The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-10

tor in the war for emancipat ion, anu
therefore G fitting text for Hopkinson
Smith s remarks
But If Col Watterson is correctly
quoted as testlfying to its. 'tldeiityz 20
truth" and to the general southern
recognition of its accuracy then | an,
compelled to gay that "G:oi, Watterson
either wore his Jacket of gray Tor Tour
Years with blinded ICES, or buttoneu 1t
over a disoyal Heart.
Mrs Stowe herself in later years free
" conceded that the story had to be col
ored for its mission. Uncle Tom was
mild, tender, blameless saint ana ITO
more q fair and average type OF the ne
gro than the cruel and brutal Legare ian
imitation of one of the nobiest ana most
historic of South Carolina names) was
n fair and accurate type of the man
that controlled him. Both were fadlcal
exaggerations and deliberately made so
iii the pages of This crusader fiction, Tor
the express purpose of firing Indignation
to action.
.'Uncle Toms Cabin is about as tar
picture of sectional life as if | should
paint the civilization Of Boston and OF
New England around the biGotry lntoi-
erance and brutal superstition OF the
withdrawing at Salem, or the present
life Of Kansas and Ohio around inc re-
cent dsbuucheries of Jeavenworth and
Akron.
i have no desire TO protest the iitera-
~ merit, or the dramatic and dynamic
power Of Mrs. Stoves book. but, what
ever the subtle failacies by which our
cditor-lect,lrer NAV nersilade himself 70
It's lavish Endorsements, the fact STANDS
that what the book Set out TO 40, ana
what it did do. was to paint such Il CON
dition of the horrors Of slavery ana OF
: t..I, of
owner that the heart and the hand OF
the North would be fred against the in
49, s:---aas'.zssH
it. And this result it attained III mighty
measure without a line OF reaction
against the section which had Instituted
the slave trade and sold "Uncle Iom
10 his master. .
IIopkinson Smith is exactly right IN
his estimate of the present influence oi
the book, and Henry Watterson seems
almost fippant and time-servlns IN MS
Indifference to it's effect upon the spirit
of fraternity and the better uioeises'iiu-
ing Of The sections.
The North will never understand and
never respect the South so long as the
misconceptions fostered by the cohtlh'te|'
reading of .suncie Toms Cabin are uil-
checked.
For nv own part think that the evil
Influence of the book itself is suporoitate
tn the wholesale prejudice disSemilla Tea
by the dozen or more companies pr
senting the dramatized version which -
the internal instrument OF sectioii''i p''-
terneSs. -, =
Where one person reads the Eooh. a
hrndred people see the play. The play
;s an ohar,t lesson reaching the Mihd
through the eye; and broadcastns Il COZ
ception of southern brutality ana clueitE
which cannot fail to produce leelihS Oh
hatred and adherence toward the peopIe
portrayed Impressions created by an
nhieot-icsson so vivid and appearing d. I
tho most obstinate and the most ollil-
cult to remove ,,,,,. of
have been for ten years preacher Oh
reunion and fraternity. with all the lolce
and fervor of a genuine love ioi TIC
whole country .;,.,;ot;,.o
Tn,t tine most obstinate and N'n0lctiNe
wave of sectionalism which foiis q sl.i'a'
the mission Of harmony is geie'a.eu n,
the ais]es and Hobbies where thlS play NJ
dos y prejudice in the flrse ciach -
rares whip. which is deepenea anu ~.
into enduring hatred by the marty "e'' -
of Uncle Tom. ,o+ mis-
The book is written. us st:'stia,
sion is accomplished to the satisiact'oi
- +1,e whole republic The evil IN us
pages lives after it, ana c'''' -
| be corrected. Let it fssr ~
P,t with all the fei'Vid AIneflclhlshi "
tnis Great period Of reunion and 1fa'er-
nity protest against the fuftnei Gu,
cmlrageulent Of the inalec drama Whie'
,,,.i,,S1as bitterness like q pestlence
! mon the bosom of American youth.
0p'', Holm. TEMPLE GRAVES.
Atlanta. ca. Jan 50, 1901.