Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-13
nun Plan CRITICISED As UTTERLY
I,iPRACTICADLE. 1
FIVE FORKS ENGAGEMENT.
,,,yy INTERESTING INCIDENTS
.PHICALLY DESCRIBED.
THANKS 10 GENERAL MAURY.

,,i. Johnston Articlc-The stars and
Dc uars-Thc Liberty Hall Volun-
,eer.-A Roll OF That Gallant Col
Iege Company.
r., DE Editor OF the Dispatch:
ma ,fea started by the Chicago
add and seemingly approved by a
..tsrof papers. both North and South,
81, th.rs shall be q commission Of
r.rt.r and southern educators who
shall l.e. prepared. under their dircc-
t0- OH. subject TO their approval. a
school history Of the United States
,h.h l..l sections shall use. IS very
plausible and very attractive, ana would
d. uu.l trying IL there was a remote
Ily that .t could be carried out.
I.- H seems TO me utterly !mpracti-
ca many accounts. and that it
D. 3D. waste OF time to consider it. Let
a. iaas at The points involved in the
S..u..
Iae commission would have TO be
appointed ly some COMMON tribunal.
t.l dis The Grand Army Of the Republic
a. ur national eucampment" and
United Confederate Veterans I'm
convention
>'w tle Grand Army of the Republic
r have commission. which they
r--i last year. 10 employ u "histo-
Who should prepare for them a
orgy oi the United States for schools.
N.l should show more clearly than
- now in use that the South was "in
9-' that southern leaders and
t were traitors" and that Union
is and not rebels" are entitled
So test credit for proves Of arms.
t. aad herolsm." This commission is
ly 10 report 10 the next encamp-
10 which meets I'm August They
{ ploye1 Professor McMasters. who so
ia forgot his position and his rcputa-
ion as 10 undertake 10 manufacture to
order. q history that should defane
'troels" ana eKalt Union patriots"
ana az a recent meeting the commission
orted that they had examined the
-- OF the distinguished professor. and
q II fully meets the views Of the
Grand Army Of the Republic" Now
tOro are doubtless many O. \. r. men
G q few isolated posts" who do not
fovo OF this scheme. and who would
e against the adoption Of this "h.s-
iIy.' But there can be little doubt that
'-0n tho commission reports 10 the next
-uonal encampment" this report will
B. adopted 10y an overwhelming vote
tni all Of the machinery of the c.. A. r.
VII DC employed 20 circulate this book.
Would & not be folly then. TO expect
tHe G.. a. IL. 10 reverse their action,
taI agree 20 q joint commission which
should secure q book which would be
ptable 10 an sections?
Na The other hand. the Confederate
Veterans have had for four years q "his-
f'- committee" the object Of which
D. rot been TO procure the manufac-
tH NJ q Confederate book. which should
e'f Confeicrates 40 the expense OF tho
rails; or, indeed, TO procure the
writing o. any book at an but to Sc
JAZZ from histories already written, or
Which may be hereafter written. such
lks as Go not Willy or misrcprcscnt
the South. but which do justice to
O. ery section OF our common country.
l.l an periods OF orr history" This
nmlttee have already put on their list
IN histories, which meet the condi-
Tons they prescribe. and are ready 10
others shat may be hereafter pub
r. whether written by northern or
8 .lem authors provided they come
ur 90 the high standard which the COM
O. fes has adopted IL is not at all
i"ly that the History Committee would
willing 70 change its policy. or that
81 confederate Veterans would be will
Be-. 10 overture the O.. A. r. to 90 into
ta new scheme OF joint commission,
tal Joint history that should be ac-
Cd table 90 both sides
Eut suppose the c. A. r. and the
Jon Confederate Veterans should agree
t1 make the experiment. what would be
fhe reult? Whom would they choose
30 erge on the commission? The G. A.
j. would probably select their present
historian" Professor NcMasters who
has already written book which meets
their Vows" and others like-minded
With him. Tho Confederate Veterans
m <ht select Mrs. Susan Pendleton Lee,
or lexington. Va. or Professor Joseph
Vt. Derry OF Macon. Ca, or others
whose books they have approved. They
would hardly select Professor w. p.
Trent o. the University Of the South.
whose history" would meet the hearty
approval of the North. but would be rs |
heartily condemned at the South. whose |
cause and leaders and people and in |
fNt4aoas he has so shamefully misrep- |
resented and whose history he has mis- |
represented in style that would DO |
r''iit % Professor McMasters himself \
now when this commission met one
q Two things would occur Either they ;
Vould disagree so radically as TO break |
op 40 once. or else they would agree TO
o'miromise the truth OF history. so as
70 produce a book which would 20 neu-
.f'l nOn-partisan. non-sectional. color
and worthless. and satisfactory 10
neither side
The theory 81 the North Is that ours
''a consolidated nation" from the
lefinnIng-that the States had no rights
we as the General Government chose
o allow them. that there was no such
hnf as state sovereignty and the
eight Of secession" and that the war
vas The result Of a wicked "sGave- holders
,leIlon' against the best government
hr world ever saw; an attempt 90 "de-
Troy tho life Of the nation" and that IN
he war justice and right and patriotism
iumphed over injustice and wrong end
elelion, and crime.
he South on the other hand believes
nat We had a cOnfedoracy OF iudepend-
hl, sovereign States-a republic OF re-
uDlcs'; that each had right TO judge