The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-13

which were attributed TO various mem
bers of the Wsrrenton bar. and urged
me to write an occasional one for them.
which 1 did. These leaders attracted
attention all over the State. and a
number of them were reproduced with
ton. frequently by the Dispatch. War
renton was a that time a political
centre of inheritance. made SO by the
william II. Payne. and Howard Shack
leford, Murray Forbes. Taylor Scott.
James " Brooke and others. ] heard
from these gentlemen and others OF
state reputation many enlightentng
speeches.
When the Blacksburg school was or
Eanlzed was offered and accepted
the chelr of chemistry and the theory
and became member OF the executive
committee of the State Agricultural
Society a Richmond and the editor OF
the Southern Planter. on that board
made the acquaintance of number
OF the foremost men in the State. and
heard and participated In discus
slons OF the i6sues Of the times con-
stantly. Upon this foundation | base
my claim TO familiarity with every as
peet OF the questions dealt with in
The Betrayal and i am clearly Of
the opinion that the book Is q. Just
and true exposition of the facts OF
It's reference to the award of the
prize TO the Young woman for the
best essay on General Lee meets nv
complete appreciation. The defense by
IL was made in view OF the literary
values OF the essay, is sufficiently an
swered by the essay itself n that was
really the best essay pre- sented. what
must have been the others, The cor
rect Judgment would manifestly have
heen that no essay worthy of the prize
having been presented, the award is
withheld.
Certainly. at the University Of Wiz
ginia there ought to be a great DEPART
meni of history. with a great historical
library accessible to all students and
writer's of history and manned by a
competent faculty. Nothing is so i'm
portant TO mankind as that written
history shall be competent and true,
The writer has time and again urged
this matter upon the attention of men
In authority and the reply has been.
lack of funds That excuse is out Of
date. The university is now amply o.
,dowed. Despoiled of her most price
less rights. what has the South. what
has Virginia, left 20 contend for bur
the truth of history Despoiled-I re-
peat it--of her most priceless rights.
Stript of every trace of her primeval
sovereignty: will she now suffer her
honor and glory to go by default? In
all these matters am with The Be-
With regard TO the final settlement of
Virginia With her creditors | am of
the opinion that ii was the best that
could be done in that matter for both
parties and all parties. and was per-
fectly honorable and Just. | was at
that time one of the editors Of the
National Economist, the organ OF the
Farmers Alliance. The committee of
which Mr.. Cleveland was chairman
asked me to come to New York, at
their expense, and made me the promo
sition TO do certain things in favor
of settlement. ] wrote TO my friend.
Judge Keith, and asked his opinion and
advice, and whether the proposed set
Element would be. In his opinion. fair
and honorable and lust and right. and
letter, saving that in his best iudg-
ment it was a proposition fair and
honorable and Just and right. and he
trusted that the Democratic party
faith. In a matter. of that sort
valued Judge Keiths opinion more
than that of any other man l ever
knew. | went to New York and UNI
dertook to do. and did do. what the
committee desired. and / now have be-
secretary. of the committee, acknowl-
edging the value of the work l did.
Now, therefore, all those thine are
in the past. 1t Will now be the part
of wisdom. not forgetting. nor neglect
ing the agony and bloody sweat through
turc like men. not ashamed OF the
cause we lost and the land we love:
Knowing that ''he that doeth truth
to the light. but every one that
loveth and maketh lie hideth himself
in darkness"
Very respectfully, Mr. Editor, Your
obedient servant. NJ. q. ELLZEY.
Cumbersome Md.