The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-20
UIe Wessenger.
ADMIRABLE REPORT AS TO
A SCHOOL HISTORY.


1t is a steadily growing sentiment in
the south among the old soldiers and
the men who lived through the great
war between the states, hat there
must be a fair, truthful, pains-taking
record Of the war-a bona fide history.
written with all due reference to facts
involved. It is not to be one-sided. It
is not to be a mere southern product,
setting forth a highly colored, sectional
account Of what happened. It is to be
a deliberate, systematic, pe~rtinacious
attemp to tell the truth-the exact, the
full truth. 1t is surely very greatly
needed. If it can be done it will be a
e. disideratum and a marvel. We do not
know who is equal to such a great,
delicate, most interesting task. The
south has nothing to be ashamed Of
in all the great fights from first to last
Turn on the white light Of truth upon
it all and only recorded honors shall
gather around" it's name. The more
the facts are known the brighter shines
the glory Of the south. The more the
disparity in u and numbers is
known to the world, the greater the
fame Of the boys in gray.
Let the history be prepared with all
due care and diligence. If the truth
lover can be found who has historic
talents Of a high order and a style of
superior literary excellence all the bet
fer for the reader and for posterity
At the great gathering of the vet
Grams in gray at Nashville, Tenn,
recently-a most interesting and heart
stirring event-a committee was ap-
pointed to consider the propriety of
having a really truthful history pre-
pared-a school history for the south's
children-so they might have the pre-
else facts n see in a just light the
noble and splendid deeds of the south's
warriors. The committee was compos-
had risked every thing in the troub-
fous days and upon the ensanguined
fields of battle. The committees re-
port was excellent and remarkable. 1t
showed elevation Of character and
genuine love of fairness and ruth. We
quote a little only from an elaborate
statement. They say: .t. ?.
Your committee recognizes that no
sectional history is wanted in the
schools of this country, and they de-
sire to ave no history taught in the
schools of the south but what ought
70 be taught in the schools Of the ma
ton everywhere. They would be more
than willing to have the facts taught
without comment if such a course were
possible. But they protest against the
presumption of those historians who
teach their own views as Gods truth
on all doubtful questions, and especial
ly where such teaching is of a nature
calculated to ALLEVIATE the affections of
the southern people from the nation of
which they are loyal citizens. The
historian must, indeed, endeavOr to
write the truth as he sees it. Nothing
is to be gained by a colOrless COM
promise Of opinions about matters as
to which the facts may be ascertained.
The teacher must also teach what he
believes to be true. For that very
reason it is not expected that southern
teachers will instruct the children that
their fathers were traitors and rebels.
and it would be a curse to the nation ii
they did"
No one can surely object to that. No
people could ask for less and no
brave people can refuse to concede all
that is stated. The south is not at
'.the m%ourner's bench" 1t did what
duty called for, and it suffered deeply
and painfully, but sacrifice was the
price it paid for homes conviction and
FOR the rights Of freemen. The south
is in the Union, Of the Union, loyal
patriotic, having accepted in the ut
most good faith the issues of war and
the appeal to the sword. Beaten by
numbers, the southern people
abide the events and salute the Ameri-
can flag as their insignia Of power, OF
restoration, Of liberty. The Die and
self-respecting committee say this, and
it will appeal to every just mind, every
elevated soul, whether he wore the
blue or stood by the north insym-
pathy:
'It is not to be expected that those
who fought on the southern sid Will
admit tina they were wrong simply De-
cause they were beaten, or that the
highest and noblest purposes Of their
lives are worthy of the execration OF
The nation cannot aford to
have the people Of the south lose their
self-respect, or the future citizens OF
that large and most promising section
of the country brought up wlthout mat
pride in their ancestors which leadS
to honorable and patriotic action. Those
who endeavor to undermine h faltn
of the southern youth in their ances-
tors, and to perpetuate teaching IN TINS
country which indicts a noble people,
an integral part of the nation, for trea-
son and rebellion, are the real enc
mics of the republic-the plotters
against it's glory, and the perpetuatlon
OF it's liberties. How shortslghted are
those who think it contributes to the
glory of the union soldier to make
odious the brave men they overcame-
Remembering the victories of both,
each army is made more glorious py
every Iced of valOr, every act or pure
80 ooncaorated herOism exhibited by