The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-14
THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH.
Great Need Of q Reliable Work Of That
Character.
ADDRESS or DR.. THOMAS NELSON PAGE
Delivered Before tho Alumni Society OF the
University of yirginia-A Mas
terly Effort.

delivered an address before the society tonight
on The Want of a History Of the southern
People," As he appeared he was most warmly
received, and his address was heartily APP
plauded. 1t was as follows
DR.. PAGES ADDRESS.
have some claim in standing among you TINS
evening 20 be considered not wholly stran En-
Sixteen or seventeen years ago began mo oh
BeSrgTass creek. n few miles outslCe OF }'uI
beautiful city; and come from an Oh coo llnl
county IN Virginia, IN which KENTUCKY eau
claim as almost as direct an interest ~ tho
mother State herself; the county OF HenoNer.
From its quiet fields and woods many In the pest
have come 20 WOO fortune under your nino
skies. need name but two Of them Henry
Clay and John ". Stevenson. These with many
Others. your fathers and grandiathers virginia
has sent You with as glad heart rs ever a I'm
or gave her jewels 10 Adorn her daughter on her
bridal morn.
Why should it he otherwise Dove not stand
tonight IN the OLD Nlrginlan county or flnca'-
tie. afterwards Der county Kentucky whose
name was changed because with prophetic IN
stinct our Nirginian torefathers' yours an !
mine, would bear no name which sayoffd OF
tyranny when there might no ono when shonlu
lie linked with freedom forever? 49,
In her great conventions which made ms
nation and afterwards adoptedlts tonsututl'h'
y0nr delegates from tho seven counties on ,hgl
Kentucky district sat with those from tho VAL
lev, the Piedmont and the lidewater and ADDED
their wisdom 20 that OF their broihers. virginia
with generosity which has never been apife-
ciated gave 10 the American people me great
Northwest. But whom she gave hentucAy, Hhc
gave her very heart. Dearer than all the rest
she was: tor she was her younge-t- her very
own and integral part OF herself which htr Sons
had conquered and cleared and setflrd setting
up Nrgnian homes and establishing her own
faith. q.
The delegates from tho seven counties OF the
Keniucky district were: Bourbon. Henry Log
and Motley Conn; fayctte. Humphrey MarshaI
and John Fowler; Jefferson. robert brccAlu-
ridge lice Bullock. John Logan and Henry iaul-
ing: Madison. John Miller ami Green Gays Nei-
son, Matthew Walton and John steele; Mercer
Thomas Allen and Alexander Robertson org,
bys Convention VI l7So, Virginia Historical
Ills small wonder that the ties have never
been broken; that after one hundred .ear'' lll-
xlnia and Kentucky are more alike ln their
habits of life. Of thought and OF speech. and are
more closely bound together than sny other two
States Of the Union.
Fora hundred years more u must be- -o' Vel nave
the same great editions OF thdt rpl'Aoll lh-t
filed with the shining deeds that made ms
nation. the same present and the sanl'.s-ollJu.
and grand future.
kentucky has sent her sons 70 that lonufeous
mother. established by him whose pen drafted
the kentucky resolutions Of los 60 receive tht
teachings which have made the sfcstne'- oi tiio
Southern people. thtt nourlfllnE moihof 90
honor whom We ar assembled this evening".
IL is % this community ~ interest. or rNnor
should say this identity or interest mar am
Having tn. honor have determined 70 spcak
upon a subject which | deem of supreme iu-
portAnce 70 rs as the representatives, OF people
which having performed q work never eNcellrd
in the history OF tho human race. has never O.
cured for Il recognition and 4, m danger OF
passing into history not merely robbed or tlht
glory which Il is righteous due, hut lrtt
Though Ignorance resting under stigma which
unless removed must forever !!eAye. rs under
condemnation.
Ihave selected az the subject Of my discourse;
WANT or A HISTORY or TuE SOUTH.
