The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-11

good man for that that he would be
good man to write Southern history;
that he knew all about the Constitution.
We talked about that a long time. He
said that gentleman would be good man
TO write a history for us
Captain Cussons: a school history.
The witness: Yes
PASSAGES AT ARMS.
Captain Cussons: Oh, dear no! never
said that John G.. Ropes would be a good
man to write school history, but did
say that if you could get man with
his spirit Of fairness and his knowledge Of
the Constitution and the causes that led
up TO that war. a history written by such
a man would be more acceptable 10 the
Southern people than Barnes ever would
be. l had no more idea that John c.
Ropes would do publishers hack-work
Of that characterize man of worldwide
reputation as an historian, the Secretary
Of the Massachusetts Historical Society,"
than that. CWitness interrupts)
The witness: ! am willing to accept
that. j am willing to take any state
ment you make as TO what you said. But
I cannot agree with you that for man
10 write school history would be hack
work The ablest men in the country,
the best men. and the purest men, have
written school histories.
Captain Cussons: grant you that Fine
artists are now painting signs on the
rocks. Men Of great capacity have writ
ten school histories. But still there is no
man here who would think that John G.
Ropes, the secretary Of the Historical So
ciety Of Massachusetts,, would leave the
tasks before him and dedicate himself
TO work Of that character
oil \ xKToc q
of Mr.. Ropes until you mentioned him.
and did not know the character of the
work he was doing.
Captain Cussons: recolect your calling
my attention to Shinns History. ! told
You that there were errors in II, and that
| did not think that the man had a good
grasp of the subject. You asked me what
sort of a book would be acceptable TO
the Southern people. ] said book that
will give the causes that led up to the
war, put in such shape as that child
can grasp them and that gives the course
of the war correctly. would be acceptable.
1 only cited Ropes for his fairness.
Tho witness: / will agree with you that
that was what you stated.
Captain Cussons. Will you please state
who that gentleman was that came with
YOU to my place at Glen Allen some time
ago?
A. No. never went there. You invited
me to come up. and l told you I would
do so, but I didn't go.
O. l am mistaken, then. DO you recol-
lect when that was we talked about his
tories?
A.. No, I do not.
O. I recollect now. II was four years
ago-as soon as was put on the History
Committee. | want to make the point
that Mr.. Womack is entirely in error IN
thinking that l recommended that his
house should apply to such a man as
John c. Ropes TO write school history
A. I will take your correction. You
may not have intended that but your re-
marks about his being able 10 write
good history and having a fair grasp or
the Constitution. and understanding the
question from a Southern standpoint
interrupted
Captain Cussons: Not at all from
Southern standpont-from the broad.
American standpoint. ! don't care about
his point of view. because he treats the
subjects correctly. Nevertheless there IS
"A bias which runs through his works
which he has not been able 10 shake or
a bias that would lead him TO stand by
the idea that this federation of States
was really a nation; that the principles
of Statehood really did not exist. Yet
he Is a man that can correctly interpret
the Southern idea. lie has breadth
enough for that. and simply on that point,
his spirit Of fairness, 1 mentioned his
name.
The witness: Yes. sir: that is all true
II was in that manner that You talked
on those lines I listened 10 YOU with
great deal Of interest, and called the at
tention of my house 10 IT, They told me
that they knew John G. Ropes and would
he very glad 10 have such man write
book. but in a conversation with me after
wards they brought out the idea that you
now say-that he would not perhaps
much business on hand. and they dis
missed the matter on that account
O. BY the Chairman. IL has been de-
veloped that nothing passed between you
and Colonel Stubs that could not have
occurred in the presence OF any man. Is
that your statement?
A. Yes. sir.
Q. Let us go hack to the point at issue.
Have YOU any further statement to make
on that point?
4. would like TO have the gentleman
that gave those checks recalled and ask
him where he got those checks from.
General Hundley: would like for that
paper to be read that was handed TO the
committed
The Chairman: have not read the pa
per. have you7
General Hundey: No. sir.