The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-06-11
SAFEGUARDING AMERICAN
HISTORY

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Knights of Columbus is that which
concerns itself with the preserva-
ton of American history. The
Knights plan to present to the
present and to future generations
the facts in our national annals
precisely in the light and the man
ner in which said facts actually
occurred, not as they have been
colored by biased or Anglophile
writer's and historians.
That there is danger to Ameri-
can history Of being travestied
and distorted under the influence
of English (chiefly) gold or pat
ronage is clear to any person who
has kept abreast Of developments
during the past ten years. Men
like Depew, Beveridge, Roosevelt
have warned against the diluted
form in which our history is being
served. Writers in newspaper,
magazine and review seek to min
imize the valiant efforts of our
heroic forebears.. Authors not in
frequently go out Of their way in
order to make our early struggles
appear puerile and sickly when
not actually ridiculous. We are
given to understand that, after
all, the good British troops did
not 60 into the war of the Revol-
ution with hatred Of the Colonists;
Washington was but a disgrunt-
led English plantation owner;
Burgoyne, Howe, CORVALLIS
really rejoiced at their own fail
ures, as this enraged their political
opponents at home; America in
reality is to-day but a grown
daughter of Britain, a daughter
who is beginning to turn longing
eyes towards the mother and to
regret the frivolity that inspired
her in '76; the poor old mother
now needs, yes, sorely needs the
care of this daughter; hence all
the hands-across-the-sea stuff
that has been given to print in
these past few years.
Now, you may laugh at mans
possessions, his house or garden.
But when you cast aspersion on
his family, ridicule the sturdiness
OF his fathers, scorn the sufferings
and trials of his ancestors, then
the affront becomes a serious mat
ter. He must not only defend
these sacred traditions, but he is
bound to transmit them unsullied
and unimpaired to his children s
children.
The real danger to American
traditions lies in the plain fact
that the average European is by
nature suspicious, for his life has
been charged with centuries Of dis
trust; on the other hand, the av-
erage American is apt to be cred
ulous, since he cannot see any rea-
son to make him conceal his real
thoughts and ambitions. Hence,
the added danger when prejudiced
historical works are placed in the
hands not only Of the rising gen.
Grafton of Americans but of those
sturdy people who seek refuge
and new life in our country.
For those and many other rea-
sons the work about to be under
taken by the Knights is of i'm
mense value and Of the highest
importance. So much the more
that there already is evidence that
some Of our Catholic writers are
being affected by this foreign vir-
us. While other countries may
hope to gain little or nothing
from a distortion of facts in our
history, Great Britain perceives a
wonderful opportunity to soften
the rigor so manifest when there
is question of her tactics in the
Revolution. At that time she
burned towns, murdered the in
lhabitants, turned loose besotted
Hessians and drunken Indians on
the intrepid Colonists. To-day
she would bid us forget that
bloody page and consider it but