New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
THE IGNORANT VOTER.

THE IGNORANCE OF THE NEGRO THE CAUSE OF The
PRESENT TRoUBLKs-A DEMAND THAT VOTERS
SHALL READ AND WRITE.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: The underlying fact which seems to
have caused tho present troubles in South Carolina ana
other OF the old slave States the ignorance OF the negro
The whites of that section say they dislike 10 OegoVefned
nv set of IGNORANT negroes that the "carpetbaggers
from the ncie the credulous and ignorant negroes
to the preparation of numerous outrages; ana tha
they the whites being the intelligent portion OF the
community are entitled to hold the reins of government
to guide and direct their unettered colored brethren
Now with the realization OF this fact, appears ques
tion which must sooner or later be answered by the
people of this nation Shall the ignorant portion OF our
population be allowed to deter our national progress
and prosperity and in certain sections OF our country
render civil government farce, or shall proper egsa
ton render such situation OF affairs mpossDlef NO
local action be it legal and peaceable unlawful and
forcible. can remedy this evil; 1t Is preemnenty
o problem demanding national solution. An
ignorant man is a dangerous member of any community,
because neither knows what is good for himself hor
for his feow-czen Even if he strives TO observe the
Golden Rule he is apt to nict that which is disagree
able II not Injurious on his neghbor in his ignorance OF
what is pleasanest and best for himself His thoughts
his natural and appetites wanting the elevation OF
educaton often lead him into excuses, political ana So
cial which render him obnoxious TO the more en-
Ightened and he realizing their anpathy but fang 10
see the true cause thereof cries ont against astocacy
and wealth and thinks hard tbs he does not possess
what his own ignorance denies him. But bow, some one
will say. nation TO overcome this obstacle 10
answer by a constitutional amendment whereby It
shall be required of every citizen that he be able 10 reaa
and write before he can vote. such an aincndment
would create incentive TO every unetiered man 10
better his mental condition. and thus his moral ana
physical We should thus rid ourselves OF superstition
and vice. the nvariable concomltants OF anu
by rendering the better able to do their own
thinking, place 1t ont OF the power OF few corrupt
demagogues mold them TO their own selfish purposes
But will the people of this country submit to snoh an
abridgment OF their franchisef viii they allow what
has been once granted 10 be rcra2ted MOST as
suredly they will, for the great mass OF our popu
lation Is intelligent; and besides, the action
Of our National Legislature is the act OF the
people through their own chosen representatives anu
Is In truth merely regulation by themselves %
their own affairs such a measure would countess DC
nnica 20 those who borne through the world on the
shoulders Of the Ignorant and who live upon the iat OF
the land In this and every other country praccng tner
uggery before the unlettered and feeding upon the
superstition OF simple bat every honest reasonable
thinking man willlail such as movement IN
right direction step farther out OF the DARK
ness into tire light" Yours, H. t. W.
Neic- York, NUv To- 1875