The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-17
A HIGH PATRIOTIC DUTY.

dresses in the south on Memorial Day
will serve to enlighten n inform
tens of thousands of people who are
not familiar with the causes that led
to h most gigantic struggle in modern
times. The present generation needs
to be instructed as to these causes. For
thirty-ffye years the north has been
diligent in the production of books
which deliberately misrepresented the
facts and results. and put a brand up
on the south that was as false as posi-
ble-absolutely devoid of all truth and
fairness and decency. These books
come from the fecund northern press.
and they are ingenious only for avoid
ance of the true auses and the DELHI
crate, systematic perversion of truth
and records. So it is a good day when
well equipped southrons give DELHI
Grafton and force to the presentation
of causes and effects involved in the
tremendous conflict of 1916.
This work of defence and argument
has been most ably and deliberately
done. and long ago. So soon as the war
ended that very able thinker and au-
thor, the late Albert Taylor Bledsoe,
LII. D., a Virginian, published a small
volume entitled us Jeff Davis a Trait
or; or was Secession a Constitutional
Right Before 1852" 1t is a most con-
elusive book and no one has had
the courage to attack its fundamentals
and facts. The north would butt
against a stonewall in such an attempt.
1t is so unanswerable. SO clear, so
fo-ceful that it would satisfy any re-
fleeing and sincere mind that the
so-th was in the right. When the u
S. government was anxious to try Gen.
r" ert E. Lee and President Jeffer-
sol Davis for being traitors" the
great lawyer. Charles O'Connor, was
consulted. His reply was-"The Uni
ted States has no case in court" The
idea was abandoned.
President Davis prepared an elab-
crate and able work on the side of the
south. So did Vice President Alexan-
der H. Stephens, and both were men
of exalted character and great abili-
ties. Others have also written at some
length upon the subject, and among
them the late Rev. DR.. r. l.. Dabney,
of Virginia, one of the foremost intel
Iectual Americans of the last century.
But, unfortunately. these several works
are sealed books to the people gener-
ally. But few southrons have studied
them, and the north avoids the truth
in them as it would flee from the bu-
bonic plague. So it is necessary for
competent men to restate the argu-
ment, if not fully, at least in part.
This defence is made more impera-
tive by the publication within a year
or two of a two-volume work by the
greatest master of historic style living
itoday-the Englishman, Prof. Gold
win Smith. He is a writer of extraor-
binary cleverness, but he has simply
disgraced himself by his most gross,
course, disgusting, Infamous misre-
presentations and lies against the
ssouth.
Very recently Hon. j. L. NJ. Curry,
LII. d. n of the most accomplished
living writer's and statesmen of the
south. has published a work mentioned
in the Messenger of the 5th inst. 1t is
1.-The Civil History of the Confederate
Government" We have read thus far
about thr~ee-fourths. 1t is a fascinating
volume Of singular charity and inter-
est. n is built on the sure foundation
OF truth n equity. 1t is of rare en-
tainment. and is much more engaging
than a latter-day so-called historical
1t is not as elaborate as
some of the books we have named, but
it is fresh on lines of it's own, and has
a vast deal of instruction in fascinat-
ing form. He pays his respects to Prof.
Smith at one or two places and in an
unmistakable manner Col. W. L. De-
Rosset timely refers to the ISLANDERS of
Smith. with extracts given from an
article from Col. Cussons, of Virginia.
These extracts show how vile the Smith
books are, and what a miserable sland-
erer and f~alsifier he is. Smith is in
his s~eventy-seventh year, and is too
near the final iudicature and appraise-
ment to indulge in such cruel, bitter.
damning vituperation and falsehood.
Colonel Cussons has lone a good
work for truth in publishing his little
volume of one hundred and sixty pages
entitled "A Glimpse at Current His
tory" If any one desires a copy it can
be detained Of him.. Bill Arp, always
y faithful and true to the south he loves,
has written about it with interest. He
says the boo is high-toned Inc free
from bitterness or eveng or malice.
It is a sample defence of truth and
the south. Mr.. Arp says if he were a
millionaire he would place that little
volume in the home of every southern
family. There are six chapters. The
!. first is given to the f~alsiier Smith, the
ignorant E~nglishman. 1t is as full Of
venom as a highland mocassin is Of
virus and death for its victims. We
give a few additional samples not re-