The National tribune., 1909-05-20
MORE TROUBLE FOR THE DAUGH.
TIERS

Our restless friends, the Daughters of
the Confederacy, are now in more trou-
BILE. Some time ago they offered prize
student of the Teachers College, the
Columbia University, on r. E. Lee. The
object of this offer was to promote the
study of the war by Northern students.
The Daughters of the Confederacy des-
| ignated as judges of these efforts DR..
Finley, the head of the college, and Drs.
Alderman and Smith. After reading
all the papers submitted to them they
awarded the prize to a Miss Boyson,
of Minnesota. Her essay at once came
under the fierce eyes of the aforesaid
United Daughters and they found that
she had used such phrases as ''the
wrong side," and that "the civil war has
regard" Lightnings of many kilowatt
power Immediately flashed all around
the horizon, and all were aimed at the
devoted heads of the three distinguished
Virginia professors who had awarded
the prize. The storm has grown so
Smith are writing lengthy communica-
tions to the papers defending them
selves against the attacks. The papers
themselves have grown tired of this,
and are beginning to lecture the Daugh-
ters on becoming less "hysterical."
Think of thatl Think of a Richmond
paper insinuating that the Daughters
of the Confederacy have hysteria. The
Richmond News-Leader sprinkles a
whole lot Of cold common sense upon
them in an excellent editorial, advising
them to simmer down, in which it says:
Suppose we simmer down a little on
this Lee essay business, and try to alb
sorb into our systems a few spoons full
of soothing sirup 1t is obviously and
abundantly evident that neither DIR.
Smith nor DIR. Alderman had the Slight
est intention of offending anybody's
sensibilities or of sanctioning any dis
paragement of Gen. Lee. AS we under
stand the case now. the real purpose of
the 500 special prize was to induce
young women who will teach Northern
schools to study the life and character
of Gen. Lee. That purpose is wise and
good. Gen. Lee and the cause and peo-
pie he represented can endure the most
critlcal study and analysis, and both
should be invited and encouraged AH|
the three or four essays submitted to
the judges were written by Northern
women and from the standpoint OF
northern training and education. The
judges selected the best of the few.
We of the South should habituate
ourselves to breadth of thought and TO
good-natured acceptance of criticism
and of opinions differing from our own.
nc IN H.,
our side we have very freely denounced
Grant as a drunkard and a butcher,
as brutal incendiary. Sher-
man as freebooter and the leader or
a mob OF bummers. Here in Virginia
we nave had printed and pretty widely
G,rcuiated a book intended to prove
PRESIDENT Lincoln TO be a bastard and
a biackguard. Abraiding as freely and
harsniy as we do Northern sensibilities
ana deriding and beIittling and occa-
sionaily bespattering. the heroes dear to |
lhe hearts OF our neighbors and fellow
citiZeLs on the other side of the Poto- |
mac River, really We should NOT corn
plain if now and then they decline 20
think of our heroes as rcverentIy and
as We do.
Nopooy on earth admires more
neartiiy or feels more earnestly with |
me patriotic women of the South than
.he ~ news Leader, We respect deeply |
80, ySaious Zedi Tor the honor of the |
SohIeueracy and its leaders and SOL
ulers' After study of the facts I'm this
ease, however, We think they have perl
'l,itteo themselves to become excited
and to be BETRAYED into
positions and utterances rather fotem.
perate The News Leader has reserved
any expression of opinion on the suh-
lect until all the facts were put before
Ia .ne PUBIC. NOW our advice is to let n
disappear from discussion and thought.
70 sooa can be accomplished and much
tIan can De done by continuing agita-
non and more or less excited and bvs.
tericai talking and writing"
Apparently Wisconsin will have none
ot woman suffrage. After a long con-
OF the subject the bill to give
vote was killed in tho Inuar