The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-21
Southern History.

The annual reunion of the United Con-
tolerate Veterans Will be held in Nash
vile Tenn. on June p. %. a, ana VIII
rrobabIv be the largest and most I'M
portant gathering the veterans nave ever
had Many matters of interest 10 the
survivors OF the Southern army VIII pc
considered. such as the care or disabled
destitute and aged veterans ana the WIZ
ows and orphans OF fallen comrades, the
formation Of united Confederate Vete-
ran benevolent aid association, the pro-
motion and completion OF the proposed
battle abbey, the best methods OF secur-
ing impartial history and the coihpHa-
tion and preservation by each state or
the history of its citizen soldiery. These
are all subjects OF Importance TO the
Southern people. especially the necessity
of securing an impartial history OF the
war between the States, which IS OF
gravar concern than the establishment or
"A battle abbey or the rearing OF monu-
ments 10 Confederate soldiers and states
men.
Many histories Of the war have been
written by Northern men, but, with one
or two exceptions the later histories have
not been fair or judicial, the purpose or
the writer's evidently being to show that
in all the causes leading up 10 the great
conflict the South was wholly In the
wrong. that Il was solely responsible for
the war and that II actually and eagerly
preferred bloodshed TO a peaceful set
Element OF the issues at stake. In fact
the farther we leave the war period be-
hind us the more unfair and one-sided
the histories seem to become, until at last
the eliminating point Is reached In a
reported arrangement by the Grand Army
OF the Republic 10 secure a textbook for
use I'm the schools which will be OF such
a nature that no Southern boy could
read 1t without inferring that the Con-
federate leaders and soldiers were trait
ors OF the deepest dye Such a history
may suit the purposes OF those who are
anxious to perpetuate sectional feeling or
who may hOnestly-but narrowly, never
theless-believe there was only one side
10 the questions at issue. but II should
not be allowed 10 20 unchallenged by the
people Of the South, who stil cherish
their faith In the honor and patriotism OF
the men who wore the gray.
The United Confederate Veterans
should lose no time in arranging for such
a history as will meet all the require
ments OF the situation. a Confederate
history IS not wanted any more than a
Grand Army Of the Republic history.
What Is wanted is an honest unpreiu-
diced statement Of the constitutional dir
ferences which led up 10 the war; fair
exposition of the views held by both
parties TO the contention; an unvarnlsh-
ed account Of all the occurrences which
ultimated in secession. and then the true
story OF the war. Such history is not
only needed FOR the youth Of the South.
but I'm a broader sense for the people Of
the world The final verdict has not yet
been passed upon the merits OF that stu
pendous conflict. but II the South has
not a complete history. which shall pre-
sent only the great truths and facts that
are beyond dispute. the final judgment
OF the world viii be based upon the ex-
parte works of Northern historians, and
the South win suffer a great injustice
Baltimore sun.