Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-06
Prof. F|SKE SCORED,
His History Declared to Be Unfit
for Use in Schools,
COOPER, EST|Ll, & LEMON.
The Grand Camp Committee Condemns
Their Work Also.
WANTS THEM TAKEN FROM LIST.
Mrs. Lees and DIR. Jones's Histories
Are Prafsed-Dr. SOutha1I and Mr..
Brent Speak for the state Board of
Education.
Education.

The History Committee of the Grand
Camp OF Confederate Veterans held an
Interesting meeting in Lee Camp Hall
yesterday afternoon, and after reading
reports from a number of gentlemen to
whom various histories had been referred
for criticism and review as to their
adaptabilty for use as textbooks In Vir-
ginia schools. adopted a resolution GEN.
surfing Fiske's History and the history of
Cooper, Estil & Lemon, and memorial
izing the Grand Camp to urge the State
Board Of Education to eliminate these
works from the list Of books now taught
in the schools of Virginia.
The committee assembled shortly after
3 o'clock. and was called to order by the
chairman, DIR. Hunter Mcguire. There
were present OF the committee DR.. Nc
CURE Captain Thomas Elicit. DR.. r. A.
Brock, Captain NJ. w. Lakewood, and
Mr.. Carter X. Bishop, of Petersburg.
Others present were Judge George l..
Christian; General Stith Boiling. of Pc
tersburg; Professor John p. Mcclure. Ma
ior Thomas A. Brander. DR.. J. w. South
all. Mr.. Frank 2. Brent. Mr.. Joseph
Bryan. Colonel r. H. Maury. Mr.. John 7.
Mcclure. Jr.. Mr.. NJ. NJ. Mcclure. Mr. Il.
Leslie Spence, Jr., and others.
REPORTS ON Fishes HISTORY.
The reports from the various members
of the committee and others to whom
books had been referred were read. The
first report, read by Captain Elicit was
that prepared by Rev. Il. ID. Tucker, -.
d.. of Norfolk, on Fishes History. DIR.
Tucker paid high tribute to the literary
features of the book. especially TO the
story of Colonial days but the record OF
the civil war. as shown in the book, was
characterized as biased and pernicious
and unfit for use by children. The South
the writer says, is made by Fiske to APP
pear all wrong in Its fight, while the
North is made 80 appear as having waged
a glorious fight against an attempt TO
destroy the Union. ut Is impossible for
child to read this portion of Flske's
History without seeing a sweeping criml-
nation of southern civilization, TO when
no answer is given" continues Dr. Tuck
Z.
friendly feeling existing between the
North and South now. and expresses the
view that were DR.. Fiske TO write his MS
tory now il would be fairer TO the South
OUR RIGHT TO CRITICIsE.
CAPTAIN Carter r. Bishop, of PETERS
burg. who was also asked 10 report OH
Fishes History. and he. after explaining
that there seemed now 10 be in the SCUM
-. ,it riG fr1O Of H.
ern writers. read his own report, in which
he inveiched against this and emphasized
the necessity for defending the South
against the many charges made against
il. Mr.. Bishop placed Fiske In the same
category with Barnes. Fishes HISTORY
he said is by no means safe TEXTBOOK,
and then. taking the various statements
made in the book, Mr.. Bishop severely
criticised those rejecting on the Soulh.
He controverted the statement that the
south was responsible for the slave trade,
placing the crime of importing slaves Oh
Old England and New England. Mr..
Bishop spoke outside of his report in en-
phatic language against the dismissal
with a foot note by Fiske Of the failure
of the legal talent of 'all of Yankeedom
10 make out a case against President Jef-
fersOn Davis.
DIR r. A. Brock next read a report pre-
pared by himself on Mrs Lees Hlslory'
highly praising it, and setting forth us
fairness to the South. He then reported
on FTske's History, severely criticising
the report of the Brooks Sumner episode
in the senate. and objected to the general
HAS aotuating the author. Concerning the
adoption of Fiske's History by the School
BOARD. Captain Brock said that Professor
Frank p. Brent assumed all responsibility
therefor. and he. in conclusion, expressed
the belief that the book was not SUCH as
should be taught in Virginia schools.
At this juncture DR.. Mcclure stated
that it had been currently reported tha'
Professor Dabney's committee had RECON-
mended Fiske's History, and he asked
Professir ]. Z. Mcclure If that were true
Professor Mcclure said that IL was not
and at the suggestion OF the committee
road the report of his committee, erit-
cising Fiske's History and that or Coop
er. EstiI & Lemon, and cNaracterizihg
tben as unfit for use in the schools OF
this State.
ELIMINATE FISKES BOOK.
Dr r. A. Brock offered resolution
uroinp the State Board of Education 10
oI,noinate from its list Fiske's History,
and at the suggestion of the chairman ne
omended his resolution, memorializlng the
Grand Camp of Confederate veterans 10
urge the State board 10 uiScoil'h"e ~
use OF Fiske's History In the pubic
schools and 10 use their endeavor to have
tho hook eliminated from private schools
before action was taken on this resolu-
ton CAPTAIN Lakewood read report |
suggestins changes that might be MADE |
IN Lees Brief History OF the uhited
states. with a view 10 contributing TO its
rhe resolution offered by DR.. Brock |
,yas again taken up and adopted and the |
renort 10 the Grand Camp, MADE by the
aos.roI,tee as a result of this resolution, |
was couched as follows;
..on motion. It was resolved that this |
after due report ana cohsider-
ton of the merits of the several histo-
rios recently put upon the list by The |
state Board of Education for use In the
nuhlic schools of Virginia, earnestly pro-
,as, against the retention on the list of |
Inc history of Professor John Fiske. of |
cambridge. Mass. and urge that the said |
bistorv he eliminated from said list re-
REPORT ON JONES'S HISTORY.
The report OF Hon. James Mann. OF Not
toway. on Joness History. was next read |
bv MIR. T.. Leslie Spence, Jr. This report |
pulogized the history. both as to accuracy |
II facts and attractiveness OF narrative
other historical stories were reported on |
md GRIND Commander John J. Williams |
submitted u report criticising Frye's Geo.