People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-15
THE HISTORY OF GEORGIA.
BY Maj. Chas. H. Smith Bill Arp)S
REVIEWED BY TH0S. E. WATSON

HIS Il DOOk WHOSE AuJlOI GIdtlIiN IL w
be SO correct narrative of the
States history that it should be Off
cially adopted, and taught in our
schools :--as - Major Smith has
done in behalf of his work.
Inasmuch as The PEopLE's PARTY
PAPER is read in thousands of homes
where live the children who are 20
earn Georgia's history from Major
smiths book, we have felt it to be
>ur duty to our readers to Review
Me work.
It's Author is gentleman for
Fhom we have the highest esteem !;
Ind in pointing out the detects of his
History, we do so without any ill
feeling whatsoever.
The style in which the book is
written is charming. The sentences
IRE short, the words simple and as a
rule, well chosen.
1t is the narrative that fails.
In dealing with the colonial period
Of the States history the Author has
followed the accepted authorities and
has handled his materials fairly well.
1t may be doubted, however, whether
historian should invariably allude
to Catholics as ''papists, and to the
Chatholic Religion as "the papist re-
igion." The Church Of Rome is an
abIe-bodied historical fact and we
might as well treat it so.
Tie Revolutionary period is badly
handled
We admit that a historian cannot
deal too much with biography, or
dwell too extensively on details; yet
we think that an author who deYotes
space to tell Of the ransom of Cap
lain Stuart, and of the duel of Lach-
an Mcintosh, might say word
bout Nancy Hart.
We think that History which has
space to quote the lettering Of James
Jacksoas tomb at Washington, D.
c., might at least contain a mention
of Peter Early, and VIM. Il. Under
wood.
We think also that narrative
which commentaries the names Of
services of Captain Grant, Joseph
Habersham, Noble Jones, Archibald
Bullock, Col. Montgomery and But
ton Gwinnett, should have taken
some notice Of Col. William Few.
This Revolutionary patriot was so
emminent in character and service
that no History Of Georgia can
ignore him without being gravely in
error.
AS soldier he performed success
full service in repoIllng a British
attack upon Georgia from East
Florida; won q decisive victory over
the Creek Indians with the Georgia
Militia; and rendered periIous and
successful service in guarding the
State settlements from Indian raids.
AS civilian he reached the high
est honors. In 1880 he was a Con-
gresham: 1872 again appointed to
Congress in 1877 was a member of
the convention which framed the
Constitution Of the United States.
Ii was largely through his influence
That this doubtful instrument was
adopted at the Convention held in
Augusta, Georgia. Afterward the
Georgia Legislature appointed him to
the Senate of the United States.
Colonel Few is mentioned in Jones'
History Of Georgia, in Whites His
torical Collections, and in Stephens
History OF the United States. Even in
the Cyclopodia of General Biography
the name of the distinguished Geor-
gian is preserved, and his services
enumerated.
But in the "IIistory Of Georgia"
by Bill Arp, he is not 10 be found at
au.
In such careless style are the facts
gathered chat the author Of this pro
posed permanent Record Of our great
men does not think it necessary to
allude 10 such historical characters
as General Elijah Clarke save a.
"Colonei Clarke" and General
Clarke. . The sturdy old hero's
Christian name is lett to the imagine
ton, and yet he was such an aotiv,
factor in British and Indian wars that
in the general history of the United
States we can find more definite in
formation auc2t the indomitable
Georgian than we can find in Bill