Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-15
THE HISTORY REPORT.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE COM
M,rTEE, DIR. INQUIRE CHAIRMAN
BAD BOOKS UPON The STATE LIST.
TINT Is Their Opinion, and the Gran"
Camp Endorses Their Nte"-"'
c.,,,t n sIaye-Hoidcr to the Lust
His Position.

His Position.
AZ a meeting Of the Virginia Grand
camp Of Confederate Veterans. held at
Pulaski City on Thursday last, Dr. Hunt
err Mcguire. on behalf of the Committee
on school Histories Of the United States,
submitted the following report, which was
unanimously adopted. amid much enthu-
siasm:
Commander and Comrades, Ladies and
Gentlemen.-Th work assigned to your
History Committee has been done accord
ing 10 our ability The histories and
Biographies authorized to be used in the
schools OF the State were assigned to the
various members for examination. At a
called meeting. held I'm Richmond on the
9TH Of June. the different reports were
read and discussed They are herewith
ree-sectfully submitted. They are marked
by ability and conscientious work, and
should have a place in your transactions.
i read tho list as follows: 'Freye's Ele-
ments of Geography. Freye's Complete
Geography Colonel John j. Williams;
Cooper. Estill e. Lemons "Our Country"
Rev S. Taylor Martini Fiske's History Of
the United States, Rev. b. A. Tucker and
Captain Carter r. Bishop; Lees Primary
History United States r. 5. b. Smith;
Lees Brief History United States, Cap
tain NJ. w. Lakewood; Lees Advanced
History United States. r. a. Brock. ESD;
Jones's School History United States,
Hon. James Mann Montgomery's Begin
ners American History. r. II. Edwards;
Ataarfqaa f(sivfCCl ~ II
Hurkamp; Morris's Advanced History
United States, Colonel John II. Hume;
Myers General History. NJ. w. Halle
wood
In preparing the committee report
have felt at liberty TO use any or all OF
the individual papers. The committee ap-
pointed by the general citizens and sol
diers' meeting held in Richmond October
H. 1897. made a second report confirming
and explaining the report Of 1898. That
also Is herewith submitted. One member
OF that committee, Mr.. John L. Mcclure,
made a special report on the whole sub
ject. which has been Incorporated in this
paper
II was supposed some eighteen months
ago that the History Committee OF the
Grand Camp Of Virginia-successfu in the
efforts of that period-had finished its
labors and had no further cause for ac-
ton nor reason for existence. We mag
ined that books hostile to the truth and
dishonoring TO the dead and living of the
South had been driven from our state
and that with them would go opinions ue-
rived from them. and of Ike effect, ana
therefore debasing 10 those who held
them. d.
The northern press teens with publlca-
lions proceeding from a set OF writer's
who are laboring with deadly intent to
convince all readers. North and South,
that the southern soldier, however brave,
was actuated by no higher motive than
10 retain the money value of slave pro-
perty. They rightly believe that the
world. once convinced of this, Will nod
us degraded rather than worthy OF honor.
and that our differentiated OF reve-
rencing their fathers-will be secretly, If
not openly ashamed Z.
Fiske's History.
We return to the particular writers
whose works we were ordered to inspect.
First In order is Mr.. John Fiske. His
history has been very carefully examined,
noting the changes appearing in the edi-
ton Of 1859. Rev DR.. fuckers and Mr.
Carter A. Bishops reports upon it have
already been submitted. The work done
by both of these gentlemen is able and
conclusive. To read their reports would,
Of course. overrun our time.
II is evident TO all readers that MIR.
Fiske is an able man, and a student of
history. He has seen-more plainly than
any other perhaps-(what the northern
orators and writer's ere silently or open
ly yielding) that every claim of the
South. OF such sort as naturally rests
upon categorical fact is already res adj
5udicata In our favor az the bar Of the
world. He knows FROM the writers
around him (Mr. Lodge and others that
our claim to the right Of secession can
not be resisted: that the right of coer-
cion cannot be maintained; that the supe-
rior personal and military character Of
our leaders is beyond dispute; that esti-
ating Americans foreign mercenaries,
anc the negroes in their ranks. the ave-
rage type and quality Of their private
soldier was far below ours, and their
NUMBERS so far superior that the SOUTH
ern victories set the world wondering.
He knows, too. that the records MADE
up along the track OF armies and their
OWE statistics OF deaths IN prison have
forever proved our higher civilization IN
war. So he foresees and breads the day
o. doom when, as already prophe5lcd.
history Is 10 declare the truth triumphant
and his the Lost Cause" His writings
inc CtItIS az wen us the
his consciousness that there remains 10
his section only this last resort, TO make
the world believe that our motives were
base--a charge which they hope VIII be
answered with more difficulty, inasmuch
as II rests upon unsubstantiai ana iu-
tangible Interpretation OF facts, and not
upoE facts themselves.
With elegance OF diction and wealth OF
knowledge sufficient 10 blind and inter
est multitude of readers, he devOtes
himself 20 this object. He Is an advO-
cate seeking 10 procure pardon for the
wrCng-doings of his own section by per
suading the world OF the guilt OF ours
BIZ convincing all who read or study his
book Our own children among them that
in defiance OF all reason to know the
wrong OF slavery. we argued before En-,
war and fought IN Il. not from conviction
OF duty or loyalty 70 our constitutional
rights and those OF our children. not even
from insulted and outraged manhood. bui
simply TO hold the negro in possession.
We do not assert his insincerity; II may
well be that he believed what he
said ON that point lie Is. therefore. the
mare dangerous as teaching falsehOod
with all the force that belongs 10 the con
viction OF Truth
SLAVERY AND THE WAR.
: II will go far 10 establish our PROPOSE
Zen as 10 Mr fiske's inability 10 see the
,th when slavery and the war enter his
Of view. and The consequent entife