Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-01

helpec to create. They Would Id.n
OF American institutions. and their won.
derfui development The great work OF
the South as factor IN building nns
United Ststes and In devsIoe'n wgou ND be
traced by sympathetic pens: Southern
indifference TO history would be cured.
and the South would assume In me
writing of American history the pace
which IL has always borne In the making
Of American history.
IMPROVEMENT IN TEACHING.
H. Your committee note with much
pleasure the recent Improvement In teach.
ing American History in our scnoots No s
only In the South, but all over the Oniteu
States. the relations between the sec'lons
seem to be better understood, and are pre-
sented by teacher and textbook IN
more patriotic and philosophic spirit. we
believe that the time Is approaching wheh
a textbook which. In a partisan spirl,.
injustice to any section, Will be exciuaeo
from the schools OF every section Of the
United States; and the lesson VIII De
taught by the teacher and learned by the
pupils that the patriot who loves MS
country must be Just TO all It's sections.
and this lesson will be the ecno OF puonc
sentiment.
Meanwhile since the effort has been
made to fost upon southern schools text
books partisan in spirit or derogatory OF
the South, or ignoring those facts OF
which the South has a Just right TO be
proud, We must do our duty in warning
our people to exclude them from our
schools. We go further, and denounce
them as unfit tor the schools OF any sec
ton of the United States.
III. A gratifying sign OF the CROWN OF
historical research and historical taste In
the South Is the development OF state
history. Several excellent state histories
have recently been published Tor the use
OF the general reader
Many of the States have introduced INTO
the curriculum of their schools the SUBJECT
OF State history. as one OF the regular
branches Of study. In several OF the
States two or more State histories nave
been prepared for the use OF the schools.
This work Of cur educators, together with
the praiseworthy. but somewhat spas
modic, efforts OF State historical societies
is doing much TO stimulate historical taste
and research.
CONFEDERATE WAR HISTORIES.
". Passing from the consideration OF
books intended for use in schools and col
leges. and covering the whole period OF
United States History your committee
came to an examination OF the recon-
mendaton inviting competent authors 10
prepare Historic of the Confederate
War, It's Causes. Character, and Conse-
quences." We find that this recommended
ton, also, is meeting with response.
In addition to the able work Of Hon. j.
l.. NJ. Curry. which was published soon
after your committees first report. and
TO which allusion was made In the second
report, other works are In preparation.
Among these is an extensive work. which
is now in course Of preparation, called
Confederate Military History" written
exclusively by southern men, who were
actual participators in our struggle for
separate government Ii Is proposed TO
issue the publication in twelve or more
volumes, In library form. containing many
general chapters on main Confederate
questions. as well as the general history
of the Confederate era; but also embrac-
ing the separate military history OF each
of the Southern States during the war, In
GLIDING the border States. The library Is
designed TO be a trustworthy record OF
events. as well as a strong presentation
of the southern principles upon which Sc
cession was based and coercion resisted.
The character and ability of he writers
are O guarantee that the contents VIII
be satisfactory, and in addition thereto
the manuscripts OF the chapters will pass
through the hands Of the selected editor,
General Clement A. Evans, and will be
also submitted to members OF the Histori~
cal Committee before reaching the print
ers. 1t is a publication which the Histori-
cal Committee has long wished might he
undertaken.
Mr.. ROUSS'S HANDSOME OFFER.
V. II is with peculiar pleasure that your
committee call attention TO a noble in
stance OF cooperation with the plans and
purposes OF this association. Simultane-
ously with the second report OF your COM
mittee, made at Houston, Tex, Comrade
Charles Broadway Rouss, a gallant Con-
federate soldier OF the Army of Northern
Virginia, and now a merchant prince Of
New York, rendered to the United Con-
federate Veterans generous donation for
the purpose Of establishing the Confede-
rate Memorial Association. The gratitude
with which his noble act inspires every
Confederate soldier is increased by the
delicacy with which he avoided the osten-
tation OF having the Memorial Association
10 bear the appearance OF resting solely
on his own munificence. He wished that
It should be founded upon the joint eff
forts OF all his comrades, and that all
should feel in II the pride OF ownership
COmrade Rouss has looked wisely into
the future, and has seen that our assocla-
ton must end before many years by the
sucoe ssiye passing away OF its members
he has provided the means for estab lish-
ing IN organization 70 take our place:
but he has left IT TO his comrades 10 give
| the movement form and shape; so that the
| Confederate Memorial Association will
| come into perpetual life as the offspring
| Of this association.
Our children, and our children's children.
\ trained by us 10 sentiments of patriotism,
/ will grow up with love and admiration for
/ the Institutions OF the United States-those
| munifcent institutions 10 which their
/ fathers have contributed so much. Par
\ takers or the prosperity which the energy
/ and wisdom OF their ancestors is bringing
/ to the South. they may come TO ask. why
\ did our fathers rebel against this glorious
government and they may listen 10 the
| perversions Of partisan historians. There
! should be, at least, one monument OF the
| Confederacy left 20 bear witness. That
| monument should contain the testimony,
and bear Ii down through all time. That
monument should be guarded by a CO.
/ operation which viii never die, and be sus-
/ tanned by a perpetual fund.
] Ia. q
! ISOLATION. to erect this Battle Abbey, and
! 10 provide II with an endowment fund,
/ the annual interest of which will be sufii-
Client TO keep it in repair and to Gus
tain tie expenses of a perpetual exhibit.
! Comra1e Rouss offered his generous do
/ nation. For this purpose the committee
/ appoin led by this association has can
yassed the Southern States in order to
oner 10 every southern sympathizer the
opportunity TO contribute TO this patriotic
| enterprise.
Your committee look forward with deep
interest to its completion, and commend
1t 10 the association as the most impor-
tant subject which will claim their at
tention.
\ CHAIR IN EACH STATE.
The results above enumerated, some Of
which were brought about by the recon-
mendations of your committee, am all
OF which tend TO cooperate with our
| efforts. encourage us to offer the follow
ing additional recommendations:
l. We recommend that this association
| take steps 10 urge upon the several Legis~
| latures, universities, and colleges OF the
| Southern States to adopt the policy sug-
gested in the two previous reports OF this
committee relative 10 establishing a chair
of American history in, at least, one
university or college in eacn State.
To this end, we recommend that this
| association make proper orders for ap-
pointing in each State or division, a
suitable committee, 10 present the mat
ter TO their respective Legislatures uni
versities, and colleges. and invite the
cooperation of the respective historical,