The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-25
A Sentinel at the Gateway.
(Richmond Times-Leader.)

(Richmond Times-Leader.)
In considering the choice of books for
the public schools of this State the State
board and all others should keep in view
that the Johnson Publishing Company, of
Virginia, is a faithful, native-born senti-
mel at the gateway of the minds OF the
children OF the South. few years~ago
Indignation and disquiet were caused
throughout the South by the fact that
the histories and readers put into the
hands of Southern children were plant
ing in their minds contempt for Their own
fathers and people. and the belief that
the heroes of the Civil War were all on
the Union side and that the people of
the South engaged in an unjust and I'M
provoked rebellion for the promotion of
personal ambitions and the qualification
of sectional prejudice. This Richmond
publishing house undertook to conquer
tlris by giving to the Southern schools
books presenting the Southern side OF
tn great conflict. 1t has continued and
improved that work. Even where its
own books have not been adopted it has
forced other publishing houses to meet
competition in Southern States by offer
lug books for their children presenting
something like a fair view of the men
ard issues Of the war
The standard OF exact fairness and JUS
tice in telling of the war has not been
reached. Some of our Southern
publishers have erred us Violently on
tins Confederate side as Northern pub
lioa;:ons did on the other. have been as
unjust to the North as the Northern
writers were to us. In the conflict, how
"a
ward the exact truth as it can be .itten.
and that is what all honest and patriotic
men wish their children to have. If
Southern publishing houses are broken
down. we will leave the gateway OF our
children's minds in the keeping of those
VINO have proved by past work their de-
termination to lead those minds which
VIII govern the thought ana action Of
the next generations, 10 reverence Grant,
Llncoln and Sherman and TO belittle Lee.
jackson and Davis, to consider the armies
| OF the North as holy crusaders and the
soldiers Of the South as the misguided 81
malicious supporters of treason When
we exclude the publications of Southern
houses from our schools or allow other
hcuseS unfair advantage over them. we
take the surest way to break the South
ern houses down.
Ibis is a serious and a practical con
aroeialion. Putting aside all sentiment
! we allow the minds OF our Children to
DC h.ied with contempt for their own an.
Gerry, states and sections. we strike a.
itie very roots and foundations of char.
aeteI' some OF Us might disregard the
IlehlS ana interests of the hundreds G.
/ Virginia working people and taxpayers
dependent en- this publishing house 60,
the'f prosperity. Surely none Of us cal
ahcrd TO disregard the character of In,
Instruction given our children on tn,
greatest issue and the most tremando,,,
event i nthe history of the country. II
the conflict whether our children shall bt
taught contempt or reverence for the;,
fatters and people and the cause tho,
represented, Richmond stands todav n,
she stood in the actual conflict in arms
the capital and the citadel of the Soutb
ern cause To disregard her position, co;
her fortunes IN this present conflic
would be as treacherous and as foolisi
as Indifference to her fate would have
been from 1861 to 1866.
We do not want our children traino
to prJudice or to sectional hates ",
do want them taught truth and piy,n ~,
opportunity to reason fairly. The .oLn
Ison Publishing Company has been ~,
most powerful of all factors in sac,,r;n,
flor the Contederacy a fair hearinp i ~
schools and be- the children of N,
states which formed the Confcderacy