The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-15
SCHOOL HISTORY
IN THE SOUTH
CONTINUED from Fifteenth Page

the glory ana tne Dtduly' NH' DNs'''.N' ~
blurred Admitting that such a style Is
suitable FOR school histories. ii Is 10 be
observed that the sugar-coating Of pill
does not warrant our administering
poison. II may be that the Trojan horse
was a shapely structure, but within its
belly were concealed the enemies OF the
MORE SERIOUS CHARGE.
Mr. Fiske's style is liable 10 more
serious charge. The true historian tells
the truth "uncaring Consequences He Is
city.
governed by no feeling except loyalty to
the truth. There IL no experience writer
careful OF truth and yet in the habit OF
Weighing his sentences by his ear. who
has not fought many battle with the
temptation that lies in Striking anthesis
and rounded period We have few writer's
who illustrate this truth more forcibly
than Mr. Fske lie has not won all his
battles. Possibly no one Of his defeats
Is more signal than the utter overthrow
that befel him in that 19lst page we have
mentioned. No other explanation OF the
false picture there presented Is at all adj
Missile. n is scarce too much to say
that the rounded period makes the unre-
liable historian. Mr.. Fiskes history IL
Illustrates all the virtues and all the vices
that accompany that style Of writing.
II is not TO be supposed that the gen
tlemen who have authorized the use OF
this book are blind 10 It's Objectionable
features. The explanation IS doubtless TO
be found in the fact that they have adj
vised its use only for High School class
es. This must have been done on the as
sumption that the Public High School
boys are mature enough 10 winnow the
wheat from the chaff: already sufficient
" n no
proof against its effect, and do not need
simple textbooks. We venture 10 as
sert that the assumption IS unfounded; al
any rate. as citizens Of Virginia ana
Confederates, we are not willing to take
the risk.
ONE MORE POINT.
One other point remains The state
ment has been made and denied that
this book was adopted on the recommen-
dalton Of the Citizens Committee Of 1SeS>
Endorsed by the Grand Camp Committee
of the same year. However the impress
sion rs 10 that recommendation arose or
was made on the mind of any member Of
| the Board Of Education or anybody else,
we are prepared 10 prove by the text,
| and by a recent report of the same COM
mittee. that they recommended only two
| books-the Jones and Lee histories.
| The second book 10 be noticed. also
|
| commended by the committee for 1898. is
! the Cooper and ,Estiu history "Oue
| Country" The effective detailed criticism
of that work also is handed YOU I'm the
able report of Rev. S Taylor Martin.
| Like the last, this needs only
a general criticism rs a basis for the re.
| solution we shall otter for your adOp-
| ton. II YOU will read the Intro
duction" you win see that the author
! proposes TO write such a book az
/ win serve TO cultivate a large patriotism
and eradicate sectionalism. This is doubt
less Il worthy motive. But preconceived
! purpose I'm writing is the bane Of the his
torian. The great Scripture models indi-
| cate 10 purpose: they simply tell the max
I cd truth Reading the sO-cllled history
1 these gentlemen have given as IN the light
I Of their own announced intention. we
shall find that II has led them again and
! again so 20 present incidents aut0gOnistic
/ TO their purpose that the real truth IS not
told. Many paragraphs in support of this
! statement may readily be selected We
respect their purpose. but it has far mis-
lead the authors; SO that. 10 put it briefly,
the book is simply not q history of the
country.
CAUSE or STRIFE.
! The preconceiveo purpose tO write a
book That Will cultivate q large patriot
ism has led these authors so to deal with
/ tho elements OF strife between the North
| and South as 20 make Sc appear that no
| guilt or blame attached TO either party.
| that an differences arose naturally and
/ iunOccntly; that the war itself was the
| logical outcome of circumstances of
/ growth and development for which the
| parties engaged were not responsible,
| and that 1t was not the result Of any
such hostile feeling on the one side as any
! principle required the other To return
Ida. bal Inns DON
! has been especially made, and such para
! graphs as 4l6, $40, etc, for example,
| sufficiently illustrate our meaning. The
book IS clearly in error as TO some very
| important matters, as, for instance. in
| 900; but It is with respect 10 and in CON
| sequence OF the EFFORT 20 carry out the
| apparently cOmmendable purpose with
/ which IL Is written. that We are com
| PEELED to say that II presents a picture
| utterly Inconsistent with the truth It's
: principal errors thus concern matters OF
| right and principle as 10 which II Is Oh
/ the frst and last importance that our
children should be rightly informed and
| so they absolutely forbid Ns use ih our
! schools The book IS all the more per
/ nicious because its authors pose as south
! ern men. Such may be the truth, but
| they certainly do not teach the truth az
! history This sO-caled history does not
| anvyvEere mention the names Of Generals
| ESwcl1. Hin. Chcatham, McLaWs, NnecleI
| Gordon and stephen u. Lee. NOT ls
/ there any record of the pdttle5 or Ban
Bluff. General Lees West Virginia cam
| paign. Drewry's Blum. Chanuly, Shep'
| erdstown. Forests battle OF Murirees,
| boro Salem Church, Eweh defeat o.
! Milroy az Winchester. The defence OF
| Fort Sumter for three years, the bdtbe o.
| Trevillian's station, and numerous othei
| heavy engagements are considered uii
| worthy of notice by these Texas authors
| ,rhe AFFAIR Of the Merrimac ana Monitor
is misleading and inaccurate. Inc stoi ,
| Of the campaign OF Lee ana u AM Al
| 1864 Is a model of inaCcuracy IN TACT
| il h. difficult TO believe that such com
pilation could be the work OF southeri
men. ..- 1900.
Finally with respect to the lee and
Jones histories. They have been re-eN
amined by members OF the committee
| and while we sim regard them as m
hest so far published. we are glad q
know that new editions OF them haY'
been or are TO be issued, and We recon-
mend TO the authors and publishers sucl
| careful improvements In style and ar
engagement as their great merits deserve
A much Improved edition OF the first ha
/, | lust come to hand. We regard both o
ther, however, as insufficient for th'
higher classes in our schools and for col
, legiate use.
Accordingly we offer for your adoption
tho following resolutions:
Resolved I. That this committee, afte
due examination and consideration OF ~
| merits of the several histories recentl
mt upon the list by the State Board o
Fducation for use in the public school
, | 80 Virginia earnestly protests agdlns