Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-29
The Walton and slavery.

IN trt NAHUM VI Niit -i'N ''NaN -
hostile review OF Mrs. Susan Pendieton
Lees School History Of the United
States" Exception is taken TO tie au-
thor's discussion OF slavery. ana the
questions germane 10 tiff the Brooks
Sumner affair. Helpers Impending Crisis,
and Urcle Toms Cabin NAV be so term
cd. The critic. after discussing the
authors views on these subjects. gives
the details OF two iynchings in the south,
and offers an apology for having 20 20
into such sickcning details. This Is me
summlng-up OF the objections 20 the book.
Making due allowances for the differ
ence OF opinion between the North ana
the South upon many important subjects
the question arises whether IN history
Of the United states the Views of boih
sections ought not 10 he given. The
critic may not agree with the southern
view OF slavery. but 1t is certainly
part Of the history Of the UnileG states.
Language therefore. appears strained
which describes the historians account III
the South's view OF Mrs. Stoves BOOK as
",he cant Of charging Uncle Toms
cabin" with being the medium OF SIAN
ders." "caricaturcs.' etc. The critic
appears viciousy partisan when he as
serts as reason why Uncle Toms
Cabin" was not an injustice TO tbe South,
that Lilburn Lewis. son OF Mr.. Jeifer-
sons sister. tortured. "a slave In Living
ston county, Ky. in III, and that IN
October. 1885. negro In Kentucky and
a negro in Texas were tortured by en-
ragged mobs
That mob-violence is always bad cannot
be disputed. Though such outragcs are
not confined to any section Of the coun-
try. 1t is well understood that natural
causes locate certain diseases in particu-
lar localities. The North has much cause
for thankfulness that a merciful Provi-
dence has saved it from yellow-fcver. and
from worse affection. while the Soueh
suffers therefrom.
That there is a criminal often deemed
'hosiis humani generis' by the family
and neighborhood is true. But one
may well ask why such matters
should be brought out in the review OF
school history. and may fnd no b~'ter
answer to the question than he may md
reason for the statement in the same
connection that Mrs. Lee would not
dare 10 print i'm an appendix Jenersons
arraignment Of slavery In his Notes on
Virginia ana that she would not ma
room for the authentic narratives OF the
lynchings already mentioned. An :x-
animation OF Mrs. Lees book vii! show
that "A want Of courage Is not chaTac-
teristic OF her work. but We think ire
crfic himself would hold such matters
as not appropriate TO a school history.
We notice briefly the other points Ioade
against the book. The reviewer says.
disingenuously. it seems TO one VINO
knows the history OF the South. that
Helpers impending Crisis did not
threaten the southern people with fierce
punishment" as Mrs. Lee alleges. hut
only the southern shareholders"
Exception is taken 20 the statement
made by the author. in summing Up the
Brooks-Sumner anair. that IL was
most unfortunate affair, and stimulated
evil passions everywhere tn objection
being because Of the statement ihat
il was most unfortunate affair not
I'm itself. but because it stimulated evil
passions everywhere May not the author
say. with the King Of Israel. soc how
he seeketh "a quarrel against me-,
our purpose is not 20 discuss the
merits of slavery. but 10 analyze the OBJ
jectons 10 this book and TO give the
southern view Of it. The Solr,h feels that
for the past quarter Of a century her
history has been either ignored or mis-
represented in the textbooks which have
been puf into the hands Of southern
youth Mrs Lees history has. therefore,
been hailed with delight throughout the
South. She IS beloved. learned. truth
ful ana fearless. and her book. upon the
authorities cited therein is considered
accurate ana just. Certainly the Nations
critic has been unable 90 assail success
fully any statement of hers and has been
forced to nnd vent for his enmity TO
the South by republishing accounts Of
,yrchngs. which he has taken from the
columns OF sensational northern papers.
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