The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-22
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Tho LesisIaturc ana the school Rocks

IThe Legislature and the school Rocks.
EDITORS Democratic Statesman.
Senator sayers introduced a resolution
recommending tho University series Of
school books foruse in the public schools.
The resolution passed p Legislative pro
eecdings.
senator sayers, a young, gallant and
whole-souled gentleman, not too cautious
when in pursuit Of a general principle that
looks right to him, was just the man to in
tsoduce and give impetus to such a resolu-
non.
There ore some points, however. which
It would be we'll for the people to consider
before foilozing ne far as this resolution
might lead them. and among them are the
following:
=. The University series is Of Northern
publication. TIE principal capitalist and
managers %, the enterprise is q Northern
man. WHO during the war and after
wards published the United Service
Magazine, a peculiarly virulent and
partisan sheet, and who has undertaken the
pAblication Of Southern school books, be-
cause, to-use his own language, the South
err people are determined to have Southern
books, and we Northern men may as well
profit upon the feeling rs not
3. The authors of most Of the books Of
the series arc Southern men, who, in so far
as they have lent themselves to this specu-
laiIon upon Southern prejudice and provin-
ciallsm, have forgotten the tree dignity Of
their characters in their endeavor for gain.
The readers were prepared underline super
vision only Of the man whose name they
hear, and HTe understood 10 have depended
Tor their aut hoIship upon quite another lat
itude tAan shat af the University Of Vir-
ginia
3, General John B Gordon, whose visit
20 Austin has BEEN ne occasion ofthis ac-
ton, Is liiaseh the paid agent and employee
III -thls s9i fllSaat University Publishing
Company, whose efforts are engaged in en-
listing Southern subscriptions to ne stock
81 tAe company. under ille plea that it is q
Seuthern euterpree, aliri 81 seeking TO plant
che books IN Southern schools for hand-
some ssis ry,to whichit has been reported and
nowhere denied, he addsa percentage Of
al che subscriptions OF stock obfeined by
HIM. and now also his salary as United States
Senator, wiiA perquisites.
4. The bocks nre prepared for the espe-
cial use Of Southern schools, aud ike all
provincial books are faulty in style. faulty
in scope, faulty 10 diction, and calculated
hy fostering secuonaiisn, ana enc sided
Views % rctard progress and hinder
knowladee.
8. Although pushed upon the attention
OF tcacherA by tlic most active book agent
that ever operated IN Texas for over three
ycars, and placed upon commission at coun-
Try stores in every village ia the State, this
series has SO Tar, for the most part, failed to
makc p permanent Judgment anywhere, and
has commanded n smaller sale than the pub
iications os NEST other houses; notably than
those Of Wilson, Hinkle & Co. publishers
81 the McGnney books. and Of Irison
blakem1n, Taylor 6 Co, neither Of which
have been used IN the public schools: and
b fact s lar Jess Is iayor IN the private
sshools than the publications Of A. S.
Barnes & Co, who supply most Of the hooks
adopted IN the free schools
9. Tie University series IS not uow III
use - 3 single q la North Carolina, South
lapiina, Qepreia OF Alabama and bot one
city m Mississippi and one in Te~acssee.
u At.anta. 0Fneral Gordon's headquarters
5ne Independent Readets- the samc adopted
Ior thc public schools of Texas. Verc
ndoptesi and. arr IN use two of the members
81 tn, seafi voting against Gordon. who
were stocSholicfS in his COMPANY In.
Apguste the I7niyprsitv books ucte adopted
ana aiicf4 fe0 yeafs trial thrown over
board
lhc change of the BOOKS new in use
wanld PM lhe parents a. sn expense 81 q
hneslfo, thocsand dollals IN tb1 purchase
ni ucU books against The hottest of irteIli-
sen teachers end pupils every where and
10 ~ fI<I 1lnr nd rnr|nr1 f,irr fho al .1r,...