The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-06-26

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As x.s - tic as 81 replying.
to certain charges hy an agent Of the housl
Of A. 5. Barnes s CO.. IN the Democratic
Statesman Of May 1e, against the University
Publishing. Company, against Ar G. ,.
richardson, against General John 3. Cor
don, against the University Series of school
books, and against the distinguished auth
ors Of that Series, Iall which charges have
been repeatedly made, and IS many times
answered before and elsewhere, my atten-
ton was called to the following unexpected.
unsolicited, unbought, and therefore disin-
terested statement, from the pen Of an old
and distinguished Texan, which. without
the knowledge Of the writer, 4 accent as
being all that need be said lust now IN vim
dicatiOn Of the Legislature for recommend
ing, and d0f the people Of Texas for adopt
ing the University Series Of text books.
Most distinctly and emphatically denying
every charge Of any moment made By ssH, p
against General Gordon, Mr. Richardson,
the authors Of the University Series, the
books themselves, and the University Pub
fishing Company, should occasion require,
viii show that this enterprise $50 offensive
to ''H, - and the publishers Of other books
and for reasons 50 obvious that he who runs
may read, had its origin with General r. Z.
Lee and sympathising friends, including Mr.
@. B. Richardson. By their fruits ye shall
know them. Respectfully,
S. S. NICHOLS,
Gen. Agent Univ. Pub. Co
Galveston, June, 1878.
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE SCHOOL ROCKS.
Editors Telegraph:
If | am not entirely mistaken as to the
author of the above article, published first
in the Democratic Statesman. May 10, and
in the Texas Masonic Mirror, May 81, as an
advertisement, It is a matter of very great
susprise and regret, that such a gentleman
as III" should have lent himself to the
cause he has, by the publication Of such an
article
sCouched IN a style cminently calculated
to enlist attention not to say to please the
superficial reader, with plausible statement
of what he is pleased to call ''points that
will not be denied or controverted, this
article is a most unjust, illiberal, ungener-
Gus, unwarantable assault upon some Of the
purest patriots, noblest men and best lovers
Of literature in our land.
It is a notorious fact that the peerless
Robert E. Lee, with his associates in the
cause and work OF education in Virginia,
and elsewhere in the South, are the men
who ''H." says have ''lent themselves to
this speculation upon Southern prejudice
and proVincialism, and shave forgotten
the true dignity of their characters in their
endeavor for gain" Lent themselves for
gainr Mr. Editor, this is not the class of
men who lend or sell themselves for gain.
Fired with a holy, heroic ambition, they
labored in the cause of TRUTH and virtue,
and intelligence, for glory, and they have
won it, aud "H. can not and shall not
tarnish that glory.
But to the points made by s'H.
1st The University Series is of North
ern publication. And are not the books
that 81 - has on sale, and which he seeks
to advertise by this article, Of Northern
publication The question is not where
the books arc published, but what they pub
lish.
When General Lee was called to the
Presidency Of the University, such was the
sectional and false character of the senti-
ments and facts stated in the History of the
United States, touching the points of the
late war, that he quietly pasted together
the leaves containing that portion Of the
history, and forbade their being opened in
the School. BY his influence and superyis-
ion, he aided in bringing out the University
Series, and substituted these for those con-
tanning Northern 'prcjudiced provincial
ism.
2d and 4tb points. l am, as much as
eli" opposed to fostering proyincialism,
sectionalism, or any other one-sided-view,
knowing that they tend to retard progress
and hinder knowledge. And l deny that
our people of the South have 1.-THE Of the
prejudice OF narrow minded, supercilious,
one-sided ignorance that our quondam
friends of the North have; and although we
"hadn't or't to- have provincialisms at all,
yet if we must have them, l, for one prefer
our own provincialisms deny that these
books were prepared for the especial use Of
Southern Schools. y They were prepared to
meet a general, not to say universal, want
Of truth of history, and purity in literature,
and are offered to the North as we'll as the
South. II they are joined to their idols,
and will not accept them, it is their own fault,
or misfortune. They challenge comparison
in scope, style and diction. Let 81. come
down to his work, and away with pointless
generalities.
3D.. Is an ungenerous, but feeble assault
upon General Gordon, with an attempt to
appeal to popular passions by an allusion to
salary and perquisities as United States
Senator" The General passed unscathed
through the hottest of the fight, in the late
struggle on the field of glory, and without
lowering his colors, or furnishing plume,
has been escorted into the Senate Chamber (;
and such was the prestige Of his pure and
noble character, that the Vice President
gave way, that he who was worthy might
take the highest seat in the chamber; and
methinks, the observed Of all observers
will be able to pass this little Orfcal
5th, 9th and 9TH. contain statement,
though not intended so to be, Of the cruel
yoke that has been placed upon our people
by Southern ignorance, in the person Of her
negroes, led on and aided by Southern scala
wags and Northern carpct-baggers. II y
says: sThis series has, for the most part
50 far, failed to make a permanent l0dgment
anywhere Why sog Simply because as IN
Texas, so elsewhere, this series has been
barred, by alien School Commissioners, and
superintendcnts requiring the teachers to use
other books. But their day is passing
away. We were obliged, even though we
had other, and preferred books, TO accept
those that were prescribed for us or lose
the opportunity Of sending TO the public
schools. Our people will purchase the Uni.
versity Series, despite the cost 81 a .'hun
dred thousand dollars, and the threats and
the loss Of II
wait another leaf from history. T.
TERREIL CI4Y, KAuPMkE Co, TExAs,
june ~, 1873.
Editors Democratic Statesman:
This is new town, but one Of the mos
I"