The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-26

structed the governments of the South
in ignorance; that, however, YVES
inevitable, and was light olfense COM
pared with that Of the Democratic
party. With what hatred, with what
bitter and relentless h atred, had the
Democratic party pursued these un-
happy States of the South. How
hard the Dem ocratic party had
sought to fasten upon that beautiful
but unfortunate section everything that
deerades mankind. Slavery, poverty,
crime, disorder and ignorance had ever
found in that party efficient and active
allies. When measures OF redress were
proposed in Congress that party
clamored that they should he left TO
the States; when proposed to the States
that thev should lie le 10 counties and
localities, and when proposed to locali-
ties the Ku Klux Klan OF that party
burned school houses and murdered or
whipped the teachers. In Tennessee
to-day, under the rule OF that party,
there were only twenty-three out Of
ninety.one counties that had any schools.
Although there was schooi system
in the State, there could be found in
that State to day county alter county IN
which there had not been a child at
school for twelve months, and in which
there would not be a child at school
Tor the next twelve months. Even in
Kentucky, where Democratic rule had
been undisturbei for ten years, there
were, out of native white population
of 724 740, 1885 whites over ten
years of age who could not read or
write. Adding to that number thirty
per cent for those who, while protesting
the ability to read and write, were prac-
tically illiterate, it followed that more
than onc-third Of the entire native
white population OF Kentucky were
practically illiterate.
Mr. Beck-Where did you get that
report?
Mr.. Hoar-From the census.
Mr.. Beck-Taken by fellows who
tried to make it as bad as possible, and
let me tell the gentleman that nearly
every one OF those men in Kentucky,
who cannot read or write, understand
the practice of the Constitution better
than the gentleman from Massachu-
sets.
Mr.. Hoar went on to say that the
State of Kentucky had turned out of
office within a year its Democratic
OF Schools simply
because his heart had been too great
for the Democracy and he had urged
measures ofrelief, and vet the gentle
man from that State (Mr. Beck) had
spoken the other day about a few mil.
lion dollars of debt in the United
States. Referring to the census stats.
tics, Mr.. Hoar showed that in the
United States at large there were
$500, 900 persons under ten years ofage
unable to read and write: that figure
had to be compared with 27,0G0,O00,
the whole number Of persons over ten,
and adding to it thirty per cent for
reasons he had already given, it ap.
peared that over one.fourth OF the popu.
lation were practically illiierate. As to
Massachusetts, which the gentlemen
from Illinois, McNeelv, had criticized
last session for an increased per centage
Of illiteracy, the last census showed that
the illiteracv OF the native born child.
rem are practically unknown. In the
small State OF Delaware there were
SSll white native illiterates. and in
Kentucky, North Carolina, and some
other Southern States, the matter OF
boasting or Of taunt. He did not wish
to say that there was in any American
State utter ignorance or vice. He there
fore appealed to the gentlemen whose
States were unfortunate in that respect
to look these facts in the face and to
Join in an attempt 10 remedy the evil
Mr.. Burchard spoke in support OF the
bill generally, though he favored some
notifications OF it.
Mr.. Poland rose to report from the
Joint committee on Southern Outrages
a resolution as substitute for the two
resolutions referred to it on motion Of
Messrs. Beck and Stevenson. These
latter were calling for information AS to
the States of South Carolina and Ken
lucky.
Mr. Beck raised the parliamentary
point that n majority of the House
members Of the joint committee having
voted against the resolution, it could
not be reported to the House.
Mr.. Poland explained that whatever
may have been the preliminary votes
on the resolutions of Mr.. Beck and Mr..
Stevenson there was no division at all
on the question OF the ordinary report
to he made.
The Speaker, after first sustaining
the point made by Mr.. Beck, reversed
that ruling after an explanation was
made by Mr.. Poland, and therefore
ruled that the report was properly be.
fore the House.
The report was reai. 1t recon-
mended the adoption OF a resolution
calling on the President for information
on which he acted in exercising in the
State Of South Carolina the powers con.
ferred upon him by the act OF April 90,
1871, the Ku-Klux act, with the names
OF the persons imprisoned, with all the
particulars also such other information
as will convey a correct idea OF the
state and security Of life and property
in that State and in North Carolina,
PARTICULAR y as TO the Lowry gang,
Mississippi, Texas and Louisians, in.
cluding the recent legislative conflict
there.
Mr.. Beck offered substitute confn-
ing the information asked to the State
OF South Carolina, inasmuch as that
was the only State where martial law