The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-12-13

eminent. We fought for the principle
of self-government, for the protection
of our names and fresides; that we were
defeated, in no way detracts from the
dignity and nobility of our plea. We
accept the results of the war-that the
union of the States can never more be
dissolved, and that secession is now
but sentiment and a memory. But
we do maintain the fact, that our
leaders and soldiers were not rebels
and traitors, but patriots as pure OF
purpose as those who drew swords
against England In tile war that gave
us birth as nationI and that the war
of 81 to '65 was not a war of rebellion
against unquestioned legal authority,
but war between the States-bOth
sides fighting for what they deemed
their rights.
And we should not only maintain
this by speech, and by organized in
fiuence, but we should do our best to
have justice done to the South in the
histories of the great struggle. l do
not suppose that any Of US believe that
the true and final history of the war
has been written. have my doubts
as to whether any actor or interested
eyewitness to the war can write that
history; certain distance is needed in
order TO see things in this true per-
spective and proportion. 1t remains
for some calm and just writer in the
future to weigh facts, to measure
motives, and 10 make them all into
narrative North and South will accept
as final.
This day should be time for correct
ing current errors, and for the gather
ing of the mass of material that the
cunning hand shall mould into immor-
tai shape. Many of our members have
seen something of the great drama Of
war that was played in the sixties, and
have felt in their own hearts some
thing of the great wave OF enthusiasm
that swept over the South. 1t may be
that wha. you know, and what | know
is already common property, but it is
also probable that some chapters may
have the honor of furnishing missing
links. without which the great chain
of history would be incomplete. 1t is
work that cannot wait; this genera
ton before whom the pageant of war
swept in al.its splendor, all Its terror,
will soon pass and their testimony
should be borne now.
The first object that is mentioned in
our Constitution is Education. II
should be an object especially near 10
all of us, because it vitality concerns the
welfare of the children-and childhood
has ever been the most sacred charge
of womanhoOd. Along this line is some
practical work for our Chapters to do.
We know that our school histories are
not generally Just to the South in their
versions ofthe war;let our members ex-
anime the Histories and Readers In use
in their various localities, and protest
against error and misreprese ntation
being taught to their children il so inn
portant a matter as the history of their
own section. And let them use their
influence to have text books used that
shall do justice TO the South as we'll as
to the North; we no more want books
that are blindly partial to the South,
than we want them uniustly preiudiced
against the North-we would have the
children taught things as they were, in
no strain Of apology for the South. OF
of fulsome panegyric to the North.
And should we not also endeavor IL
correct false and vicious ideas concern.
ing our land and our people that are
sown in the minds OF our children by
current literature. Last winter wal
walking by our public school. when a
number Of the scholars were at recess
a long procession passed by, the mos
prominent features in which were twt
immense bloodhouuds, and larg;
c statue Of an old negro in chains. Wha
: kind of impression. do you suppose
a would those children receive OF the oil
:. time relation between their father
a and their slaves with slich a spectacle
passing unreb6ked through our towns
. | have been told that the play Of Uncle
!; Toms Cabin mas become a kind o
s minstrel show, and is hardly worth,
= of serious comment; but still, boti
u play and novel are widely seen AM
! read. and do present to our children |
: thoroughly false view Of plantation Iii
y in the South. / do not impUgn the mo
tIves that iinpelled Mrs stows to writ
the book and do not question tina
= there may have been parallels for mos
gUontnued on fourth paEe,)