The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-03-29
accept what { is satisfactory and
discard what IS Objectionable. Is


discard what Is Objectionable. Is
lit manly to fold our lasands and .si-
lently allow an thoSadvantagcs to
continue on ono side? ,a&,
1t is Of vital necessity that wo
should use our own United Slatos
Histories. Those who 1.-Two on the
othor side of5tho line can nevor toll
the, story ns3we understand it from
our standpoint. They have not tho
yeneratio OH for the horoes y il groy
which We wish tho boys md dlS%Sgirls
of tho Soitth to have. We,do not
intend to teach that tho Federal
RANKS composed the patriot army,
whilethe boys in groy wero rcbcls,
and fought for slavery. | heard "
teacher say not very long ago that
it made 10 difference what histo-
ries wn Neod, because tho feelings
of patriotism were ingrainod in thc
very nature of Southern children,
and that they wore taught it 50
thoroughly at homo that he folt no
apprehension about tho matter.
That doctrine might do if wo novor
mingled with people from other
sections. But SO long az our broad
acres and rich resources attract
strangers to our sunny cline, there
will DO opposing influences which
wo must bo ready to combat. /
would bo very far from depreciating
the value Of tho instruction which
our children receive at tho tiroside.
The fathers who learned history
upon the march and at the camp
fro, who took part in the blood
and carnage of battle, and the
mothers who waited in long sus.
perse and in tears for news from
the frent, will surely teach the los
sons most thoroughly. But the
generation who was a part of those
times is rapidly passing away.
There will soon be mono of them
left to tell the story, and how will
it be taught after that? What
would We know to-day of Lconidas
and his Spartans at Thrrmoplvln
without the records OF history. and
what might the records have been
if only his cnomy had been al}~W-
ed t" report the battle.
Is there nothing Of rho N."uit"r
civilization Of the South that w
wish to preserve? Dc Wo MOI ea.o
to nurtur" the warm vein Of pootay
which gI"ws in the Southern npart
to keep akindled the fire Of clu-
qucnce which in days gone by
thrilled the nations capitol from
Southcrn tongues? Is it natual
that cavaliver blood should be
made to run IL tho narrow chan
nc!s Of our own teachers. Let thom
be widoawako to tho strides Of pro-
grcss, and keep pace with our
Northern brothers, but let US novo
III the paths that suits us bcst.
Another feature of our textbook
should be to enlarge the study Of
English and to develop the talent
For o. l." ship and inurnalisrc
among rUr pupils that they may
perpotuatc the manners and Gus
toms OF our country. Tho home
life and the characteristics of other
sections has been given to tho world
by gifted pens, while little is known
of our people, except by occasional
gllmpsos, and oven these abound
in dark shadows. We have beon
painted much blacker than wo de-
servo. Let us find the remedy in
our schools where tho spirit Of
Southern life and Southern insli~
tutions is understood. When we
have put the pencil and tho brush
into loving hands, tender touches
and bright colors will make tho
canvas glow with q picture which
delight the beholder wherever it is
displayed, and those who now look
upon us with distrust and avor.
sion, will learn to admire our vir-
tues which have been distorted and
maligned.