The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-29
Raphael Semnes No Private.
MRS. TONNES RANDOLPH LEIGH.
State Historian Alabama Division, u. =. G

since reading Governors O'Nears
statement in regard 80 history as
taught at Annapolis. In which ne SAYS
that Raphael Seinmcs IS called a nj
rate l feet the citizens OF Alabama
owe IL 10 their state, to demand a
congressional investigation OF ths
book fraud being perpetrated. Above
All the Alabama Educational Aesocia-
ton ana Textbook Commission should
send joint resolutions condcnning such
histories 10 the Northern textbook
publishers. Our Senators and Con
sressiren can ii their constituents dc.
mand, bring this to bear on Congress:
the south should have these insinua-
tin@ histories investigated Just as
wen as 10 permit Congress to
prone into the Industrial trusts and
sunragette parade abuses. Eventual
~ u not corrected VIC will be a people
without home or history
The Naval Academy, a: .,nna polls,
one OF the Two government schools for
Americans. was established upon
southern soil and so done by President
l'o!k. OF Tennessee. ~no realized the
importance of navy and naval :n-
struction. II is the purpose OF this
school 10 teach the cadets tho science
OF nava! warfare ana. in genera,
WAY theoretical diplomacy. IL ~ ONLY
by The hard knocks which follow
graduation that the cadets sterling
quantities are shown as an officer, but
beyond question IL IL the instruction
received At Annapolis which LAYS the
foundation of naval usefulness The
naval history. and our school history
should tell. that this academy was due
its establishment 10 the South. 1t
was Paul Jones, OF Virginia, who
formed during the Revolution the
American navy. and became it's first
admiral 1t was the Virginia warship
Liberty, which saw more service than
did any other vessel OF any other State
or continental vessel during the Rcvo-
luton. In the War OF 1912, Southern
men, with the exception OF Oliver II.
Ferry, received the greatest distinc-
ton and protected American interests.
But Perry's fight on Lake Erie. alone
Is featured i'll the American histories.
which ignore the achievements of the
Southerners of the navy. David c.
Farragut. OF Tennessee; Commodore
John Rodgers, who fired the first shot
III the naval engagements Of 1872:
Lieutenant George Rodgers, Captain
Decatur. IL was at this time that the
South demonstrated to the world the
Importance OF naval bases in the gulf
and stations In the Mediterranean. The
navy knows what this means TO them
in effectiveness. Does history tell that
this War OF 1912 was failure, in that
we did not conquer and annex Canada.
because of the opposition of the New
Eng states to increasing the United
States navy? III the midst of the War
of 1872 massachusetts by vote OF her
Leg is iature, called for a convention OF
New England States, which resulted
into the Hartford convention of Sc
ccssion. Does history tell at this same
period British agent from Canada was
entertained by these four New England
States. whose mission was to offer
terms of annexation to them from Eng
land? No, but the result, the alien and
scdition laws and embargo acts are
held UP to condemn the South. but the
cause is skilfully withheld.
History has never laid the stress it
should upon the wonderful sacrifices
of the men who Joined the Confederate
navy. In this servise. men who had
served in the United States navy for
years, rising In rank through years OF
servicc. men. trained to the service, and
knowing none other, gave up life
time certainty with ease and comfort
and prosperity assured them in old age
and answered promptly the call of duty
when their sovereign States needed
them. These men knew that the United
States retained all the ships and two
thirds Of the officers. and those officers
mostly Southern men.
The South had no navy. and could
only secure ono through foreign con-
nivance. ana the Monroe Doctrine
forbade this. In the end 1t was tho
United States Navy, in it's effectual
blockade system which turned tho
wheel Of fortune in favor of tho North;
the South's army could have withstood
the land force could food, clothing and
ammunition havo been secured. There
fore. ] assert the Monroe Doctrine es-
tablishhd by President Monroe. of vir-
ginia. saved the Union. Eut .his very
blockade system used by the United
States was their acknowledgment OF