The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08

OHF u36tOFy ycxUsu9SHN tuos sue
several chapters offer suitable prizes
for the best essays on subjects relat
ing to our great Struggle.
A recent review of Goodwin
Smiths popular school history. By
an Ex-Confederats. has brought thi.
important subject before the South
ern reading public / make fe"
extracts from the criticisms of an Ex
Confederate to give emphasis to the
whole subject. The extracts viii
abundantly justify. the reference
here make to the study. of Confeder'
etc history ! quote from the pam
phlet of the ex Confederate
.sThe United States history which
to-day enjoys the widest circulation
and the highest fame is the recent
work of Goodwin Smith. Doctor o1
Canon Law and Professor of the Hu
manities, Toronto, Canada.
.'South Carolina, he says, made he,
start BY combining buccaneering
with slave. owning. and utilized he1
ports by making them shelter fol
pirates and corsairs such as Capt.
Kidd and Blackboard.
Georgia he deals with more len
ienhy. Her people were not dis
tinctly criminal. but just languidly
and iazily vicious, shiftless, drunken
and beggarly.
..But Virginia seems to be his es-
pecial aversion. Z Her first
settlers were an unpromising lot,
lackeys, beggars, broken down gen.
tlemen, tapsters on. of a job. <
To, the crew. of vsgabonds were
afterwards added Jail birds. Convicts
were offered their choice between
Virginia and the gallows. and some
were wise enough to choose the gal
lows" :
Treating of the Confederate war,
the pamphlet of an Ex-Confederate
makes the following extracts. taken
at random from the history he is crit
icising:
jefferson Davis, when captored,
was farcically disguised in woman's
clothes
..Slaveholders escaped military ser.
vice, while they thrust the poor under
FIRE.
Confederate prisoners were well
fed and suffered 20 hardships; = =
< if many Of them died it was be-
cause the Gagged eagle dies.
Guards pressed men in the streets
Of Southern cities, and conscripts
were seen going to Lees army in
chains.
.sThe Southern clergy were not
only ignorant, but cringiDg and de
graded.
AZ the taking Of Fort Pillow the
negroes were nailed to logs and burn.
ed alive"
If an Ex Confederate has not done
gross injustice to the history of Prof
Smith. the above extracts show the
grossest injustice and misrepresenta
ton on the part Of the historian.
The preservation Of . peoples hi.-
tory. 10 It's integrity. is the commemora
tion Of peoples chiracser.
While ouisivating sincere patrio;ism
for onr reunited country. With unfslser-
ing devotion ne cheriah aod hold dear
to our hesrts the memories and the
traditions Of shat Confederaoy Of South
ern States. on whose pure SHIELD i'm
psrtisl history viii verify the poss's
words:
..No nation rose 60 white and fair,
Or fell 30 pure from crimes"
But as I do not deem the study Of
our history the only duty incumbent
apoo us, I recommend that our chapters
devote more. thought aud attention to
the duty Ne owe TO our less fortunate
sisters. who shared with us che trials
sod sorrows OF the war. and whose
necessities plead With us now to share
with them in their poverty and dis
tress.
| have read With Interest an article
10 the May pumber Of the Veteran from
the pen of Miss Alice Locke. secretary
to the Ladies' Auxili.ry to the Picket
Camp, Richmond, Va.
The article IS addressed to Virginiaos,
but i. is. think. equally applicable to
ourselves. and | respectfully ask your
consideration of the following extract:
II there is anything in which the
Southern people have showo high
since the war it is in their
loyal response to every appeal and
every obligation growing out Of their
immortal struggle. You have provided
generously for the disabled survivors of
our heroic Confederate soldisry in their
deolioing years; you have built proud
MONUMENTS to the deathless dead who
a;od for no and von haze decked their