie a
proved himself 10 be rs ignorant of the L
real cause OF the defeat Of the Northern G
army at the battle OF Manassas as ID De- ID
bad never heard of IT, II Mr. McCariv d
had even read the Constitution of ihe 10
-pffaI States Le upulI h1r. 1..rraI V