This want shall endeavor 10 lay before you,
and 40 far a. / may establish the imperative de-
mand OF tho south for true history,
II in my exposition Of this matter shall ap-
pear 10 some b. present too sectional sud uu-
catholic view Of the subject [ pray them 20 re-
member thar am discussing section, AMI NOT
the entire Union. There Is sufficient material
in the history Of this young world 20 give 90
both the North and the Sonth enough 90 satisfy
even ayarice. Al ] demand is 20 accord the
south It's fair proportion.
Do We know the true history Of the south? /
confess that | DO not. nor do know where 10
may be learned When Phaon. the sophist, con-
suited the Oracle. he was ordered TO inquire 4
the dead.
HOY may this DO" said the yeoHle, seeing
that the dead cannot sp9ek? % The philosopher
turned TO the records OF their wisdom, and thorc
found the answer be sought.
II tho South to-day consul,ed the Oracle and
received this answer. whittier should she turn?
Her dead are yOiceless.
The elOQuenco which once reverbersiel from
one end Of tho earth % the other q now hn
echo, and tho wisdom which created narion H.
now the property Of every bcgsar who dares 10
assert claim.
so HISTORY OF THg SOUTH
Ina fow years there will BE- no South 70 de-
maud q history. What Of our history Is known
by the world to-day? What + our position In
history: How are Ne regarded. Here IS my
answer; Nothing or next 70 nothing is known
OF our true histOT-s by the world &C large. By "a
ms = Ina ~ a ID
founded on sentiment that the South was the
sristOcIauc section Of this country and that ~
stood ioI its rights, even with an iudefen'ible
cause. BY somewhat more extended elias, It's
heroisin is admired sufficiently 10 partly con
dono its hcresies But these arc small part OF
the public. BY the world ~ large We are held
% be All ignorant. illiteratc, cruel semi bafha-
rous section Of the American people. sunk into
brutality and vice. who have contributed moth
ing 10 the advancement OF mankind; race OF
slaye-driyers, who 90 perpetuato human slavery
consDired to destroy the Union aud plunged the
country into war. OF this war precipltatrd 10y
ourselves, two salisnt facts are known-ihat I'm
prisoners with barharity Libby Prison aud
AndersonYlle have become by-words which I'll
the world with horror
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. oF TIE SOUTH
The last act is in keeping with the rest, We
are paraded as still exhibiting encountered the
same vile Qualities untempered by misfortune;
as nulllfying the Constitution, falsliylng the
ballot, trampllng down weaker race IN an eX-
trsvagsnce OF cruelty. snd with shameless arrO-
sance imperihng the nation as much now az
when We went % war.
| maintain that this Is conciscly what the
outer world thinks Of rs, and. in the main. hon
cstly thinks Of Us. ! maintain that a. the issues
stand and with the record as ~ is az present
made up this Is what pOsterlty will think OF Us.
TLLUsrRATIOSs FROM HISTORY.
Let me illustrate from the history OF litera-
ture, where criticism, If anywhere, may be
assumed 70 be impartial
The EncyclopDdle britannica Is generally
deemed q standard authority. IL may be
assumed to be impartial on all American mat
tiers As any other authority. In is article on
American Literature" Vol. /, page ~ II SAYS
OF the south this: The attractive culture Of
the South has been limited IN extent and degree
The dollhouse fruit of wealth and leisure 10 has
never struck its roots deeply into native soil
Since the Revolution days, when Virginia was
the nurse Of statesmen, the few thinkers OF
outnumbered by those belonging 20 the single
State of hsssachusetts-haye commonly emf
grated to New York or Boston IN search Of Il
university training. In the world Of letters a..
least. the Southern States have shown by re-
fected light nor Is II too much 10 say that
mainly By their connection with the North the
Csrolnss have been saved from sinking to the
level % Mexico or the Antilles"
This payer was wTitten by person who signs
himself j. NJ and who speaks as an English
man,
II il he known TO You whore the true history
OF the South may be found tell me, / pray You,
that may drink ~ the fountain for which my
soul thirsteth and BE satisfied.
REGARDED Win INDIFFERENCE.
How many are here. in this audience who can