New-York tribune., 1901-01-16
THE PASSING THRONG.

Colonel Henry Watterson. of Kentucky, does not
agree with F. Hopkinson Smiths recent assertion
that Uncle Toms Cabin an
UNCLE untruthful picture of slavery days
TOMS CABIN in the South. that the book has
A TRUE done and is still doing harm to the
PICTURE. Southern people When at
the Waldorf-As yesterday,
Colonel Watterson said:
Mr.. F. Hopkinson Smith says that Uncle Toms
6d o a S I ssai to RTssRta5s s sh T
impression upon the susceptibilities of the people
OF the United States-and nowhere more than in
it's fidelity to truth. But TO say that it cut any
figure in the final crisis is wholly misconception
arms more than four years se If Judge pouglas had
sections would have been postponed from 1861 to
ls6o Mrs stoves novel was merely spoke in an
sented perpetual motion. But far from being
cruel attack upon the people OF The South i was
with the sunny side Of slavery in Kentucky and
of Uncle Tom TO a louisiana plantation But you
will observe that the villain of the book. Legree.
deed. Abraham Lincoln preceded me in SAYING
in their ships and sold him to the soutRerners.
think it extremely unknd that, having got their
hilated property Of their own creation. But that
f the soh6 IN the nor ay9 She a All the t Of
son were We're opposed S to slaSyery II was wholly
1861 the good men and women OF the South we're
at heart opposed TO the whole system. With a
L
outspoken sentimental tai free soiler. AT Dalton Ca
IN the winter OF lG6S- General IIindman sub
manding general of the Confederate ArmV- a
OF the south and o conscript them upo R bss
OF their white fellow citizens General Hindman
proclamation issued by General Andrew Jackson
General Johnston entirely approved this plan. bu i
the only general in the council OF war who sup
doned' ''''' 'N''S o'H'''' fhai'ee " was ahan-
II know 1t to be fact" continued Colonel Wat
terson, that England and France would have
interviewed in our war on the
NOT AN AT Southern side if slavery couII
TACk ON have been put in the shape of
THE SOUTH gradual emancipation. Nobody
ERN PEOPLE not even Mr.. Davis. could give any
assurance this point TO the
French and British governments God be praised
because to that circumstance we owe solidarity
as . a Nauon S to-day But to come back TO Uncle
world. l am willing TO bet the author Of Colonel
Toms and esre tfs' he ee5on of Ffhe b
Se5 5S hm mi, + is ths dpsadq senst
world at large; that has kept the South in leading
South. not to mention certain George Washing ing
ington 1Ig but particularly to mention one Thomas
hSod Se s6aSS and a all Ia the % Of
wholly mistaken IN supposing that the negro is
worse off in freedom than in slavery. Booker
living today Ho IN erica cone S08sderh GI ns
amag as @ nf isst # the OF gne nd dSa is ds
of the North having money to spend on philan-
thropy would contribute little attention and
some money TO the development of his scheme at
Tuskegee. Ala: it would pay richly on the invest
ment. In short and in fine. while not surprised
at Mr.. Hopkinson Smiths verdict about book of
which he cannot know a greet deal-even IL he has
the educated Southerner, in supposing that at
tacks upon the institution of African slavery are
attacks upon the people of the South. The South
is open 10 great impressions The Nicaraguan
Canal will revolutoniZe all conditions in Texas
the Gulf States. IL will convert the Gulf of Mexico
Mr. Hopkinson smith is great painter. / am
afraid / must say great romanticist. Though
Colonel Carter of Gainesville shocked my SEN
sibilites as Southern man, and particularly a
Virginia product very much more than did Mrs
Stoves Uncle Toms Cabin literary criticism
avaunt There never Was yet literary man who
was not hopeless politician. Uncle Toms Cabin
was great book and Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe
was great woman