The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-08-18
SCHOOL BOOK IMPERIALISM
An Able Plea for Southern school Books
written by Seutherners and Pub
1ished in the South.

learning and has welded for many
years a powerful influence in Mississip-
pi in politics and letters. The follow
ing article from his pen is reproduced
from the Winona Times:
In the selection of school books for
the next five years the people of Mis-
sissippi are confronted with a very
grave question; n that appeals not
only to the intelligence, but to the pa
trlotism and native loyalty of every
school book committee and every hoard
OF trustees.
In the next five years thousands Of
girls and boys in the public schools of
the State, will have laid the founda-
ton OF their historical education, so
far as pertains to the people, copdi-
tions, events and government of the
United States. In school histories and
school readers we need nothing that
will engender Or pe%rpetuate prejudice,
p~artisanship and sectional animosity.
but we especially need and we should
insist upon the adoption of books that
will furnish, as nearly as practicable, a
full, fair and impartial representation
OF all sections of the country without
regard to lines OF latitude or longitude.
In the matter of school literature the
South, for a quarter of a century, has
been in IA state of literary bondage to
the Imperialism of the Northern book
maker and publisher. With their CO.
lossal and syndicated wealth, derived,
in a great measure, from Southern pat
ronage, they have sought and still
persistently seek, to crush to earth ev-
cry competing enterprise in the South
that attempts TO struggle into life by
appealing to our own people for support
in defense of the truth of history.
With a shameless confidence IN the
invincible power of money that char
acterized the aristocracy of the Roman
Senate, they are almost defiant in their
arrogant attempts TO throw the baleful
influence Of gold around the whole ed
ucatioual machinery OF the States, from
legislatures down TO the smallest school
book committee.
Besides nameless and %numberless
sums OF money expended In various di.
rections, through various channels,
this imperial trust is distributing vast
sums In every county in the Southern
States.
In the town Of Winona alone it IL
paying at least five hundred dollars Ia
lawyers fees to secure the adoption OF
the retention of the trust books.
No censure or criticism should attach
to our lawyers. They are in the Lawful
exercise OF a legitimate professional
function in accepting tees from their
rich clients. Cicero, the great Roman
patriot, despised the briberies and pee.
ulatiOns OF Galbinius, and Publius Vat.
inius, yet, because of the magnificen,
fees they were able to pay him, he con.
sented to appear as their advocate, and
electrified the country and the courts
OF Rome with his marvellous and match.
less eloquence in defense OF these bold
and INSCRIPTIONS robbers.
With II golden sceptre and purchased
oratOry' they have reduced US o the
condition OF subject colonies, and taxa.
tion without representation is the only
privilege we enjoy in the literary do
mains OF the Northern School Book
Trust.
have no personal or %pecuniary in
earth. Not n of them ever even re.
rt,nctaA N rs .nfnfan NJ thA;. r,lIs.u
lions, but, for my W satisfaction, |
have made u careful examination of the
school literature Issued by the B. f.
Johnson Publishing Co., of Richmond,
Va, aud say without hesitation, or
qualification, that it is sound, pure,
fair, fresh and vigorous, and merits the
patronage of every school in every
Southern State.
In the examination OF histories and
readers, committees and boards would
do well to bear ia mind that the South
does not S o much object to uttered false.
hood as to unuttered truth; not so much
to the public school error as to the
%smothered fact, not so much to what i:
said against US as to the failure to state
history fairly. A brave and honor able
people would rather be slain with a
battle ak than perish with the dry rot
When the character, cause and achieve
ments OF our people are assailed, we car
defend them before our children. Wher
they are ignored they will be forgotten
and we will have no history.
No Southern writer could tell one
hundredth part of the simple, upadorn
ed truth about the history Of the South
In a school-book, without peing charg
ed with sectionalism, hence no one at
tempts it. Take, for Instance, the bat
tie OF Brlce's CROSSROADS, fought OF
the soil OF Mississippi. II any on,
should publish in a school-book, with
out comment, the bare, unvarnishet
facts OF Forests victory in that un
equal fight, it would read, ever to GU
own people, like a forid and highl,
favored romance.
We do not expect to get the who'll
truth In a school book, but we wan
readers and histories that will tell a
much truth about the South as an,
other section.
1t is said that it will cost too much t
change books. That argument is al
ways made by the trust when thei
| books are in. but never when thew ar