The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-11
Those southern Histories.

Grand Army of the Republic adopted
resolutions on Wednesday denouncing
the histories used in the public schools
of the south. calling on the public, in
the name Of the Grand Army, to ban
ish such books from the schools of the
country, and soliciting the aid of pub
fishers and historical writers to this
end.
Doubtless it would afford the Grand
Army of the Republic the greatest sat
isfaction if it could dictate to the south
the character of the histories which
should be used in the public schools
of the state lately in rebellion" The
little southern boy would hen develop
into a truly loyal man, fmbued with
he only genuine patriotism. Perhaps
If he armed his lesson we'll he might
in time become eligible for a pension.
If he were trained to regard his father
as one who fought on the wrong isde'
in the late unpleasantnesS" and as a
double-dyed traitor and migrate who.
without p~rovocation. to de-
Stroy his glorious Union, he woul be
a patriot of the noblest Grand Army
type.
Fortunately the Grand Army of the
Republic cannot exercise censorship
over the histories taught in southern
schools. That is a matter which con-
Germs the southern states exclusively
and with which the Grand Army has
nothing to do. Probably conditions
Will change when imperialism becomes
the policy of this country and the en-
peror at Washington ordains the course
of study in the schools. At present.
however, the southern people tax them
selves TO maintain their schools, and
il is not likely that they Will provide
funds to have their children taught
history on Grand Army lines. They
ire a natTinrin and lnX-al Taannla hIt
they draw the line on books which
are a compound of prejudice and false
hood. No self-respecting southern man
will have his children taught that he
was guilty of Infamous when
he took up arms to maintain a cause
h a he believed to be right. He has
acquiesced in the results of the war,
and is now a loyal citizen of the United
States, as true to his country as the
patriots of the Grand Army. But for
all that, he does not intend to be brand
ed in the sight of his children as a
mere rebel" without principles or con-
victions. 1t is an evl bird that be-
foul its OWN nest.
No southern boy will be less patriotic
as a citizen of the United States if he
is taught the truth about the war be-
tween the states. There We're princi-
pies involved in hat conflict which
cannot be lightly brushed aside bv
Grand Army resolutions. All that the
south insists upon is that it shall be
given justice by the historians who
write the story of that war. If the
histories prepared by northern writers
are unfair, inadequate and based upon
the assumption that there was My one
side which honorable men could es-
pouSe, the south cannot be expected to
put such literature in the hands Of it's
youth 1t does not desire to revive
any of the issues settled by the war.
Ii has accented the cOnSaOllpncpS and
kept faith with its conquerors. But
it does not propose to allow the de-
scendants of the men who gave their
lives and their fortunes to the south to
be taught anything but the truth and
the whole truth about the civil a
To consent to less would be to diShon-
or the e and to brand the living with
infamy.
The Grand Army of the Republic is
wasting time and b when it up
braids the south for repudiating his
tories written for the purpose of dis
paraging h motives and the courage
of southern men. Some day the history
of the civil war may De written with
sue breadth n fairness that it can
be used in tn schools, both north n
south. Until such a history is written,
however, the south Will be compelled to
draw the line on publications that are
grossly unfair and ~prejudiced, and to
substitute books which, even if defec-
tive, will at least not bring the blush
of shame to the cheeks of southern chill
dren. If the Grand Army oes not
like the histories taught in the schools
of the south it is powerless to prevent
the use of such books. The south
raises it's own schools funds and edu-
Gates its children without the assist
ance of the Grand Army or the general
government. 1t is under no obligations
to exalt the prowesS or h patriotism
of the Grand Army, or to sit eternally
in sackcloth and ashes and to cultivate
a meek and lowly spirit because the
Grand Army has a poor opinion of the
southern confederacy-itS generals, its
armies and it's principles. The fact is
the south is attending to it's own bust
ness, and it would be much more to
the credit and profit of the Grand
Army if it adopted a similar course. 1t
makes itself ridiculous lei it talks
about b~andishing certain histories from
the public schools in southern states.
The empire is not yet established in
this country, and until h emperor is
firmly seated upon the throne in Wash
ington the Grand Army will not be
given the control Of the public schools
in the southern StateS.-Baltimore Sun.