The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-15
HISTORY AS IT is TAUGHT

Topeka, Kansas, July 10, 1922.
Editor Topeka State Journals
In the July 18th issue of The State
Journal an editorial appears under the
headline, History As 1t. Is Taught"
1 want to especially commend you on
the last paragraph of this article:
What is needed is not more histories,
but histories compiled by historians,
which shall tell the truth We agree
with you in this and hope that all
lovers of truth will join with you in
demanding that true American history
be taught to our American youth.
Altho unintentional on your part.
your statement, 1.-The knights of Co.
lumbus are reported to be bus.ly en-
gagged in getting up a history which
presumably, will show this-country to
the world as it appears thru Catholic
eyes" does our order an injustice ana
places US in a wrong light before your
readers for " hich reason we are sure
you will be pleased to publish this arti-
Gle which will explain our position
In his farewell address to the Amer
lean people, George Washington said:
Against the insidiouS wileS of foreign
influence. IL onjure you to believe me-
fellow citizens, the jealousy OF a free
people ought to be constantly awake
since history and experience prove
that foreign influence is one OF the
most baneful foes of republican gov
eminent"
| ton warned his countrymen is threat
ening our national existence today.
! The reasons which prompted the
knights of Columbus to take pract1caI
steps to counteract 1.-The insidious wiies
of foreign influence" for many years
past and finally thru official action
of the supreme convention at San
Francisco in August, 1921, in estao-
fishing the knights of Columbus MS
torical commission were of positive
rather than a negative character, as
they were not directed by hostility
toward any race, creed or party out
solely by an honest, sincere and con-
scfentious desire to promote Amer1-
can patriotism, devoid of race hatred,
bias or sectional prejudice No higher
purpose or motive could be set before
the American citizens; no greater serv-
ice could be rendered to the nation
than to instill in the minds and hearts
of our American youth the construc-
tive idea of a distinctive patriotism,
which history and experience ahRe
prove to be the foundation stone OF
American independence.
Our country has been inundated
with foreign propaganda, the insidi-
Gus wiies of foreign influence menace
our. youth. Charles Grant Miller In
his booklet Treason to american Ira-
dition," says: .'Harts history teaches
that patriots were drawn inc
the continental army by money
bounty and promise of land" Up. 134),
and again: the colonists were not
desperately oppressed They enjoyed
more freedom and self-government
than the people of England (p- 120).
| Thousands of good people sincerely
loved Great Britain and were loyal
to King George
The Loyaiists were harshIy put
down %. 145).r O'Hara denounces
| the Boston Tea Party as wholly law
less destruction of property" Mas
| ouerading under the old and honorcd
name OF Barnes. a new historian struts
upon the stage. and appears more like
an apolog.st TO a foreign power for the
independence established by our
fathers. In his history, Faneuil Hall
the cradle of liberty has no place,
/ nor does he mention the mutiny act
or the Boston Massacre; the Patriot
Nathan Hale, whose only regret on a
! British scaffold was that he had but
one life to give to his country is ig-
nored in his (O'Hara's) American