The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-09
THE SOUTH AND ITS HISTORY

l..
lowing paper. read before tho Robert Il. Leo
Chapter OF the Daughters at the Ccnfedcrncy
by Miss Adclia A. Duncvant, historian OF tho
the other members that they bcegcd permits
sion to give others the pleasure OF reading Il.
which was kindly granted,
l desire to present for your consideration
what, In my opinion. should be the recognized
nucleus from which all our work. of what
ever nature. should procccd--it Is the vindi-
cation OF the principles for which the South
fought That vindicaton should be the Romc
firmly ixed alcft--frcm which all lines OF
work divcrgc
There could not be moro hitting cscmpii.
fnatlon Of our reverence for those principles,
thnn Is found In the proposed erection OF a
lives IN defense OF those principles In that
labor vital principle brcathcs, and We al
most invest wood and mortar with voice.
which seems to say TO the worn veterans Of
immortal fcids; Come. rest! The shadows OF
declining day bid thee rest
This work material aid for Confederate
veterans. which Is, from any point OF view
commcndablc, becomes for us an cnnohlns
uplifting wcrk. ~ We enter upon It with t,,a
proper sentiments. 1t Is the means by which
we fulnl sacred obligation. not the opr
portunlty Tor ConYcrrluH u ucnVuts ino ola
soldiers arc not tho bcnSf,ciaries OF their own
courage and hcroism-we are. In thinking
OF them, we too often witness only Apno-
lnattox, and fail to behold Manassas and tho
Wilderness. We see scars and hcartbrcaks,
but will not perceive the hand that dealt the
blow. Those old soldiers stand like weather
beaten rocks on storm dashed, deserted
shore. where occasionally birds OF spring
aiiEht. awakening echoes TO their happy
notes, hut soon those birds ecck brighter
fields, and the time-searrcd rocks are loft to
listen to the rolling oil tho ages Which, think
you the grander--the rocks or the birdss
But material aid Is not our only work. Az
principles are far-rcaching, no alsn ARE our
lines of duty.
Before proceeding further. however. It Is
necessary To refer 20 certain popular error.
the removal OF which Is essential TO your
thorough comprehension and unreForved In
dorsenient OF my views
Tho error referred to Is that when the
South laid down her arms at Appomattox abe
also surrendered her political principles.
Never was n greater mistake! We must bear
IN MUD that principles arc born OF the soul,
and are. therefore, like the soul immortal.
Az long MS tho animal predoniinatoa over tho
spiritual IN this world, Just SO long viii mat
ter triumph oycr spirit. Aud that explains.
In one word. The so-rallod triumph or tho
North. IL was a triumph OF matter over
snirita triumph OF tina physical force OF
shot and shell. But Il was not, repeat, tho
destruction OF principIc-~that In impossihlo.
The unseen can not he destroyed by the eecns
The intangible by the tangible. GraviiRtlon
seen; wo only sec their results; yot they have
for. agcs survived the wrecks md destruction
OF matter. Let us not hold the opinion that
the South " dead and thorohy uGconseiousIy
glorify force, and npotheosizc brutality. Such
ideas are n royorsionary tendency towards
the harbarisins Of the Middle Agoa.
There are four agents through which the
South can be indicated They arc: Tho
home, social life. tho schools and literature.
The third In my list tho schools) have of
iato received general recognition from AN
awakening South, MS potent factors In mold
ing the opinions of tho chidrcn Of our land.
but nh. that influence is small compared with
that OF the other three-the home. social life,
literature
And greatest In It's power for good or OWL IL
the home. IL Is there the seeds Of thought are
sowu, sinking deep IN The tender soil. II IL
thore that reason takes Its hfst etcp, IL IL
there that Is first asked the why and tho
.'hown That sacred institution home--is
gradually losing its haiiowcd associations. the
hres on its altar burn low aud dim. 1t looks
az though the past had stepped out and the
present come IN Tho old South has indeed
passed out OH mothers OF the South, a
greater Influence ics with you than In all tho
books of the public schools:
III eyer 4 n noble thought conceived.
II ever was tossed about and yot believed.
II ever skin OF touch was given mo
To wake the t1neful string to harmony,
need not dwell upon the impress that So
ciai NE and custom make upon paople's
history. In looking over the world lis history
We ind that IL In the customs Of n peopIe
that make history. II ia not from the forum
or from loeialativo halls that war proceeds
but from homes and social customs juno
not Minerva WAS the mother OF Mars aud OF
Vulcan. Grand ana also fearful lis the power
OF woman. She II liz who wiclds the scoptrcs
OF the world, but let her weld it in her homo.
nat from the house tons lot her voice he
heard IN the councils OF home, not from tho
forum not from the ballot box Let lis walk
IN the old, well trod beautiful home paths OF
our mothers and grnndmothors Let us bs
southern.-not American women This much
We onn do, IL nothing more
In regard to the selection OF histories to DO
used IN the public schools--thera again liz ra.
auirod the ,nothor'a close scrutiny, aud
doubt not that tho result OF her inyoHiiga-
lion would find willing expression through
our legislators.
critical, unprecedented Investigation
should. think, be the essential condition OF
acceptance or rejection That the author is Il
southernor should not secure unqiostioned
indorsemant OF a history Under six Flags"
Is not history that would tend 10 foster rev.