The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-22


Speaking OF Mr.. websters action on |
the "Ashburton Treaty" he says: by |
stubbornly refusing that right OF search. |
which all the maritime powers were ready |
to concede--worse, by denying the I'M
doubted right OF visit. the right OF Bril-
fish cruisers to ascertain that vessel
flying the stars and stripes. was really
entitled so to do" etc. Page IS, vol. III.
OF the Wing position on the Mexican
war. he writes But the Wings preferred
political to moral considerations, the in
terests OF their party to those OF hu-
mainly" Page 10. vol, ii.
The nomination OF Stephen A. Douglas
he attributes ito the reckless egotism or
one unprincipled politician" Page l55.
vol. II.
Such statements as the foregoing chosen
here and there. are what VIII prevent
this book from having the influence OF
history.
DR.. Robertson wrote In his preface TO
his History Of America: THE historian
who records the events OF his own time
is credited in proportion to the opinion
which the public entertains with respect
10 his means OF information and his YER
acitv He who delineates the transac-
| lions of a remote period has no title to
| claim assent, unless he produces evidence
| in proof of his assertions. Without this
he may write an amusing tale, but can
not be said to have composed an autnenuc
| history"
This. of all ages, is one in which every
| statement is questioned. A man Is not an
historian because his work is called
history. The authorities must be cited,
or else credence will be withheld.
| The preface to Mr.. Greg's book is fine.
He states the issue. But has he met 1t?
| The citations above show him in error,
or else our ideas of men and government
are wrong
There were kings before Agamemnon."
Because the characters of Davis. Lee.
! jackson Johnston and the other South
| ern WORTHLESS of our time have been truly
pictured is no reason why 1t is necessary
| to accept as history what reflects on the
| great men Of other generations.
| Because one-half of one volume con-
| tains statements based upon facts within
| the knowledge OF the writer. the rest OF
the work cannot be accepted without
question
II has been said that this is the his
tory that gives the Southern side OF the
great contest between the States clearly
and fairly, which is what none of the his
tories which have been prepared by
Northern writer's have ever done"
What is wanted is not the Southern
side. nor the Northern side, but the truth.
The South can have its history, and the
North can have its history; but the His
tory Of the United States is not to be
limited by latitude and longitude. II must
know no North. no South. no East, no
West
Mathew Arnold says: at is consoling
thought. and one which history allows
us TO entertain that nations disinherited
OF political success may yet leave their
mark on the worlds progress. and con-
tribute powerfully to the civilization OF
mankind"
The South ras nothing to fear The
cry for Southern history is well. Let the
facts be spoken. "A tree is known by
its fruit" The civilization that pro-
duced the men whore rames have last
| been mentioned, and the women who as
ISOLATED with them-that gave US our
fathers and mothers is in no danger Oh
being forgotten.
The South needs no apologist. We are
not called upon to excuse tfr ownership
Of slaves more than the rest OF man
kind
The coat-of-arms OF ore of The greatest
Of the English admirals was a slave In
chains Slavery has existed as far back
as the history of nations goes. II the ad-
vance of civilization demanded its ex-
tinction, 1t had to pass away.
The civil war was not fought to free
the slave. The slave was freed as a war
measure. This Mr.. Greg admits. Page
las. vol. H.
II Mr.. Greg had called his book "a
History of the Civil War and its Con-
SEQUENCES" the South would be under
much greater obligations to him.
As It is. his book can only have the
position of phamphlet, and he that OF
pamphleteer.
Mr.. Greg's forte lies in his character
sketches. But this very faculty is DAN
gerous TO the writer Of history 1t some
| times lays too much color upon certain
figures on the canvass, which may render
the general effect inharmonious and In
| congruous
OF Alexander Hamilton, a truly great
man, and one to whom Mr. Greg does
full Justice, he writes the following strik'
| ing sketch
I'm pride in stainless integrity, In
hatred Of corruption. in his dependence
upon lucid argument, in the highest KING
| of elOquence, on his personal ascendancy
| rather than on the arts OF the politician
/ | and party leader in his inability to fattel
| individuals or bend to the people. as II
| the precocious development, not merely
of eloquence, but of the highest powers
of mind in Judgment soundness oil
thought and thorough mastery OF th'
: principles and practice OF politica
e science Hamilton closely resembled tn
younger Pitt" Page %6.
r Another excellent illustration OF MI
| power In tnlS respect is VIC ueSNA 49,
, OF John Randolph. After describing MT
Jefferson's policy in the matter OF Louisl
2 ana and Florida, and alleging that TN
first effect of these indirect manoeuVre
= was TO revolt and disgust Randolph, wh
refused to do Jefferson's dirty work, de
nounced the whole scheme as shame
full mixture of bullying, bribery an
= blackmail, end quarrelled finally with IN
5 administration, with Madison and with IN
Q Democrats" he says: "Henceforth' N
[ stood alone; the scourge OF all Jopper
/ and intriguers, the terror or eacn party
e turn. veritable fanatic, a chivalrou
o purist, whose hayward honesty ana ian
n tastic honor none could trust; danger
e Gus enemy, and yet more dangerou
friend; a man whom everybody hateo
Z vet TO whom everything was perInltte
Z and everything forgiven" Page 396.
The following admirable sketch ]
worthy Of any historian. Though It's styi
, 10 somewhat cumbrous. its tone Is Jud
a cial. and its statements In the main az
Y cur3te: . -,
+ "The characteristic peculiarities
:. Northern and Southern civilization wer
: and still are, most marked In Virgin
and New England. These have the loht
|. est history. the deepest rooted tradluon
; and retained, down at least TO lSoo VII
). the least alteration the original feature
n of the colonial period.
"a az strange accident gave TO the cav
lier and Puritan emigrants OF the sew
l: teenth century, respectively coui'li
90 thafr aeyeral Temperament