The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-12-07
The Annual Report of the Historical
Committee, S. C.. Division, I'D. C..

IudL ClWt Is SuOIL 1Ol dCOu1 ot0 LIS
torical perspective; and no Gibbon
or Green has yet arisen to scan with
unprejudiced and philosophical in
sight the social, economic, political
and psychological forces that moved
the whole nation towards that ter
rible and unnecessary conflict. The
records on the southern side are yet
crude in form and largely inacces-
Isible. This is not the time for an
amateur to be asked to write esti-
mates Of any question arising out of
that crisis. A better way would beto
spend money and energy in collect
ing and publishing the records Of
those who took part in the tragedy,
and so prepare the way for true
and intelligent estimate which will
certainly come in the future.
It makes no difference from what
! section this future historian shall
arise provided only that he be able
and unprejudiced. The recent ar
ticle in the New Haven Register
giving a fair and judicial estimate of
President Davis by a northern man,
the erection by Congress Of monu-
ments to Confederate dead in north
ern cemeteries, all go to show an in
creasingly good understanding be-
tween South and North-and per-
haps historian from the latter see
tion.
Other work in which our Histe-
rian General has taken active part
is first in the replacing Of the name
of JeffersonDavis on the Cabin Johns
Bridge. e would say in passing,
that the Committee in charge have
prepared a pamphlet giving all cor
respondence between the committee
and the government authorities with
reference to the replacing Of this
name, and all chapters may secure
these interesting booklets for the
SUM Of .seventy-fve cents.) 2nd., the
collection Of all information possible
in reference to all the Seals of the
OoaHederacy. Amentionpf these facts
seems fitting as keeping US in touch
with the genera historical work Of
our organization.
But while we should keep ourselves
informed Of the general work, our
special interest should be in our own
accomplishment. And we are here
this evening to review the work Of
the Division for the past year.
It is the custom of the Historical
Department to issue each year a cir
cular settin forth the lines Of work
considered most important. These are
1st, the collection Of Mss. on all
Confederate: subjects. End, the col
lection of Rolls Of Honor. 3rd, the
introduction Of Literary exercises in
all chapter meetings. 4th, the IN
PRODUCTION Of Southern text books
and reference books in schools, 9Th,
the collection of papers for the Reel
procity bureau. 9Th, the encourag-
ing of local chapter work-such as
giving of pictures and prizes to
schools, the naming of school houses
for Confederate heroes, arranging
programs for special days, etc. 9TH,
the preparing a program for our
Literary session.
This year for the first time a month
ly, program was added to the His
torical Circular. Several states have
for years furnished monthly pro-
grams for the historical work OF
their chapters, and found them very
useful Just how helpful they will
be TO US remains to be proved. In
the historical reports received from
25 chapters only four speak Of US
ing them in their meetings. But this
showing is rather encouraging than
otherwise, for the programs for this
year wers somewhat technical and
difficult to study without something
Of library Of Confederate history.
Though these objections were real
lied it seemed best, in this first
course Of study, to put down logical
ly and clearly the Causes of the War
Between the States, and to give con-
nectedly the sequence oS events, in
the States and in Conress, leading up
to it. Your chairman feels that
these programs will make a valua-
BILE reference paper for those wish
ing to know, concisely and logically,
all events leading up to the War and
would recommend that they be kept
by the chapters as such. The pro-