The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1893-12-23

AhCiC nIc bouc pcOpic WHO dpIcni W
believe the protest against the Ellis his
tory Is based upon hatred Of the south.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Some democratic papers seem to think
the discussion offers q good opportunity
to attack the grand army, that organi-
zation being charged with desire to re-
fleet upon the southern men. This Is
wrong. The Statesman will undertake
to say without fear of successful contra |
diction. that none more cheerfully con-
cede the bravery of those who fought
In the ranks of the south than do the
veterans Of the union armies. They
have always been more generous than
any other class of citizens to those who
were defeated. They do not, nor have
they ever desired to detract from the
bravery OF those who shouldered south
ern muskets; they have never questioned
the sincerity. the loyalty of conviction,
of those southern soldiers: but they do
insist that the principles which come
fourth triumphant from that bloody
conflict shall be recognized in any his
tory placed in the hands of the school
children. The strong men OF the south
to-day admit the soundness of those
principles, and there is no reason under
heaven why patriotism should be
dragged In the dust, In order TO cater TO
the lingering remnants Of sentiments of
loyalty to the false principles that pre-
cipitated the war.
| A contributor to the Rathdrum Post
deyotes several columns to defense OF
the Ellis history, and his communica-
ton well illustrates the error of all who
support the pernicious book. The writ
er quotes from many other histories to
show that they recognize the bravery OF
southern soldiers. There is no COM
plant against such recognition, and the
comparisons fail TO establish any point,
because the objection TO the book does
not rest upon such ground.
The writer seems TO have the right
idea as TO the principles which should
be instilled into the minds of the child
ren, but he fails TO note the fact that
there is nothing about the tone OF the
Ellis history TO instill such principles
The following quotations from his ID, l.
Gle will illustrate the error into which
he falls.
After showing that rebellion against
established government is sometime:
right, he says:
~Space will not allow us TO consider
the many historical instances in which
this is illustrated; therefore we mus
confine ourselves 10 the one before us
the rebellion in the United States.
, And we have arrived at the line o
demarcation between tina; great confiic
and the revolutionary war. The latte
was waged in the cause of liberty ant
light. the former in that of human slav
cry and darkness. One was just, III
other unjust. One was for human
, rights. the other for vested rights in hu
, man flesh and sordid gain, and hereil
lies the crime.
"uur children should be taught, no
that rebellion in itself is a n crime, bu
that when used in an unrighieous caus
|. IL becomes So That the great rebellio
in the United states was, for this reason
, one Of the greatest crimes in history
In closing his article, he uses the TO
: lowing language:
THAT the people Of the south tough
brayely. the world knows. and it is n
part Of patriotism to denyit. That the
= displayed their valor and shed their bloc
:, In an unrighteous cause firmly believ'
= Il cannot find that Ellis history an,
= where teaches that their cause was jus
. and with our great captain who fougl
;. and won the good fight, | say, Let
!. have peace
/. These questions focus the controvers
II upon the vital point ofissue. Il cann'
} find" he says, that the Ellis histol
}. anywhere teaches that their cause W;
o just"
Il The Statesman asserts, again witho'
4 fear Of successful contradiction, that l
c. one can find tina. the Ellis history an
II where teaches that their cause was II
c. just.
The writer in the Pos. states the
bellion was one of the greatest Grim
. in history: and he should be willing
- admit that the tone of school histo
!, should be such as TO impress somethi'
= of that idea upon the minds of the chi
:. rem. This the Ellis history does not
:, II is so carefully balanced that it won
|, be utterly impossible for any child
- determine which side was right a
IL which was wrong.
- 1t is not asked that book be us
calculated to inilame the minds of I
youth against those who were in the
bellion; 1t is not asked that school h
IN tory be placed in the hands of the chi
o. rem rejecting upon the bravery of or
" character of those who, in the cause
as the south, intrepidly faced the storm
it shot and shell that swept hundred hs
IN fought fields; but it is asked that
A. United States history used by our scho
he shall be such as will leave impressions
rs. correct principles upon the minds of
he young to guide them into paths of
IT, selfish, patriotic devotion TO the flag
w their country.
DIS What would have been thought
ng days of our grandparents-what wo'
be thought now-of school hist