Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-12-17
Miseellaneous. g
Education In the South.

Education In the South.
From the Washington Republican,
One of the most uuaccountable features
OF the present situation in tn. South is the
iact that the poorer class of white citizens
IN that section are averse to popular edu-
cation. Before the war they were kent in
thc SUBJ, ction OF ignorance by the slave
holding rulers, because their votes were
necessary to maintain the supremacy of
the slave oligarc! and because IL was
known that as soon as they became pos
sessed of sufficient Intelligence to reason
ably understand their surroundings they
would undoubtedly break loose from the
political control under which they had
| iived, or. more properly, barely existed,
for generations. The struggle between
the sections came, and they found the
strife, 10 Use homely phrase. to be a
rich mans war and ro,r mans fight"
While the overwhelming mass OF them re-
'aained true to the Confederate flag
| throughout. thousands of them deserted
| from the southern armies, and at the c lose
OF the contest were the happiest of the
happy over the prospect OF peace. Since
then they have, with marvellous stupidity
returned to the political Affiliations which
lea them. like beasts 10 the slaughter upon
untold battle fields to fight for the pro-
!
Later on, AFTER the days of reconstruction.
We find no improvement among them in
this regard; but, on the contrary, a. the
| willing tools of their more intellipent
/ nei.hbors. we find them actively concern
/ ed IN the midnight raids of the Ku-klux
and the horrible maSSacres OF black and
| white Republicans, which have, during the
| past five or six years. REDEEMED the pages
OF our history with deeds OF blood and
| carnage. Theirs were the hands that LelJ
the dagger. that sred the pistol aud ap-
| Piled the scourge and torch, while in safe
aud comfortable homes the leaders aud
designer, OF the great conspiracy TO over
throw the peace and quiet of the country
rested quietly, as Indifferent OF the results
OF the prolonged imprisonment of their de-
Iudcd victims III the penitentaries as they
were Wien the poor mans blood was shed
on the rich mans battle field. In short
ann IN truth, tn" poor white men of the
South. known among their superiors n
/ poor white trash, 'piney woods people"
'wlrr-2ra>s goObcrs" 'clsy-eaters" are
to-day as thoroughly blinded to their own
Interests as they were when slavery ex-
l>ted 10 give color and strength to the
vicious "nigger-breeding and Niger trad
ing aristocracy." Whenever the PROPOSE
ton Is submitted to them to better their
condition or give their children opportuni-
Ties Ia rise in the world by means of free
schools and popular education. it is reject
ed with disdain a Yankee" trick or An
Innovation upon tn. customs OF their be-
loved section. Blind to their present needs.
and "illiully neglectiul of the necessities
oil Their po>terlty. they grope in the Egvp-
nan uarAuess OF seli-lmposcd ignorance,
and Will not be relieved.
How i II with the blacks? L. IL .af. tn
lFn MOT in,
thousand Of them could read or write, aud
IL Is eqdalIv safe 10 say that now ten in !
every hundred OF them, old and Young are
able to do both. Thousands OF them who
were ignorant slaves at the time of the
emancipation. or under voting age are !
ing for themselves tfe rlcget' 81 tGsir piasay
and reading the name OF every candidate
printed them. They are not all as
eager As they should be- aud il must be
admitted that numbers of them are lazy
and >hiftless; but. considering the mea.re
opportunities with which they have been
served. they have made miraculous adj /
vancement. The women have almost all
been taken from the corn, cotton and to-
'bacco fields, and their places q. field .
hand> are either vacant or have been filed |
Df the males or their race. They have eN-
changed the clothing worn by them AS
slaves for comfortable habiliments, and in
brief. have given evidence OF astopishiu,r
progress IRON condition of besotted
Ignorance 10 condition OF comparative
comfort. 50 true is this that even in the
admittedly Democratic States of the South
the managers OF that party dare not to-
day adopt an educational suffrage qualih- !
cation. They know that ii would result
IN depriying them OF hundreds of vote.
from the poor white classes, while thou
sands of blacks would be able TO excr.
else the tight OF suffrage the same as they
do now.
OF course II Is to be expected. in view Of
the foregoing comparison. that some of our
Southern Democratic friends will charye
US With attempting TO exslt the freedmen
above the poor whites. But We do not
lear this. Any reasonable man. any un-
preJudced man, will discover our object at |
glance. What We desire is that all we
may say on this and Kindred subjects shall |
be printed and reprinted. lead ami reread !
in every town and hamlet in the South.
and that il shall attract attention and COM
ment tlr re "a it certainly will in the North |
This done. q feeling OF anxiety tor the fu- |
ture OF millions of the white race will be
aroused, and perhaps some bold. thought |
ful leader will be able TO advance a propo- |
stlon for their relet-possiby scheme
for compulsory education. We know that |
in the footsteps of Intelligence follows the |
almost invariable victory Republican prn-
ciples and the success Of Republican party. |
ON enemies know this too. as they knew
1t before the war. Hence thev desire 10 |
Keep their followers in their present pitt |
ably ignorant condition.