Evening star., 1922-06-29
EXCEPTIONS ARE TAKEN
TO TRUTH OF HISTORY
To the Editor Of The Star.

| To the Editor Of The Star.
| Under the caption, "Blames Lincoln
| for the Civil War a recent news item
| states that southern writer, Miss
has written a book about the civil
| war. entitled The Truth of History
In this book Miss Rutherford charges
Abraham Lincoln with blame for hav-
ing caused the war. and brings twenty
propositions against the north. (These
propositions are. in general. the re-
| verse Of the answers given in this
letter.
| Within the past few weeks there
has been a great deal of activity
among southern organizations, as un-
yelling of monuments to Jefferson
Davis and Robert E. Lee. eulogies of
| southern leaders, and exercises were
even held recently in a Brooklyn
church to honor Robrt E. Lee with
| tablet.
The civil war caused the nation four
years of sanquinary conflict. and the
| life of the noble Lincoln, and the de-
cision was for the Union. This deci-
sion was proof (were such proof need
| ed) that the so-called southern Con-
federacy was a myth. and that the
| nation. as founded by Washington,
under God. is one, d Federal Union.
| 1t is a matter of deep concern to
every loyal citizen of our beloved ma
| tion that there seems to be existent
| at this late day a spirit of REBELLION
| to our institutions on the part of some
who call themselves Americans. APP
parently the four years of awful sac
rifice were not sufficient to wipe out
| this rebellious spirit: the nation is
| again assailed, and the sacred mem
| ory of Abraham Lincoln. whom the
nation deeply loves. is offended. This
| condition is little short of tragic.
Holding in thought that our nation.
| America, is. under her fundamental
documents. a single idea, known as
Federal Union. Miss Rutherfords
| propositions" may be answered as
| follows:
| l. The Constitution of the United
States reads: We. the people of the
United States. in order to form
more perfect Union. etc" This docu-
| ment is. therefore, wholly national
and permanent
! 2. The nation once formed it be-
came impossible for any constituent
| member of it to secede (rebeD. But
| now are they many members, but one
body that there should be no
sc sehism s5@ in the body" 1 Cor. II.
3. That element in the nation
! which defended the Union was not re-
sponsible for the war.
4. The states being constituent
parts of a single Union, the war was
not between them. but between op-
and was fought solely on the basis
| of defending the Union.
5. Slavery was an incident. though
a necessary one. of the war; the
| wickedness of this institution was the
same. whether found here or there in
the nation.
6. Enforcement of the demands Of
the Constitution. even by coercion, is
| strictly In consonance with that doc
| ument.
The racpo,s;b;J;t,, to 1-.so.u.
the Union was laid upon the federal
government.
8. Abraham Lincoln was the inevi-
table instrument in the preservation
of the Union, and those who elected
him were the friends of the Union
8. There could be no peace but on
the basis Of the Union.
10. The single policy of Lincoln
and his generals and armies was to
preserve the Union.
IL. We are one nation and there is
no discrimination between one mem
ber and another in the nation.
-. The nation being one, it could
rot, by dividing itself, drive itself, or
one of it's members, into secession.
Under the Constitution secession is
impossible.
13. AS free moral agents. we place
ourselves. Jefferson Davis chose to
assume the place of president of a
confederacy which had no existence.
~ ADTiHdHl Lincoln place Is nxed
forever in the sight of God and in
the hearts OF the American people.
Is. The policy of reconstruction
was for the whole nation.
Is. Americanism is neither a ques-
49,, of 80" prejudice nor of locality.
but of ideals.
-. Tne president of the United
States, in response to the will of God
and the call of the nation. issued the
emancipation proclamation.
IS. The American nation demands
correct textbooks. and will not per-
nit histories written from a partisan
standpoint.
10. Every man Is responsible for his
own acts and is judged by them.
There is no injustice in God.
20. All omissions will be eventually
supplied.
Lincoln and the period of the civil
war have again become prominent in
the American consciousness. But the
questions at issue cannot be an
swered on a personal basis. Lincoln's
Gettysburg speech is the immortal
declaration Of Christ, through Lin
| coin. that this nation, America, is one
and that it can never be divided.
JAMES P. B. HYNDMAN.