Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-10
AMERICAN HISTORY.
The New South Behind the Old In This I'm
pOrtaut study.

pOrtaut Study.
To he Editor of The Dispatch:
As An educator and one to whom the
honor Of our native South IS especlaIly
dear desire heartily TO endorse the views
expressed in your editorial Of June 6tn re-
specting tho vital importance OF establish
inc chairs of American history IN our
southern colleges. in order thereby that
iustice NAV be done to southern motives,
Southern character, and southern lnstitu-
tons. Having long entertained ana cA1
pressed similar opinions feel encouraseu
10 add my mite to what / nope VIII ne
movement under your auspices, resulting
in permanent success. The adYlsaoillty OF
such a movement is too manifest TO need
argument, for however grateful we All leel
10 those patriutic writer's who without re-
ward and almost without encouragement
have devoted valuable time to the yln-
dication of history, we know that history
is a life study and It's requirements cannot
be met by any one who does not make IL n
snpcial subject of investigation Tor MANY
wears. In nearly all the northern colleges
there are chairs of this character. but ]
know ofnone IN the southern States OF the
Union. and never did feel more painfully
fhe effect of this sad and disheartening
fact than when in attendance at the last
meeting Of the American Historical society
in Washington listened to the dIScourseS
of the able writers and thinkers OF the
North and contrasted their zeal and inter
est in historical subjects with our lnertneSs
and Indifference. II Is absurd 10 say thHt
VIC have not the elements of success neces-
sary to the prosecution Of history, for the
south. through the late Thomas x. Dew, OF
William and Mary. deserves the credit, be
Eeye. of having led the sections IN the estah-
hshmept of chair Ofhistory and political
science. and as the prOmulger OF advanced
educational views illustrated in the cleo
five and honor system III our colleges, she
deserves high praise from an educational
standpoint. But is this enough? our
past is rich in annals, rlch IN example;
rich in thought. Shall we neglect IL ana
seek in the past of nations long dead-ln
fbe mast of Rome and Greece-the only
lessons 10 be taught our children when we
know that in our own great men-ln the
annals of our own dear cOuntry-we rave
examples of character and action lar more
pure and far more glorious! The truth IS
the study of American history IN the South
has retrOgraded since the war. In hteTa-
ture the new South Is far behind the oid,
We look in vain 10 the press for the publ
cation Of such splendid works Us HIVES $
Madison" CampbelPs History OF Ir,
piuia." Grigsby's Convention OF l116, -
IIpshur's Review of Judge Story's "
Work on the Constitution, Meade's - Old
Families and Old Churcnes," luck
er's History of the United States.
fuckers Jefferson" Wirt's Patrick
Henry" Kennedys Writ" &c. Before
the war we had three able magazines
| Be Bo,o's ReDie,o, The Southern hep'sto, and
| the Southern LaTdrdg Messenger; But
where are they nowI What mas t1e new
South produced TO be compared with them
| in importance? We doindeed need such a
| history for the schools as you suggest; but
can il be produced by other than special
lists? To stand the high test of modern
| criticisms "A work of history must be free
| from the platitudes of sentiment and OF
prejudice. IT must be founded on fact and
| be supported on every side by TACT, ana
| be written with q careful reference 10
authority. expressed with the eXactnes5 Oh
| a law book, and with this view and for tins
reason we must have men who shall be
| placed III situation to devote their whole
! time to the proper study Of history.
| who will not be disturbed by other and
! more pressing engagements, or be en-
! barTassed. as most of our present professors
| of history are, by too great variety oi
| subjects for class-work. Cannot our
| wealthy men come to the front and aid III
| eilecting so desirable an object as the one
| suggested hy yOuy Cannot the legislatures
| of our southern States contribute to tins
valuable end? OF all memorials, literary
memorials are the most enduring. A san
OF money equal to that by which the South
erected her glorious monument TO Lee
| would establish permanently four profes-
sorshIps of American history in the south
ern States. Once established, thor noun.
bents would be rs sentinels on the watch
tower ever ready to vindicate the motive.
OF our people ard present the. true facts OF
history. And thus. though we were de
feated bv our northern friends on the field
of battle. in the long run 1t might happer
that through these champions of truth WE
might win the victory on the page Of his
tory and demonstrate once more the force
of the aphorism that "the pen is mightiel
than the sword" LYON q. TYLER.
Wiaam and Mary College, june Z, 1890.