The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-19
The Question of Text Books.

Iho Qu6SLlOn OF I9AI oOohe.
It seems that sbe Grand Army of
the Republic questions the thorough
patriotism expressed iu the histories OF
! the United States complied for schools
The writer's of these histories have not
beer quite williog enough 10 slap the
people of the Southern States-lately
included 10 the Confederacy, but DOW
absolutely patriotic Americans-in the
face. That patriotism to-day means
determination to refuse to the people of
the South absolctioa or forgiveness for
their effort to break away from the
Uoion ,birty-6ve gears ago the 9. A.
R. cannot apprehepd, aod that the
| writer of history for schools should for
moment fail to denounce in text books
designed for use 10 Southern schools
the fathers of Southern children the t.
a. r. regards as treason Twice 10
the present week the G. A. 4. has
been made ridiculous on this issue.
Professor j. B. McMaster, Que Of
Americas foremost historians. being
hired By the association OF we'll meao-
ing but i'll advised veterans to write 9
history of the United States. dis
credited his work at the very outset by
announcing that ii would be partisan,
and BY reproacbing Robert B Lee for
having entered Wees Point only to be-
come General Of the Confederate army
That Lee, when IN the Military Acad
nv, had no idea of the crisis (Which
would await his coantry We believe 10.
cortroyertibie. That be was oDe OF
the nobleet types Of che American citi-
zen-misled in moment OF bitter
Estrife-is. ne believe. not to be gain-
said. The history which describes Lee
ouly as traitor y which has no better
phrase for ..Sto5ewalp' jackson than
..rebel. y aud which. as the G. A. 4.
would have it, strives 10 brand the
fathers of the present generation in the
South as criminals in the eyes Of the
nation, is an anpatrio.ic history-a
book which will interfere with national
solidarity rather than advance it.
This new theory, suggested by the
ultra patriotic orders. that text books of
history must be written TO advance po-
litical ideas. is capable Of great and
curious development. Here. for exam.
ple, comes Mr.. Frederick Upham
Adams. of Chicago, with a story Of his
own. He feels that if the G. A. r.
should have history written to order
such eminent patriots as j. Pierpsnt
Morgan, John D Rockefeller, Andrew
Carnegie and George III. Pullman
should have ooe. too 70 a. spirit Of
the broadcast patriotism be promises
that there shall not be line in bis
book calculated to eDgender the spirit
of revolt or discooteos 10 The mind of
the most refractory child y We expect
much Of Mr. Adams's book. For
school purposes j: ough. to be better
than that Of the G. A E.. for real
ly secession Is not an issue aud descrlp-
tion Of Robert E. Lee as sneakiog
traitor will not affect the loyalty Of the
Southern people. though it may
awaken some question of the intelli-
gence Of the writer who thus de-
scribed cue Of the noblest meu ADD
abless soldiers fhe Upited States ever
produced. The real line Of attack
is that wisely laid ont by Mr.. Adams.
Il is time to stop exai1ing
mere generals and statesman 10 our
histories Lincoln was all right.
Of course. bus Why not have something
about the gentlemen 10 Wall Street
who we're saving the national honor all
through the war? The q A R. rep
resents men who fought. but let US not
forget the men who stayed at home,
gambled 10 gold. contracted for
shoes and for ccroed beef, and
nov aueer at persona who want pen
sions and iosi.t chat tie war could have
been fought more cheaply-in money,
10: blood If conducted on gold basis
LIST us bark back TO capsaioa of indus
try and make the bistory of the United
y