The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1903-03-19

nation OF the pubic, now that we nave
been, assailed as violaors OF the law.
that We had Information. that we could
have proven things against Mrs. Hig-
gins which would have settled The whole
natter but, thinking that we had a
strong enough case any way. we did not
do il.
Now we have no obiecIionlo to Mr.. Rails
In selecting bis associates to suit him
self, aud for that matter, every one has
that born right. aud no one has any
right 10 question IT in any one, but We
do mol propose to select the children in
question as associates for our children
OF the children of others
Now, IN conclusion, We wish 10 say,
that we have written this long letter, be-
cause we could not do justice to our
selves In any fewer words, and all we
want is to appear in the proper light be.
fore the public. for we have done only
what we thought right, aud what We
thought then, and still think, we bad q
right TO do, as trustees OF the schools Of
this town. We also thought thea. and
still think, that II was our duty to do
wis, we did, aud we did 1t boldly and
fearlesslr. and we are not ashamed Of II
nor sorry for it.
Another thing we would like to call
attention to is. that shortly after we bad
passed the 6rst order excluding these
children from the white public school,
they, or their mother, got up petition
addressed TO the Board Of Trustees, ask
ing that the children be re-instated. and
presented It to quite a number of the
good citizens of the town and requested
them to sign it, which, as we have been
informed, all declined to do. Now we
took this action on the part Of the good
citizens Of The town as upholding rs In
what we had doue. Therefore we stuck
to the question All the more closely. We
wish to say further that we do not in
tend this letter in malice to any one,
aud especially to Mr.. Raisin, and your
self, but as Mr.. Raisin is a new mau in
tie town, and not in any way identified
with the interests of the town or county
at large. having only been here little
over a year as we remember, we do not
thiuk this matter was Of material inter
est to him personally, aud be had moth
ing 10 do with it, and should have let II
alone, and if be saw proper to take these
children under his tutsrage, that was
his affair, aud concerned no one so far
as we know. We wish to say further
that only one man who sends children
to the schoo has ever said anything
against our actions In the matter, 50 far
as we have ever heard, aud the only
persons that we know osssho have con-
demned our actions are persons who do
not patronize The school, or have no
children 10 send.
Now we wish TO say, we have done a
great deal Of hard work for the schools
OF this town, and we have tried to better
them in every way that we could, and
have done nothing in or about the man.
agement Of them but for their benefit As
we saw It. We have given a great deal
of our time, and have on many occa-
sions neglected our own business in or
der 10 give the schools the proper at
tentiou, and we are proud TO be able 10
say that Port Gibson has two public
schools that are as good as can be found
in the state, and have as good teachers
as can be found anywhere, who have
done all In their power to help the trus-
tees make the schools what they are,
but Il may be that the town has poor
board of trustees, that is not for Us 10
say, aud If the patrons Of the schools, or
the town people generally, wills in the
least way possible, indicate to US that
they are NOT satisfied with our manage
ment of the schools. We will gracefully
tender our designations at once. But
until then, believing that the patrons
are satisfied with US, and as ell OF Us are
patrons Of the schools, we will continue
to pursue the even tenor OF our way.
Very respectfully submitted,
c. A. FRENCH,
R. c. mccAY,
IL w s. REARD.