Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-05-25

be of interest. DR.. Thorstenberg is the
son of Swedish parents who came to
this country after the civil war was
over. He is an alumnus of Bethany
College, Kansas. He won the A b.,
A. M. and Phi. d. degrees at Yale Uni
yersity. All Of his special preparation
has been in the subjects of history and
social science. He accepted his present
position at Roanoke College in the sam
mer of 1907, coming here from the Uni
versity of Oklahoma. We know him to
be an impartial scholar. This is the
vital point.
It should also be remembered that the
student, at the college age, has an in
inquiring, dependent mind. He wants
to know this and understand that. The
wise professor will not indulge in con-
cealments. He will review impartially
all the facts, the alleged facts, and mis-
representations. His aim will be by
comprehensive study to guide the stu
dent to just and true conclusions. But
he will not only endeavor to add to the
students sum of knowledge and to i'm
prove his mental discipline but he will
also familiarize him with wise methods
of scientific investigation.
Having in mind the actual principles,
methods, and practice of college work,
and suspect college on the ground of a
few Objectionable passages or opinions
In text book of nearly a thousand
pages. 1t seems possible to account for
the continued agitation of this matter
only by supposing that hasty judgments
have been formed on the basis of ex
parte statements.
1t is a significant fact that Confed-
crate veteran, who was a chaplain in
the army, proposed, without any con-
sultation with me whatever, the follow
ing resolution for the March meeting
of the board of trustees: I'm regard
to text books and their use in the reci-
tation room, it is not necessary or even
desirable that the teacher and the text
books should in every particular be in
full accord. The excellencies of a text
book may so far exceed its defects, as
to justify its use in the recitation room,
leaving corrections to be made by the
| instructor"
Shall Southern institutions make ex-
ception of American history in their ap-
piIcation of the above principles to the
work of higher education? l believe
such position would be uhtenable
After all, is there any necessity for an
lntolerant attitude on this subject? For
my part, | am thoroughly in sympathy
with true Southern ideals and tradi-
tions. 1t is my conviction that the
ante bellum civilization of the South
was unique among the civilizations of
the world. Like all things human, it
had its defects, but its excellencies
were 30 fine, SO appealing that, despite
the drag of slavery, the civilization of
the old South will always remain one of
the marveis of American history. The
| Il L.. II =.
needs to fear the full light of scientific
investigation. Let the truth stand, as
it must stand in the final verdict of his
tory. But while the Southerner, whose
patriotism is based on convictions, will
thus invite the just and fair historic es-
innate of the South's past, without 60
licitude for the result, knowing that
honest scholarship will do justice to its
heroes and its achievements, is there
not also a broader patriotism that should
be inculcated in our educational work?
l am reminded here of the words of
General Lee to Virginia mother, when
shortly after the war, he said: "Aban-
don all these local animosities and maxi @
your sons Americans. heard similar
sentiments expressed, while living in
Richmond good many years ego, by
the late Gen. John b. Gordon in his elo-
2uCuS duuNcoo " Tie Odnp OI ODlLeO
Confederate veterans convening in that
city. Will the South forget these great
leaders, even though they be absent
from the body? do profoundly believe
that the educational program in a patri-
otic sense, North, South, East and
West, is expressed once for all for us in
the noble words of Gen. Robert E. Lee.
This agitation in connection with the
history controversy has seemed to me
particularly untimeIy. The men of the
South are winning place and recognition
in the councils of the nation. There are
numerous indications in very recent
years that the North wants to be Just
to the South both as to its history and
as to its opportunity for service in the
cause of our Republic. feel sure that
the South on the whole is ready to meet
the North in the same generous spirit.