The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-03
SOUTHERN HISTORY.
Roanoke County.

|
| best and greatest men. Was true to the
! Union. represented his state In the
| Senate of the Unitd States during the
| war. and WAS minister to England in
| 1865: he was present when General
! scott received II. l.. Lees resignation.
| Rcverdy Johnson IS authority for the
| statement that on this occasion Gen
| eral Scott declared that he was con-
| solcd by the belief that IL Lee was
| placed n Tic head OF the armies OF the
| Confedcracy, he would be a worthy fore
man. and one who would conduct the
! war upon the highest principles of civ
| ilized warfare, and would not suffer
] encoachments to be made upon the
I rights OF private property and the
! rights OF unoifending citizens.
| Mr.. Johnson said that the English
people admired Lee. not only on ao-
count of HIS skill on the battlefield and
the skillful manner In which he planned
and executed his campaigns. but for
the humane manner In which he per-
formed his sad duty, and his refusal to
resort to retaliatory measures while
invading the North. No burning
homesteads. says Mr.. johnson, alum
med his march. no shivcring and help
less children were turned out OF their
homes 10 witness their destruction by
the torch. With him all the rules of
! civilized war, having the higher sane
ton OF God, was strictly observed No
4
| tion OF the contrast between the in
Vading armies exclaimed: II love my
country. am jealous or her honor,
| cnerlsh her good name, and I am proud
! OF the land of my birth. / forbear to
criticize the lives ana characters Of
her high officers and servants. but 7
can Say with truth that during the
rate war the laws OF humanity were
| FORGOTTEN and tho higher orders of
zoo were ttodden under foot"
inc difference Iii tho ability of the
Confederate and Union generals was
very great. Tho dissimilarity in The
Army OF Northern Virginia and any of
Tie armies OF invasion was most
marked, but, after all. the most prom-
lnent and commendable difference ia
iouhh III the humanity and morale OF
tne one and the cruelty of the other
The one emblazons American history
and Is the proud heritage of this ma
! ZION; the other defames our race and
should be remembered only as an ex-
ample never to be followed or per
mitted. 1t Is not very strange, but
quite natural, that tho histories re-
ferred TO should not record tho cruel
ties OF Sherman. Sheridan, Beast But
| Ter, and Hunter, or perpetuate the
inatchless conduct OF the ARMY of
Northern Virginia, which Is appreciated
! the civilized world
IL Is very strange and very UNI
| natural however. that the descendants
/ OF tho men who acted SO nobly and LETT
| TO their offspring such a legacy OF in
| SEPARATION should be Indifferent TO their
inheritance. and allow the title papers
| to be prepared by prcjudiced scrive-
ners Such a birthright will not be
sold for silver and Rlod. save by the
sordid; II must not be accepted as SUI
tcient evidence OF worth. and rs the
end OF achievement, but 1t must he
md IA
iuence melting and constituting to
| highest endeavor.
The good and the bad must DO re-
corded without ooloring. The same
pen mat wrote OF Davis's virtues. wrote
| or David's vices. Inspiration chron-
! tclcd the strength and weakness of
Simon. the fiedlity of Paul and of John
and the periidy of Judas. The splen-
did manhood OF Mcclellan, Mcdowell.
Hancock and Mckinley, who drew with
the sword rivers of blood from the
veins OF armed men In the field. and
the acts of the great incendiarses who
could not conquer with munitions OF
war used by civilized peoples must be
truthfully preserved.
SLOW and patient fair and truthful
must the coming teacher be.
To show how the knife was sharpened
that was ground to prune the
tree.
who viii measure praise and
blame,
And The South will stand the verdict.
and will stand It without shame"
Some scholars have already found
the heart, purpose and character OF the
Southern Confederacy. Those great
Easlishmen. Sir Percy Greg Hentv.
Colonel G. +. r. Henderson and Pro
lessor p. S. Worseley have compre-
hended the spirit OF the Southern Con
federacy and have done much to pre-
wrote the truth In lines of blended
strength and beauty in which he thus
refers to the Southern Confederacy:
"Ah realm OF tombs! but let her bear
IRIS hlazon to the last of times:
NO nation rose so white and fair,
or fell so puro Of crimes"
Long ago the Daughters of the Con-
federacy, who were never conquered
and yet have always been loyal to our
reunited country, determined that the
suDiiine and inspiring history made
by their fathers and mothers should
not be soiled by prejudiccd and un-
sanctified pens incapable OF appre-
eating Southern valor and Southern
refinement You have declared, and to
that end have pledged your sacred
'io"oi, thut tno truth shall be pro-
served, and that you will endeayor to
have used in Southern schools only
such histories as are acurate and i'm
partial.
For you to repel slnnderous assaults;
10 preserve ancetsorial virtues; to re-
cord the unrivalled gallantry, zeal and
endurance, tho unequallcd morale OF
the confederate soldier. and to chroni-
Gle tho history of Southern woman
hood, even nobler than the Confederate
soldier, because sho alone was made
OF purer metal, Is no part of sectional
Ism or OF passion, but an Imperative
Duty which is freely recognized by all
men who have no ak to grind. When
your work is done new lustre will be
added to tho volumes of the worId,s
history.
The history Of tho Southern people,
including that of tho Southern Con-
federacy. would enable any self-re-
specting, hoeest and high-spirited
youth with Dlira bl00d m biv ,,n;,,.