The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12
\ NORTH CARROLL BOOK.

\ NORTH CARROLL BOOK.
Raleigh, n. c., Feb. 6.
To the Editor: A volume has re-
Gently been issued by the North Carolina
Publishing Society which, Judging from
its title alone. ought to find welcome
place in the homes of thousands in our
State. Lives OF Distinguished North
Carolinians" is title that catches the
eye; many, no doubt have long desired
well-edited collection of biographies
of the men of noble achievement
in our history But some dIsappont-
ment must be confessed in the work now
being discussed. While the volume COM
piled by Mr.. Peele certainly has merit
in that it affords easy access TO num-
Der of valuable sketches, the "lntroduc-
ton" should not be permitted TO 20 en-.
tirely uncriticized In this Introductory
chapter the writer processes to present
a birds eye view of the field in which
were cast the lives and labors of the
subjects of this book" But instead OF
calmly reviewing history and giving
clear and candid statement Of the great
political questions of the first half Of this
century and uD to and including the
civil war. we find what seems to me
to indicate distorted understanding of
the facts; there is much unseemly Grim
ination of the North and of England and
a due amount OF eulogy Of the South.
THE known world is divided; here is the
South, beyond are the barbarians) 1T
involves" says the author, IAN analysis
OF the character, influence and interests
of the North acting ON the South"
theory of Southern history is also indi-
Gated, a theory, which, in the light OF
facts and simple reasoning seems far.
fetched.
This bird 's-eye view" is partisan and
cynical: much of that which is said
is irrelevant to the matter in hand. In
the first place. why this long introduc.
ton A brief preface was sufficient Why
not let the Lives" speak for themselves,
since GEOGRAPHY is the only true histO-
ryY' But if the book must he intro
duced there was surely no excuse for
exploiting current political views, or re-
calling to us the campaign cries of GER
tain political party in the year A. ID.
1896. The Southern cry for an impartial
record of history has long been heard
in the land. but in this instance there
was a harsh and unsatisfactory answer.
The author of this introduction would
have rs believe that slavery was not
the chief cause of the civil war, but that
the war was about taxation. This is a
surprising view, for even the evils of
taxation may be traced to the conditions
imposed by slavery Why were the ear
~ tariffs beneficial to the North and OPP
pressive to the South? Because theI
North was a manufacturing section and
the South agricultural Why was the
North a manufacturing section and the
South agricultural? Natural conditions
and a more intelligent and Industrious
laboring population enabled the North
to engage in industrial enterprises: man
ufacturing was barred from the South
by ignorant, indolent slave labor. Slav-
cry was the very root of the trouble.
The system of taxation proved sectional
because of the conditions brought about
by slavery. See what bounds the South
has made since the incubus of slavery
was removed, and intelligent labor given
a chance Even Mr. Peele says that the
Federal revenue laws will probably
never again be the principal causing
cause" of war, because the manufacture
ing interests will soften the sectional
aspect of the tax" Slavery was what
kept his softening influence from OPP
Grating for many years.
1t seems plain that the war was pre-
cipitated by the aggressiveness OIL
Southern leaders in their efforts to Sc
cure statutory protection for slavery. 1t
is unfair to point out only ''the charac-
ter. influence and interests of the North
acting on the South" there We're also
the influence, character and interests of
the South acting ON the North and West.
Again the National idea" had grown
more rapidly in the North than in the
South; this difference was also due large |
ly to slavery.
am a Southerner and love tho South;
some of my family's blood was split in
1ense OF the principles so periodically, |
conscientiously and heroically espoused. !
But the South was cursed from The first
with slavery. While the responsibility |
for the beginning of it was not more with |
her than with the North, yet, in the |
natural course of things slavery became
the South's peculiar and gigantic burden.
In shaking the monster of the South |
suffered most, but all suffered.
1t is a late day to start new theories
of the cause of the war; the time has
passed when the boys and girls should |
be taught narrow, prejudiced views OF
historical facts. Especially out of time
is the tone and spirit OF this introdhc-
ton to Lives of Distinguished North
.Carolinians."
Let the youth of our beloved State
catch inspiration from the high achieve
ments of our great ones as recorded IN
this volume, but let them take true
and broader view OF aist1cy than is pre-
scented in the 'introduciion.
ROSCOE MUM
THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER,
is HE A BACK NUMBER.