The leader., 1903-08-29
A Fine Work.

/
The Times Democrat of a recent
date contains the following com
lplimenting the book written by
Capt. Frank Johnston of jackson
on reconstruction in this State.
What this paper says about the
work of this distinguished Jack
lsonian will be lead with interest:
Suffrage and reconstruction in
Mississippi is the title of one of
the most noteworthy books reIat-
ing to the most trying and hui
initiating period of the history of
L the southern states. The book is
from the pen Of Hon. Frank John
ston, former attorney general of
Mississippi, and was written for
the historical society Of that State.
Perhaps there is no man living
who could better have performed
the work than Capt. Johnston. He
himself was a part and parcel of
the stirring history of the times
and events of which he writes.
He was one of the right hand men
of the late United States Senator
j. z. George, to whose gigantic
brain, cool Judgment, wonderful
sagacity and unyielding determi-
nation the redemption of Missis-
sippi was so largely due. Capt.
Johnston was one of the officers in
command of the citizens who were
organized for local protection, and
during the days when clash of
arms between the white citizens
on the one side and the negroes
sustained by the carpet baggers,
the scalawags and the federal gar
rison on the other, it was his lot
to acquire intimate soma
knowlege of many of the wheels
within Wheels which worked
through peaceable revolution the
salvation of our sister State from
the thraldom which had at last be-
come too much for Anglo-Saxon
blood to bear.
In speaking of these events
Capt. Johnston has wholly elimi-
mated any personal or partisan bias
which might naturally be expected
totmark the utterances of an actor
in that great political drama.
Everywhere he speaks in dis
passionate, judicial tone, free of
abuse or harsh terms and his mar
rative is backed in every particu-
lar by documentary evidence
chiefly of an official nature. His
manifest desire to be entirely i'm
partial and unbiased in the subject
of which, he writes is one of the
chief charms of his book, and this
feature adds greatly-to its histor-
ical value.
The Times-Democrat would be
glad to give fuller synopsis of
Capt. .Tohnston's book than our
space warrants; but to attempt
this would be merely to mutt
late and mar by presenting a few
detached facts where the whole
is necessary to a full comprehen-
sion of the subject. To. dish it.
out peacemeal would be like re-
moving the competent parts of
mosaic; no one piece if taken by
itself presents any charm or mean
ing to the behoIder, but when all
are properly arranged and survey
ed together the full significance
and beauty of the design is readily
understood.
Capt. Johnston's book, while a.
perfect treasure to Mississippians,
who desire a clear and acute
knowledge of the stormy period
of reconstruction in their own
State, is a most valuable addition
to southern history and of es-
pecial interest to all southern read
ers; for very many Of the matters
touched upon therein are involved
with national questions and pol
icies that related to all the seced-
ing commonwealths; and there
was painful similarity in the re-
construction history Of all these
States.