The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1851-12-16

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The .Nationol Era. by our esteemed and gifted
ex-Represeatstive. Hon. d. w c.. Leach, in
reply TO some structures which appeared In that
paper upon The state of intelligence in Mich
igan and other Western States. We feel pride
IN having so complete reputation of tho SLAM
derous misrepresentation of the educational
condition ofour State. emsnate from the Coun
", aud from one whose ability and talent have
boon recognized and moro than once called in
to distinguished service by the suffrage of his
fello~ citizens.
With this introduction we let Mr.. Leach's
letter speak for itself. .-lGencsoe Wing.
To the Editor of The National Era. 49,
SIR:-In the Era of the 4th inst. ! find an
article entitled, "Worth Consideration" in
which the following sentence occurs, to viii
3 'lf wc except Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Mich
igan, Sia'es which, though advancing, are sill
behind the other free States in general intei
eenre and civilization. wc do not believe there
is a single free State in which those provisions
o: The Indian Cons tuition, il submitted TO a
popular voc. would be adop'ed.' Now Mr.
Editor, we who have tho honor ar Misfortune. as
the case may be. to be citizens of Michigan,
have up TO this ime been happily ignorant of
the fact that we bohud our slster States in
general intelligence and civizatipn." la our
simplicity, We h 'd supposed that We were at
least equal to the free States generally in these
respects. and that our citizens, who arc mostly
from New York aud New England, has lost
nothing in "intelligence and civilization" nor
in honesty, integrity. and energy of character,
by their removal to the western wilderness.
There are but few States IN the Union noBe
among the new States of the West-wherc
moro attention is paid 10 tho education of the
exucuton of the young than in Michigan.-
| fall in ia moi
confined TO The Oldest por' ions Of the State; it
| is equally as s'rong in the humble log cabins
recently erected in our forests as in tho more
| costy and comfortable DWELLINGS of those who
were pioneers in the settlement of older parts
of the State. Our citizens; being nearly all
| from New England aud New York, hs
brought with them the samo love of lean ming
tho same earnest desire for the education of
thrir children, which animates the cizeus OF
those States. Hence, almost the frs thing
after settlement among US to see that the means
Of education are provided for their children
thar they may lose nothing in ''in' diligence aud
cvzston' by their removal tn the West.
here give an TX ract from Mayhem report
on the schools of Michigan for the year 1917,
which will show that our citizens arc not quite
"a far behind those of the other free States as
the Era seems to suppose:
According TO the census of 1910. tho total
population If the United States was. in round
numbers. II 000. 900. OI this number, 550,000 !
were whites over twenty years OF age who
could not read and write. This gives one
white person over the ago Of twenty to every |
thirty ono in tho United s Sates hat is unable |
to read aud write. Tho proportion varies in
different States, from one in five hundred and
eighty niue in Connecticut, to one in eleven in
North Carolinu. 8H-sfsl
IF we exclude all colored persons and all
whites under twenty years age, the proportion
will stand thus: In the United States, one to
every twelve is unable 10 read and write. The
proportion varies from one to two hundred and
ninety -four in Connecrcut; which stands the |
highest, to one in threo in Moth Carolina,
VIII ch stands the lowest
In Tennessee. the population is one in four |
In Kentucky, Virgins Grorsia. SouIh Caruli |
ma ard Arkansas. each, ono IN five. Delaware
and Alabama, each. one in six. In Indiana, |
one in seven, Illinois and Wisconsin, each. one |
eight
On tho brighter end Of the scale. next to
Connecticut in which the proportion is one in
two hundred aud ninety -four, is New Hamp-
shire. in which the proportion is one hundred
and fsIy-nine. In Massachusetts. it is ono III
seventy-two In Vermont one in Sky three.
Next in order comes Michigan, in which tho
proportion is one in thirty,nine.
81
does not allow our own State an opportunit,
to appear in her true light. It il well known
that great portion of the illitcrate population
of This State j. confined to a few countless
In two counties, there is one white person
over twenty years of age TO every five Of tho
entire population that is unable to read and
write: in another, one in fourteen; in another
one in twenty two, and in two Others. one in
leirty- six. - rst
Again, according to tho census referred to
there arc eight entire counties in the State in
which there is not single whitc inhabitant
over twenty years of age unable TO read and
write In Gencsee cpunty. from hich write !
lud also twenty other counties of the State,
bcrc is only one white person over twenty
years of age in four thousand six hundred and q
i've of The entro population who cannot read
Ind write 'u s
This docs not look much as though Michigan {
S far "b ,hind the other free States in general o
intelligence and civilization" But ii unfortun- .
tely she is behind them, IL would appear from =
he report above quoted that she has no desire =
o remain there. q
The report tells us that '.in round numbers q
ho proportion that attended schonl IN the u
State cf Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont Q
one in three. In Michigan. Massachusetts, "
Connecticut and New York. it is one in five - Z,
n Ohio and New Jersey. oach. one in six "
n Pennsylvania. one in eight. In no other "a
tate is the proportion more than one in ten; c.
tates IL is loss than one in twenty five" is u
This certainly show well for the future; and u
'e who are citizens of Michigan indulge in the
ope that our State will mover be placed lower, u
mpara ivoly, in the list of States. as regards u
ciyilizationa aud general intelligence than Sc
no is at present. a az
f f------------------ ia ea. A
FoRTIrUDE A venerable American judge al
,ls,es the following anecdote; .sf g u
The morning following the battle of York az
,wn had the clriosif y io attend the dressing d