The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-04
a Preiudfced History.


Some weeks ago. speaking of school his
tories and their treatment of the civil
war, we expressed the conviction that
Prof. John Bach McSIaster's history, or
dered by the Grand Army Of the Republic,
and to be written from the standpoint of
that organization, would prove one Of the
most unsatisfactory Of all the school his
tories. This conviction is now confirmed
by statement from Prof. McMaster him
self, in which he virtually serves notice
upon whom it may concern that it is his
purpose, through his book, to convict the
southern states and people of treason and
rebellion. More than that it is his pur-
pose to show that the southern generals
were not only traitors, but that some of
them, notably Lee. contemplated treason
for years before he committed the overt
act. In an interview with Prof. McMas-
ter published a few days ago he is quoted
thus: II want it understood beyond doubt
that in this history the great southern
generals in the civil war are not condon-
ed. Gen. Lee, for example, was a man of
education and came from West Point.
This military school is established to make
soldiers who will stand by the govern
ment. II Gen. Lee wished to destroy the
government he had no business in West
Point"
1t was to be expected that Prof McNIas-
ter would earn his hire by making his
history strictly partisan; otherwise the
Grand Army of the Republic would not
have paid him for it. But it certainly was
not to be expected that he would go to
such preposterous lengths as his interview
indicates The idea that Robert e. Lee,
during his cadetship at West Point, CON
templated the overthrowing of the federal
government is simply ridiculous 1t is
carrying prejudice beyond the bounds of
reason. Such a statement coming from
John J. Ingalls, upon the stump might not
have been so much out of place. Every
body knows Ingalls, to be an intense, fire.
eating. south-hating politician, and there
is room for the expressing of prejudiced
views upon the political stump. Indeed,
partisan politician without strong pre-
JUDGES would not amount to much But
1t is quite a different thing when one
comes to writing down what purports to
be cold, historical facts.
We do not believe that Prof. McIaster's
made-to-order history will ever amount
to much. 1t will never be regarded as au
thoritative. It will never become popular
among those for whom it was especially
written-the descendants of certain sur
'vivors of the federal army We doubt if
the federal survivors themselves will pay
more than temporary attention to it.
Prejudice between the sections is dying
out. In Kansas old federals are elevating
ex-confederate soldiers to the highest Of
fees within their gift The soldiers of
both sides are fraternizing and rubbing
out old scores. The rising generations will
demand truth. and not partisan state
ments, in their histories 1t is an insult
to the intelligence Of the men and women
who are TO come afterwards for present
| historians to proceed upon the assump-
ton that they can be made to swallow
| falsehood as history. 1t should be the
effort of leading thinkers OF both sections
Of the country, therefore. to slft error and
prejudice out of their works. and set down
only the facts. And we see no better way
to begin the sitting process than through
a convention of northern and southern
people interested, as we have said at other
times. Meantime it is of no use to pay a
great deal of attention TO Prof McMas-
ter's book 1t Is ephemeral