Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-15

tdheu Tue ltDSrSy 10 nSkS Inc sugRes.
tons have in the hope that you may be
able to do something towards correct in
struetion in the matters referred to.
trust that the teachers throughout the
state, when the matter Is called to their
attention, will recognize the propriety
of disseminating the use of ali such
books as refer to the war between the
states US a "civil war" or "rebeilIon. ~
There can be no fear but that the
ground on which the Confederate states
stood in the war will be faithfully and
fairly presented in the state university.
The gentlemen in charge OF the law de-
partment of that institution understand
the subject so well and were, and are,
so firm in their convictions that the Con-
federate states had right on their Ade
that no doubt can be entertained of their
teaching tru,hfully the history of the
causes, progress and results of the war.
Doubtless other members of the faculty of
the university entertain similar views
| and ill rs faithfully and clearly enforce
them IN their instruction. l refer to the
professors of law only because they are
well known to me. | trust that we may
have no reason 10 doubt that the teach
ings Of this chapter i'll our own history
may Oe as accurate. impartial and faith
full in the public free schools as in the
university.
1t may be said further that no history
OF the war between the states suitable
for use in the common schools has yet
been written. This may or may not he
true. If none has been written bet
ter not use any text book than one
which instructs falsely. l submit that
all teachers who wish to be correctly in
formed Us 10 the matter can read Mr..
Alexander Fl. Stephens 6rst volume of
his "War Between the States; the first
100 pages of Admiral Semrnes' ''Service
AtiosI,'' or better than oil ''The Rise
AMI Fall of the Confederate States, by
the Hon. Jefferson Dawn. After read
Ing any of these tenchers could give
young students nil necessary instructions
by oral lectures or conversation,
method of teuchng which | have heard
is quite popular, and which highly APP
prove. ! trust some enferpris;ng young
genilemun or lady will find time to pre-
pare O abridged or condensed history
from some or all OF the authors ! bnye
referred TO for use in the public schools
If il he true that none such las yet been
prepared.
Borrowing the language of Chief JUS
ice Iurney or tennessee, III an ADDRESS
delivered i'll March last at Nashville. 81
hope his (Mr. jefferson Davis y teach
ines of our form OF government will be-
come standards in our schools
In this letter ! have endeavored to
pretermit auy violence of expression Us
To the merits OF either siie in the war be-
tween the United States and the Con-
federate states. NV own convictions as
tn the side on which the right lag are go
we'll known 20 you that | need not de-
clare them here. My object Is more TO
have the cause of the Confederate states
placed fairly and honestly before our
children than to defend either their
people, their soldiers or their statesmen.
Their conduct needs no defence when its
history is fairly written OF correctly
taught.
II, in your official position or as citi-
zan, you can do anything towards pro-
noting the objects | have briefly NEIL
toned, | think you will do the country q
greut service, and add to the reputation
you already justly enjoy as teacher.
Very truly yours, ~
TSienpd ! Z. B. SExToNs9
Marshall, Tex, Dec. 8, 1890. -