I just got a pair of books from 1929 (originals). One is called Abraham Lincoln: The Path To His Presidency, A Cartoon History. The other is called Abraham Lincoln: The Year Of His Election, A Cartoon History. Both are by a man named Albert Shaw. I am looking into these books to see what they are worth. As for their content, they are well written, illustrated historical accounts of the period. Real treasures on that account.
AND I am finally going to dig into McCullough's John Adams. Very exciting. Just thought I'd share my thirst for American history with you. MERRY CHRISTMAS, WhiskeyPapa, and everyone else too.
--Huck
Sure. This is a note I put up on a white supremacist newsgroup a couple of years ago(which I won't grace by naming):
Robert E. Lee is no proper hero for Americans, saying in 1865 that the best relationship of whites and blacks was that of master and slave. (1)
Lee agreed that the system of chattel slavery in the south was a positive good, both rational and Christian, and thus an institution fit to be made permanent to serve as the cornerstone of the Confederate "nation". Too, he was in fact aslave owner, his estate at Arlington being the home of 63 slaves. (2)
Lee took up arms against the United States before his letter of resignation was accepted. (3)
He was not even a very successful general, squandering his army's manpower in bloody battles that destroyed his opportunity for offensive action and ultimately led to mass desertions.
"He failed to rise above local professional concerns and view the war as a whole, displaying little interest or understanding of the overall strategic situation, demonstrating a predilection for Virginia - and Virginians - to the exclusion of all other theaters." (4)
If you like losers, Robert E. Lee is the man for you.
And Lee's honor? His statements were inconsistant and self serving:
"The framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom andforebearance in its formation, and surrounded it with so many guards and securities, if it was to be broken by every member of the Confederacy at will. It was intended for 'perpetual union' so expressed in the preamble, and forthe establishment of a government, not a compact, which can only be dissolvedby revolution, or the consent of all the people in convention assembled. It isidle to talk of secession."
January 23, 1861 (5)
"All the South has ever desired is that the union, as formed by ourfounding fathers, should be preserved." Jan 5. 1866 (6)
Robert E. Lee is not a suitable hero for Americans today.
(1) Lee Considered, By Alan Nolan p. 21
(2) Ibid p. 10
(3) Ibid p. 52
(4) from "A Civil War Treasury" by A.A. Nofi
(5) Lee Considered By Alan Nolan p. 34
(6) Ibid p. 56
Taken all together, Lee is a bum.
Walt