Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-02
Northern Magazines in the South.

The Powhatan Club of this city. winch
combines political and social features, mas
resolved 10 discontinue its Subscriptions
20 the North American Rerie1c, Life, and me
Century. Hereafter these publications VIII
not DO found on the tables in its reading-
room.
The objection TO them il that they are
constantly admitting TO their pages matter
which is grossly Objectionable and unfair
70 the South. This is the view of the club,
and hence nothing is left for 1t to do but
70 exclude the obnoxious publications.
The club is no doubt aware Of the fact
that now and then these and other like
periodicals give space to southern men 70
reply to mis-statements which have been
printed, but it probably takes the position
that the only way to cure the evil Is for
those editors who care to have southern
subscribers to read their contributors
articles more carefully and to refuse room
TO such as wilfuIly falsify history and reck-
lessly attribute to Mr. DAVIS and TO MS
Cabinet and generals crimes or misconduct
of which they were never guilty. 10 err
is exceedingly human. No editor, no pub
LEGATION. Is without fault but when we see
these magazines continually malIgning the
memory of our dead and disregarding the
opinion of the living it is time to ask our
selves il we are justified in showering our
patronage upon them.
If we are not to have southern maya
zine. If our reading public Will send Its
money North. in the name OF common
sense let us direct it TO sources which are
least Objectionable. Some of the publish
ers are less hostile to us than Others.
Let us, therefore. help ourselves by help
ing them.
For quarter of century the monthlies
of the North were absolutely closed to
and fortified against the truth as to the
treatment of the Federal prisoners OF war
who were held at Richmond. Salisbury,
Andersonville, and Florence. So persist
emily, so dogmatically was our enemy's
view presented that not few OF our own
youth were almost converted to the idea
that perhaps the Confederates had not
done their duty in the premises.
Not often was a word said in those widely
printed statements to show that while the
South was in condition of famine the
North was rolling in plenty; that while we
wished TO exchange prisoners the North
refused to do it; that while we fed the cap
tiyes in our hands with rations equal and
identical as to quantity and quality with
those that were issued to LEE ssoldiers, the
Federal Government pursued an opposite
policy and 70 stinted our poor fellows
held by them that to sustain life they were
often compelled to eat rats and dogs.
Very lately. and coincidently with the
discussion here of plans for establishing a
southern magazine. the Century opened its
pages to DR.. WyErH to relate the horrors of
prison-lite at Camp Morton. he told
the truth calmly as becomes an intelligent
mar who looks back from the distance of
a quarter of century, but those facts-so
well known as to be household words in
the South-fell like thunderbolt from q
clear sky upon the North. 1t had never
heard of any such thing, and hence came
general disbelief Of it. 1t was news to it,
and hundreds of poisoned pens proceeded
to denounce DIR. WYETH. His article would
have been unnecessary and no how'll
would have been heard if the monthlies
had published the truth ten or twenty
years ago.
We cannot expect northern editors to
view the war from our standpoint. No
BODY asks them to become our "apolo-
eists," for we need none, hut 1t would be
greatly to their honor if they would dis
cuss war questions and prominent Confede-
rates from a point of view which would
admit that our people who engaged in that
mighty struggle were not all fools or ras-
calls The way they have often spoken OF
Mr.. DAVIS is outrageous, and fires every
southern heart. He was made the vica-
rious sufferer for an entire people, and VIM
dictive writers now that he is dead are de-
flaming his memory-tbe memory of him
who was statesman of renown even before
the war broke out; whose lips were never
stained with falsehood; who never fought
anything but fair, open fight, end who
was an upright, honorable. and chivalrous
man during all of his four-sco-e years,
The southern people must take stand.
They should havea magazine of their Own,
but until that time comes (and it will
surely Gomez it should patronize the least
hostile Of the northern publishers.