New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-23

ones vision In connection with everything
that relates to the same subject, and YET
leave one totally unaware of the part those
very schoolday influences play in forming
ones present opinions.
The set of historic facts the treatment
of which he decided to investigate were
wholly undisputed. lie did not go outside
Of the school histories to establish his
point. In no school textbook were the facts
denied The sole question was one OF silence
and inadequate presentation. The text
books which he examined and which gave
any information on the subject stated the
following:
The greatest, wiscst and fairest-mindcd
of Englands statcmen were against the
King. and fought on many occasions IN far-
lament in the interest OF the Americans;
Pitt, Burke, Fox and others were in spirit
the allies of Franklin, Adams and Wash
ington;
The responsibility for the American Rev
olution mainly lies at the door OF George
III and the Kings Friends;
Parliament was at that time not repre-
sentative of the great mass of the English
people; out of a population Of approx
mately 100000 only about 100000 English
men had the right to vote, and many Of
these were influenced by illegitimate, dis
reputable means adopted by the King IN
order to gain control of the legislative
body;
The people Of England, as a whole, were
not, and under the circumstances could not
be. responsible for the American Rcvolu-
ton.
Mr.. Altschul examined ninety-three
school histories. OF these forty were in use
more than twenty years ago; fifty-three are
now in use. All naturally dealt fully with
the grievances of the colonies. Only four of
TIE older books and six Of the newer books
dealt fully with the political conditions in
England and gave credit to the English
leaders who upheld Americans. -Four more
of the older books and fourteen moro OF
the newer books treated these topics less
fully. The remaining thirty-two Of the
older books and thirty-three of the newer
hooks made no reference to political condi-
tons in England, and either made no men
ton whatever of Englishmen who sup
ported the cause Of the revolutionists or
merely named Pitt and in some cases few
others.
There has been some improvement,
therefore, in the school books on this point
IL recent years. The number Of text
books treating the subject at least in part
has increased. But, as Mr. Altschul dis
covered by gathering statistics from sixty
eight cities, representing every state in the
Union, the actual situation is not even as
favorable as the analysis Of the books sug
Cests. The least complete books are the
most widely used. The fairest ones are
used in the smallest group of cities. No
policy is indicated by the returns. New
York City uses Fishes History Of the
United States" and Gorton's Elementary
History Of the United States" which are
among the best, and also Barnes's School
History" and Eggleston's History" which
are among the worst. Boston is equally
impartial.
Mr. Altschul does not attempt to elabo
rate his hypothesis or pretend that his few
facts establish it. He submits his inves /.
legations for others to use and for Ameri
cans everywhere to consider and digest. I
The present surely seems the best Of times
to debate the problem and set the machin |.
cry going which will in course of time re-
make American history as it is taught to
our children upon a sounder and juster
basis.