The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-27
TH1T N1UGHTT SCHOOL HTSTORY

which the Cleveland Post g.. \. X. Com
! dcmns-The Author Not All Surprised.
Editor Of Tho Times:
Sir.-I read with interest your editorial
I'm your last Tuesdays issue on "Imitat-
| ing Folly" and while l have not seen the
exact text Of the Cleveland dispatch
your reference to IL leaves little doubt
that ~ certain history published By a
! Baltimore firm and used all through the
| South" which the Cleveland Grand Army
| Post denounces. as "rabidly partisan
! is aone other than the school History
! of the United States" which ! have had
the privilege Of writing. and which Is
published By X. II. Woodward Company
Baltimore. / cIre nothing, Of course.
for the denunciation OF this Cleveland
Post of the g. a. r., especially as l do
not know whether IL is controlled by
those who were real soldiers. or by camp
followers whom Ben Iill 50 aptly char
acterized as invisible in war and in
vincible IN peace"
II the book il "rabidly partisan" IL is.
Of course. all wrong and ought not to
be used IN Southern schools. But who
is 10 judge of the question; Is not This
deliverance of the Cleveland Post but
another illustration of tho old theological
saw: Orthodoxy is my doXy and hereto
doxy is somebody else's doXy?'
But the only proof given Of the truth
Of the charge so far as you quote II.
is that: THE Southern generals are all
oulOgized and the book says that Jeiier-
son Davis was second 10 none as a pa
friot and that his name should be TeVer-
end by his countrymen.
NOW 1 most emphatcally plead guilty
10 this charge.
The book is intended to do justice 10
q uR
tory has ever done-and to give her the
place to which she is entitled IN Colonial
times. the American revolution, the civil
history of the country the war of 1872.
the Mexican war, and the war between
the States.
do rot eulogize Southern Generals,
show that jefferson Davis and his fol-
lowers were true patriots, and seek TO
teach our children that the real heroes
of '6l-'CJ-the men whom they should most
admire and initiate were NOT Abraham
Lincoln, l.. 5. Grant, ". y. sherman,
Phil sheridan and +. Butler, but JEFF
ferson Davis. Robert Edward Lee Albert
Sidney Johnston. StoneWall Jackson, j.
T. g. Stuart and the patriot heroes VINO
followed them TO an immortality OF iame.
l have honestly tried TO 90 justice TO
every section OF our common country,
and hold myself prepared 10 correct
promptly any historic errors which the
G.. 4. K. Post at Cleveland or anywhere
else may point out 10 me.
But if il is "rabidly partisan 10
tell the truth. and to bring out clearly
the part borne by the South in making
American history, tnen l fear that 1 must
live and die "rabid partisan
/ am happy, however, to state that
large number Of competent critics 90 not
agree with this Cleveland Post. Not only
has the History Committee" (of when
General s. u. Lee is chairman ana the
United Confederate veterans, and the
GrandCamp Of Virginia. and the press OF
the South generally. and hundreds or our
hest teachers and most prominent men in
an Of the Southern states. strongly en-
dorsed the lookout it has received from
Northern sources an endorsation which. l.
confess. had hardly expected. VIII You
allow me 10 make brief extracts from
several Of these notices?
The Intcr-Ocean. Chicago. says that the
book Is fair, clear and pointed ana from
"a literary standpoint admirably written.
The Christian Herald Of Detroit Mich
closes q long and very favorable review
hv SAYING. Taken as wholc. the
book Is am eminently fair statement from
"a Southern point OF view. Of the event
fill history of the United States Of Amer
events preceding and the great struggle
itself. can be dispassionatcly studied.
This volume. with it's wealth or data.
excellent arrangement. fairness OF tone
and breadth OF view. might well be
studied in more than the Southern
States. But. perhaps. that is too much
to expect just yet. Get the book. and
give il a reading. for the sake Of the
new information 10 be gained"
The Minneapolis Tribune says. This
new history has az least one advantage
over the textbooks I'm common use. In
considering the Civil War and other mat
tiers on which the North and South
differed both sides are treated with
equal justice. and although the author
is Southerner, neutrality is preserved
throughout the book. As text
book. this book is equal TO. If not better
than most Of those in use. and can be
safely recommended"
The Syracuse q. y Herald. while |
deprocatng the writing OF a school his |
tory by Southern author at all. says: |
while no injustice is done 10 |
Northern readers. such as Lincoln. Grant. |
and Sherman, they receive scant men, |
ton compared to the fun measure OF |
eulogy bestowed on the leading men OF |
the Confederacy. The author evidently |
aims to be fair and honest in his state |
ments, but 1t is apparent that he still |
believes, and would teach others to be-
lieve that the Lost Cause was a just |
cause. and that IL was force and not |
right that ultimately prevailed. Never
theless he finds IL necessary 10 yield TO
Ne inevitable. and therefore accepts
the situation with candor and good |
sense. If Southern youths must |
have a special American history OF their
own to study no doubt DR.. Jones Will |
answer the purpose as well as. or even
better than. any other"