Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-20
ON Our HISTORIES.
INTERESTING REPORT OF HISTORY
COMMITTEE OF UNITED SONS.
4 YANKEES VERY SENSIBLE VIEW.
He Says the Northern Histories Arc
, Too Partial to the North ana
shouId Re Reyised-Wapt a state
Historian-IIistory Neglected.

i
S. c., submitted very interesting report
It has never before appeared in public
| print. and is given below in fun:
| To the Fourth Annual Reunion, United
Sons of Confederate Veterans, Charles
ION, s. c.:
Comrades,-The Historical Committed
| appointed by our commandments
| August TO- 1898, composed of William +
| Jones, Elberton, Ga; T.. p Cox, Rich
mond, Va; Charles i. Coon, Charlotte
n. c.; A. ]. S. Thomas. Greenville. 5. [.
r. W. Bingham, Louisville, KY; I. II
Nell. Auburn, Ala; Jesse W. Sparks
| Murfreesboro', Tenn; T. L. Trawlch
| Crystal Springs. Miss; Duncan u. FIetch'
/ er. jacksonville, Fla; j. Il. Loughridge
| Austin. Tex; j. T. Cunningham, Fayette
Mo. and Philip II. Gilbert, Napoleonville
| La. submits the following report:
our Constitution states that this COM
mittee shall have charge of all matters
relating to the literary and historical pur-
poses Of this confederation" Thus II
will be seen that the field Of the commit
tees labors is wide one.
We feel the weight Of the responsibility
that rests upon us.
let us at the outset state with all the
earnestness. and with all Of the emphasis
Of which we are capable, that If we ac-
complish anything it must be done by
tireless and intelligent effort. We may
meet year after year, and pass patriotic
resolutions, but they will amount TO no
thing if we do not work when we return
from our annual reunions to our several
homes.
is there any real need Of undertaking
such work as has been delegated to this
committed? We answer that deplOra-
bic condition, and not a theory, confronts
us We know that tens of thousands OF
boys and girls are growing up into man
hood and womanhood throughout the
South with improper ideas concerning the
struggle between the States, and with
distorted conceptions concerning the
causes that led up to that tremendous
conflict; this state Of affairs ought to be
remedied. and will lie If our confederation
does it duty.
We have asked each member Of our
committee to urge upon each camp in MS
State the importance Of gathering reliable
data for the use of the future historian;
many items Of great interest and of prime
Importance can be secured now from ac-
tive participants, if we make the proper
effort This is a sacred duty that we owe
TO the living and to the dead, and to
those who are yet unborn If we wait till
the last Confederate shall have gone to
Join the silent majority, many statements
will be I'm dispute forever.
ARE COLLECTING DATA.
We are unable to state how much data
has been collected since the appointment
of this committee, but some invaluable
facts properly attested, have been Sc
cured by u.s. and will be deposited in our
archives. under the watchful care of
Camp r. T. Lee, United Sons Of Con-
federate Veterans, Richmond, Va.
The establishment of truth is never
wrong. When we realize as all of us
must, that from the gloom Of overwhelm-
ing defeat at the hands Of superior num-
bers a righteous cause arises and ap-
peals TO posterity to render a verdict IN
accordance with the truth, loyalty TO the
memories Of our dead, patriotism, and
self-respect all urge us to go forward in
our work till we are amply repaid for all
of our labors by glorious contamination
Of our undertaking.
Your committee has made an earnest
effort 10 ascertain what United States
histories are used in the schools Of this
republic. We have cOrrespOnded with
school officials in every State and Terri
tory; we have, so far, not found a single
southern history north Of the Ohio and
Potomac rivers. In the South thousands
Of schools use northern histories; we do
not condemn any work solely on the
ground that it is a northern publication,
nor would we endorse any work whose
only claim 10 recognition is southern au-
thorship. What we desire placed I'm the
hands Of the millions of American youth
is a work that metes out exact Justice TO
both sections of our great country; a
work that tells the truth, and nothing
but the truth. This is all we should de-
sire We should be satisfied with nothing
less. May God speed the day when the
youth OF Massachusetts and the youth Of
Georgia will study histories that portray
the heroic deeds Of all sections alike, and
i'm which no trace Of offensive PARTISAN
ship can be found.
A NORTHERN MANS VIEW.
Below we give an extract from an arti-
Gle recently written by man Of north
ern birth. northern education, and north
ern principles. The subject that he dis
cusses is unfair School Histories In
speaking Of some recent southern publ
cations. he objects to them because they
glorfy the South rather than the whole
Union. He says:
at cannot be supposed that such hstO-
ries will have a permanent place in any
school I'm our land: but why are they
adopted in preference TO those hitherto in
use? Because the books OF northern au-
thOrship exhibit an offensive and unfair
sectional bias; northerners may not see
IT, but it Is there; our school histories
seem TO need revision. To return 10 their
treatment If the South, slavery. secession.
and war are. of necessity, associated with
ba her f-lO
impress the fact that slavery existed in
many Of the Northern States also, in the
early years of the century; that IL was
New England votes, combined with those
slave trade twenty years. against the pro-
test Of the middle South? Do our school
children realize that secession was boldly
and widely advocated in New England in
1914? DO they thipk Of the southern lead
ers as high-minedt noble, and devout men,
who fought with cOnsummate bravery
Are We clearly taught that many Of those
leaders We're i'm favor of the gradual abo-
lition of slavery? That the questions in
volved were open TO honest differ
ences of opinion: that financial con4de-
rations unconsciOusly biased the views of
both North and South on slavery; and
that the ncrtherner, on removing 10 the
south generally came TO hold the views
Of his new neighbOrs? DO our school his
tories emphas re the deep unity Of all Soc
lions? All are brave; all love liberty.
The truest history, as well as the most
patriotic. is that which gives great en-
phasis TO the herosm and honesty. the
manllness and Christian character Of the
combatants on both sides. Ths fact Of pro-
foundest significance 10 every American,
and 10 the world, Is the deep unity of the
American people in ideas and character;
YES. OF the English-speaking race, and
that every part of IL is worthy oi the
highest respect, however We may differ
on some few points out OF the many. No
historv * worthy a place in our schools