The morning news., 1899-05-18
The school History QucstioD.

Atlanta, Ga. May 16.-Editor Morning
News; My attention has been called to a
communication in the News by p. f.
Brown, a teacher in the public schools of
Chatham county, in which frequent men
ton is made Of myself and the B. F. John
son Publishing Company Of Richmond.
Va, which 1 have the honor to represent
in Georgia.
! have also read the reply of Capt. Har-
rison 10 Mr.. Browns article. This rep,y
is so complete as to the charges and in
situations of Mr.. Brown concerning the
supposed connection Of the B. F. johnson
Company through me, with the adverse
criticism on Coopers history. submitted
10 Atlanta Camp, L. c. v, by Adj. Har-
rison. that it leaves nothing for me to saw
on this point.
But Mr.. Brown makes such frequent
mention of my name that it seems neces-
sary for me to notice his communication.
and l will, therefore, thank you TO allow
me TO make a brief reply through your
columns.
After giving the result of his reading
between the lines" Mr.. Brown announces
that l am the representative of the B. F.
johnson Publishing Company of Rich
mond, Va, the publishers of Mrs. Lees
History of the United States; also that 1
was for many years superintendent Of the
schools of Macon Ga, and was at one time
a resident of Savannah. These are all
facts, and they certainly need not to be
apologlzed for. l am proud, indeed, that
they are facts. And for Mr. Brown s
benefit and to save him from the trouble of
reading il between the lines' Of This
communication will mention another fact.
viz, l am Confederate veteran pledged to
" 7
against school histories that do not tell
the ruth about the South and the events
of the war between The people of rha
North and the South.
But why does Mr. Brown mention the
fact that 1 resided in Savannah, was su-
perintendent of the Macon schools, and
am now the representative in Georgia Of
ths b. F. Johnson Publishing Company?
Does any one, or all of these, facts make
il wrong for me to aid in driving from
Georgia an unfair school history or fore
ing Is publishers to revise it and elirnina te
the Objectionable matter? Wherein is the
wrong?
Does he think my condemnation of this
book only began when l became the rep
resentative Of ihe 3. +. Johnson company? ?
If 50. he is much mistaken. for | have
never ceased to make war on it. since I
first saw il Two years ago. condemned
il not only before I became the representa-
tive OF this company, but even before I
knew the company published school
history
But why does Mr. Brown ascribe TO me
and the company I represent all the ac-
tivity that is being manifested in bring
ing Capt. Earrisons criticism before the
people? Is he not aware that there are
in Georgia representative Of other book
concerns that publish school histories by
Southern auihors2 Is he ignorant Of the
fact that there are three histories offered
10 the people of the state written by
Georgia authors? Whv does he assume
that l am the only person who is pushing
this matter and trying 10 drive out Coop
er's history? Possibly he may do some
further reading between lines and dis
cover that / am myself only a 'catspaw. ="
1t would starte my friends, I'm sure but
there is no guessing what a man will dis
cover in "reading between the lines"
There are old and wealthy publishing
concerns in the North that naturally look
with disfavor on every attempt TO cstab-
lish a school book publishing house IN
the South. TO them IL means compeG-
ton where hereto they have had none.
1t means the stoppage to some extent Of
the flow of millions of dollars to the