Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-08-20
The Truth of History.

The most important feature of the
plan of commemoration submitted by
i Mr.. Rouss to thee eConfederateVe Veterans
lis the collection of materials that
will enable the historian to furnish to
1.-THE world true narrative of the war
lbetween the North and South and the
causes that led to it. These materials
exist, but are scattered over so wide
an extent of territory and are in so
many different hands rs to make them
practically inaccessible to any one
writer of history. Mr.. Rouss, in q
letter to friend, has shown fully and
forcibly the importance of vindica-
ting the truth of history. He said:
tsShortly after the termination of the
war / became thoroughly impressed
with the Importance of the South TAX
king up the work of yindication. l
saw that Northern writer's, imbued
with partisan feelings, stimulated by
sectional animosity and posing as
historians, were falsifying history
that they were misrepresenting the
causes that forced the South to take
up arms and the manner in which she
had sustained the conflict; that they
were reviling our domestic institu-
tions, impugning the courage and
devotion of our soldiers, making our
trusted leaders the object of malig-
nant abuse and were utilizing the
text books of the schools to mislead
and debauch the minds of the young.
saw that these misrepresentation
and slanders, propagated over wide
field and without correction, were
being accepted as facts"
This statement of Mr.. Rouss is not
too highly colored. In Canada and
in the Northern States, thistory as
taught in the schools generally, is
travesty on truth in so far as it relates
to the Confederate war. In some of
the schools of the South, to the shame
| of those charged with the selection
of text books, it may be said that
the IS history taught cannot but
impress the children that their faith
ers were wanting in all qualities that
constitute virtuous, honorable and
patriotic citizenship.
Thoughtful men throughout the
South are giving much attention to
the vindication of Confederate his
tory and are cooperating with Mr..
Rouss in his noble and patriotic
efforts to secure it. The following
letter from that gallant and accom-
plished soldier, Gen. S. O.. French,
will be read with much interest in
to the veterans recently assembled
in reunion at Houston, Texas:
WINTER PARK, FLA,
May 16, '95.
Comrades II have been request
ed by a comrade of high character
and active benevolence, and who
feels an abiding interest in your vel
fare-Charles Broadway Rouss OF
New York CIty-to address you
communication, in the event of my
not being able to be with you on this
occasion in Houston, setting forth
therein the Importance of the Nation
al Memorial Association as deposit
tory of records that will enable the
historian to write a truthful narra-
tion of the late war and the causes
that led TO it,
What is called history-unless it
be a faithful record of facts-is
merely fiction. Therefore the his
torian must have facts and truthfully
relate them. Now besides the known
war records, there are many facts.
events and occurrences of local
character, not reputed, that are
scattered over the earth in the pos
session of our camps, that could be
col lected. There are in the posses
sion of various historical societies
especially those af Richmond, Savan-
lnah. Atlanta, Louisville and New
OrIeans-documents. orders, let
lters. articles written by eminent
| officers on the war and diaries. All
these should be deposited, by some.
special arrangement, in the Memorial
Building, wherever located, where
access can be had to them We may
rest assured no writer will take the
| trouble to visit all these societies in
quest of information; therefore in
Justice to ourselves and TO our pos
terity we should collect them all to-
gether for use If we expect the full
measure of our deeds TO be recorded.
Scattered, they are lost !; unused they
are of no avail collectively they will
live and be useful. But this implies
building for their preservation, and
q plan for the construction of such
building has been presented TO you
4 in which every veteran can have a
share in it. Let this be done.
The causes of the war are not so
tangible as the war itself, but If it be
kept in mind that the principle of re-
sistance IS inherent in all forms of
government. that will partly enable
the historian to discover the causes.
A monarchial government is founded
on resistance. In n republic resist
ance is legal when the compact is not
! observed by the government.
Reference should have been made
: TO museum connected with the Me
mortal Building, where portraits
j paintings, relics and objects of inter
est will he preserved and the build
ings and grounds will be the place