The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-13
oRrG.s HISTORY As A scHooL-BooK

I
this country from the commencement Oh
tho colonies down to the time when the
,ssras between the North and the South
commenced 10 take on definite snape'
r,t from that time to the present they
sre all colored and shaded in behalf OF
the Northern side OF those issues. 1t Is
in every way to be desired that our
youth should not be instructed In lessons
which thus dlscolor and distort the I'M
pulses and causes which led to the con-
duct OF their fathers In the most heroic
event OF history. The perverted and pol
soned notions that the young Southerner'
Mr.. William p. Trent, has put out to the
world in his life OF w. Gilmore SHINES,
very probably had their origin in some
careless instructor allowing his mind to
become innoculated by one Of these
Northern school histories.
The pernicious influence Of these books
| "a not confined to misrepresentation OF
| the causes OF the war. They do the
people Of the South positive injustice
in wholly failing to depict or give any ac-
count OF the terrible disadvantages I'M
der which they conducted their struggle.
and the incredible uranmity with which
the entire population cheerfully submit
ted 10 every hardship and suffering until
the Confederacy was literally frazzled
out. This element of the struggle, which
is the highest and noblest testimonial OF
all TO the character Of the people, North
ern school histories wholly ignore, and
our youth, brought up on them, would
come to suppose that the characteristics
Of their fathers and mothers, which the
war developed were of the most common
place and ordinary sort.
A radical change in this matter has
become absolutely necessary, and it was,
therefore, with great pleasure we recent
~ learned that the Committee on Teach
ers and Schools of the Richmond School
Board had ordered the purchase Of eigh-
teen copies of Greg's History of the United
States, one copy for each of the Public
School Buildings in this city. When our
youths read this most delightful work,
they will be correctly instructed In the
causes that led to the war, and they
will be instructively told of the hero
ism and valor Of those Southern people
who preceded them.
Mr.. Greg was an Englishman-an in
tense Englishman of the Tory stripe
and 1t is not to be denied that his ac-
count Of the Revolutionary war and
what occasioned 1t, is written from Tory
Establishments standpoint; but we have not
the slightest objection to the work on
that account, nor have we the slightest
objection to our children being thorough
ly drilled and instructed, while children,
in the English Torys view of the case.
That is matter OF the complete and
long dead past, interesting only as his
tory, and we want our children taught
all the views that are taken Of 1t. Their
developing lives in their native land
will set them right upon all his lessons
regarding the Revolutionary struggle that
are out Of accord with democratic pro-
gress. The Revolution was at bot
tom but the last struggle of young and
rising democracy against monarchical
tyranny, and, as far as English speaking
races are concerned, monarchical tyranny
is long ago ended and done and as abb
solutely relegated to the past as the
tombs Of the Capulets. Indeed, English
men are to-day more essentially demo-
Gratis than even the average American.
Controversies over the causes Of the
Revolution are. therefore, for all practi-
cal purposes. quarrels over last years
birds nests, which were Of great inn
portance to the birds of last year but are
landmarks only for those of this. We re-
peat, then, that we have not the slightest
objection to our youth being made ac-
quainted with the view which that des-
potic monarch George the Third took Of
the conduct of his cOionists. The lives of
these youths in this land of liberty will
very soon explain TO them that George
was a monarch and an absolutist. and that
his side represented despotism, while that
ferson represented the freedom Of the cti-
zen.
A writer in Sundays Dispatch attacks
Mr.. Greg's work as one totally unrelia-
BILE In its historical statements and per-
verted and wrong in it's historical conclu-
sions, but all that he has to say against it
amounts to charges OF such inaccuracies
as the Chickahominy being zone mile and
a-half north of the boundaries of Rich
mond city. when.it may possibly be as
much as three miles off, and "Virginians
with high-handed petulance signally con-
trasting with the patience and moderation
Of King Charles the First In the matter
Of Sir John Harvey" Heterodox as il
may appear. The Times is really and
sincerely apathetic concerning such errors
as these in a work Of true historical value
Hardly has any Of any historical work
been written that was not erroneous in
detail. The wonder is. that Mr.. Greg. with
his limited opportunities TO follow details
should have been as correct as he is. But
whilst The Time is utterly Indifferent TO
such blemishes, which are. on Mr. Greg's
work, like moles on the face of a beauti-
full woman-they only bring out the beauty
in stronger relief-it has a deep. a living
and quick interest in the prime motive
that inspired MIR. Greg when he was
penning the history of our efforts and our
achievements. The Times percelves that