The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-09


Dear Sir-ln accordance with the reso-
luton OF the ma ass-meeting or Confeder-
ate ve e-ans enuca.ors. and other VIZ
glniars. held I'm Richmond On the 18TH OF
Oc,ober last sou aDpoin,sc o committee
OF hve 10 select out OF the large number
OF school hs,or es OF the United States
those which In their Judgment were most
suitable for use In the schools OF Nir-
ginla. This committee mel to-cay at me
Hotel Gleason. Charlottesville. and. af'er
thoroughly discussing the merits and de-
merits OF the numerous books before
them. arrived at the following conclu-
sinn which thev now respectfully submit
for ycNr consideration. II will be wei 10
state first the principles ~ which they
have been guided In making their Sc
lecticns
In the first place. they have endeavor-
ed earnestly TO discover such histories
as are truthful and fair to all parts OF
our country. and have therefore rejected
any work that seriously msrepresents.
either by false statement or by omis-
sions OF important facts. any section,
stare. or individual
But. In the second place. II Is denied
that fairness and impartiality are synony-
nous with a n0n-commitial evasion OF
facts. The just and impartial Judge de-
clares the convicted murderer TO be gull
tv and proceeds To sentence him to death.
To avoid all mention Of the crime. and
to evade the duty Of passing sentence
upon the crimlr al would not be Impair
TALLY. hut mere weakness and timidity.
So the historian must report unvarnshed
facts sternly upanchingly, whether
they reflect upon section. states.
or individuals. when convicted OF
vices and crimes To cloak these be-
meath ieiune and ooorless ptraseo'ogy,
In order to avoid offence to partisan ield-
ers. Is a travesty upon truth. II would
not be mpartiality but either gross par
tisanship or luke-warm ignoring OF wrong
10 cone, al the talsehoods OF Charles |.
10 the British Parliament or the false
hoods Of VIM n seward to Justice
Campbell In regard to Fort Sumter.
Louis XIV is Justly condemned for his
ruthless ravages In the Palatinate. and
THE historian of the United states who
conceals the infamous conduct OF Sher-
man in Georgia is a conscious or uncon-
scious perveTter OF truth.
MORE AMERICAN HISTORY.
In the third place the committee feel
that just as It is proper for American
children 10 learn more OF American than
OF English history. 50 II Is desirable that
Southern children should study such text
books az treat with special funess South
ern affairs and Southern men. and that
Virginia children should read books in
which consider; ble space Is devoted TO
the history Of t.cir own state.
And. lastly the committee have aimed
10 select books that are interesting and
teachahle No bald annal'stic narrative
can interest child Dry bones are
dreary ghsstiv things and the commit
tee have preferred books In which the
skeleton Of facts Is covered with living
throbhirg flesh. nourlshed by warm. pull
sating blood
Guided then. by The above principles
the committee have been compelled 10 re-
jeot most Of the books examined and
indeed are unable 10 give their unqrali
fed approval 20 any They have. how
ever selected two books as combining
more good qualities IN spite OF some de-
fects. than any OF the others: and they
recommend these TWO for use In the
schools Of this State. Before naming the
authors OF these books however Il Is
deemed wise to state briefly the reasons
for rejecting n fewfof 'he others.
Although Barnes history Is a teachable
book 10 Is considered unit for use IN
Southern schools; first for the heason
that in both the Colonial and Revolu-
tlonary periods II magnlnes the achieve
ments OF New England and minimizes
those OF the South. while laying stress
upou Southern shortcomings and conceal
ing those OF the North. Up 10 the time
when the war was transferred to the
South that section had apparently no Sc
rious share in the struggle. Patrick Hen
rvs resolutions against the Stamp Act.
for example. are relegated 70 hne-prlni
foot-nOte while George Rogers Clarke's
splendid conquest Of the Northwest is not
mentioned al all. The numerous Tories
In the Carolinas are spoken OF but moth
ing said OF those In the North. With
respect 10 the subject OF slavery
nullihcatlon secession and the war Tor
Southern independence. the mlsrepfesen-
tations are lnnumerable
NEW ENGLAND SLAVE TRADE.
The New England slave trade for ex-
ample. Is not alluded TO. nor the ems ave
ment and sale OF the Pequod Indians. nor
the vote OF New England for the continu-
alton OF the slave trade TN 1908. Nor do
We find any mention OF the fact that for
hfty years New England was a centre OF
nulshcation and secession Ideas. Lincoln
Is eulogized while the character OF JEFF
fers0n Davis Is virtually ignored. Is
also the fact that he was put In irons by
General Miles and subjected 20 indgnl-
ties disgraceful 10 a civilized age. And
as for the war. no Southern boy could
gain from this book any true conception
OF the heroic struggle OF the South
against overwhelming odds
With qualifications. the same genera.
criticism applies TO the books by Alexan-
der Johnston and John Fiske and hence
IN spite OF their other merits. especially
the excellent literary style OF Fskes
book. the committee cannot recommend
that either OF them be employed 10 give
Southern children their FIRST Impressions
Of American history
A better book than either OF them Is
that by Charles Morris Closely follow
Ing Fiskes In numerous passages. II is
admirably arranged. and written IN 80
lucid style as 70 be eminently suited
10 the classroom. while the concluding
part OF the book on Stages OF Progress
In the United states" is a valuable fea-
ture not found tn other text books. The
author refrans. too from valihcadon OF
the South. But he also suppresses truths
which Southern children ought 20 know.
ard makes not few gross mls-statements
OF facts All he says. for example. OF the
treatment inflicted upon Jefferson Davis
after his capture Is this. HE was i'm
prlsoned in Fortress Monroe but was
finally set az liberty without trial
Nothing Is said 10 indicate that there
was anything improper In the destruction
OF supplies by sherman. whose ia
nous (not nfamous) march TO the sea
is called "one Of the most remarkable
feats In modern military history" The
double dea ine ~ Seward IN rerard TO For
Sumter IS. Of course. suppressed. while
the amazing assertion Is made that John
Browns raid rot only met with little