The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-20
HONEST CONFESSION
GOOD FOR COUNTRY
Harriet Beecher Stoves Son s Remarkable Con-
Observation-Disclosures Really the Rebels--.Nor
Equally Responsible for Slavery

Whlcn were dl6cncty intrenched with
in the Contitution.
Origin of Civil War.
So We can truly say that the un-
DERIVING. efficient cause of our Civil
war was the compromises of the Con-
Stitution. utterly irseconeilablc princi-
pies existing there side by side. COW
cred only by compromises that could
IN mo end satisfy neither party.
Then came the great controversy
mat ended IN the Missouri Compromise
into that entered also the element o,
slavery when the free States denied
the slave power any part OF the
Louisina purchase, which was the pur-
chase OF the whole nation. The slave.
holders rose UP in anger and asked
why they, with their peculiar property,
ehould be shut out from territory
winch had been purchased BY the whole
nation Here again there was a com.
promise. but not a solution
Lincoln was our Bismarck and
i'incoln's policy after the surrender at
nppomat,ox was conciliatory toward
inc south. and It was a deep mis-
fortune for the Southern people. as
Tor the whole nation. that he was re-
moved by the hand OF an insane as
sass!n just at the moment when ne
might nave complied the great work
which he had carried through such A
period OF national stress and storm
10 inc point of absolute victory.
we can better understand the anti.
slavery agitation in It's bearings on
the development OF our national his
.orS "heh we remember that in the
aoi nation OF the Colonization Society.
OF which Henry Clay was president,
the conscience Of anti slavery men.
noth at the North and South. found n
most effective op!ate in the doctrine
OF gradual emancipation and deporta.
non ci the slaves 70 Africa.
SO as we look back upon the war
~ ought to have for US no sting or
bitterness. but every angry thought
shou!c be stiiled in presence of a great
sorrow On both sides were men of m.
, highest principle and the noblest In
tention, giving themselves I'm In berni.
devotion and self-sacrifcins braverr
10 what they thought was true.
sometimes the question is asked:
we're not the slaves better off under
slavery than they are now under free
oo'n think candid answer to
tha' question demands US to say thai
! solhe We're better off under slavery
man tney are under freedom The
apoIitlon OF slavery acted on the col,
ofeo race like wedge. forcing some
no"n and some UP. Those who w.ra
MT Tor freedom. prepared to embrace
ana make the most OF the opportu
nities offered them as free men. rose.
But some were not Mt for freedom
NO" mat Is no reflection upon the
eolored race. We have a very large
proportion OF the white race that are
not nj for freedom. We have innum
cradle numbers of men and women thar
we are compelled to conhne in insti
tutions and keep as wards of the State
or they destroy themselves and everv.
body else.s
II slavery was an unutterably evil
institution. with no alleviating fea-
lures. how are we to account for the
tact that when the Confederate SOL
diers were at the front fighting. as
they thought. for their independence.
the negroes on the plantations took
care OF the women and children and
old people. and nothing like an act
OF violence was ever known among
them! have seen in Charleston. s. G..
monument erected by former slave
holders and their descendants in CRATE
full acknowledgement of the fidelitv n,
tnose slaves who remained upon the
plantations and cared for their wo
men and children while they were at
the front, and I understand that the
Confederate veterans are also TO erect
another such monument.
Certainly such kindly feeling be-
tween master and slave shows that
there must have been something good
In the institution OF slavery Certainly
that is the plain implication of Uncle
Toms Cabin. for the very noblest
characters in the book. Mrs. Shelby.
Eliza. Uncle Tom. st. Clare and little
Eva. were all the offspring Of the In.
stttution of slavery and nourished on
Its breast. and certainly an institution
that in itself was essentially wicked
and diabolical could not have pro-
duced such noble characters So we
should not look back upon slavery as
reign of unalleviated wickedness
and horror. but remember that it had
within itself. in spite of its many
abuses and intolerable horrors. much
that was good. -.
ut lis an unfortunate thing, to my
mind, that the color line has been so
drawn as II has been drawn, and that
the attention OF both the races is of
necessity SO concentrated upon the
fact of color. But that Is inevitable.
It cannot be otherwise. To my mind
the only solution Is that your people
should develop their own peculiar Gull
ture, their own peculiar race pride,
and remove prejudice, not by protest.
hut by doing away with all worthy
cause for such prejudice. That comes
through thrift. economy, education, in
tellisence and work of character. 1t
is difficult problem that is before you
for solution l believe you are solving
1t. and upon your educated young men
and women who go forth as teachers,
leaders and inspirers Of your own peo-
pie rests a great responsibility, but
With that responsibility a mighty on
portuni.y for good"
A letter from President Taft was
also read by DR.. Stowe:
The White House,