Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-01-28
Government Education for the South.

Government Education for the South
Popular government rests upon popular in
teligenoe An ignorant people are incapable
Of self-government. These are trite sayings,
the truth of which has often enough been ex-
empli6ed. The world over intelligence
rules, while ignorance only obeys. This is
in the nature Of things and can never be 9TH
erwise while humanity retains its present
characteristics. 1t is for this reason that the
government in the Southern States of our
union, though Republican in form, has mover
been so in reality and this condition of
things cannot be changed with any hope of
permanence until the people of those States
have attained proper degree of intelligence.
The ignorance which accompanied slavery,
and which constituted its chief bulwark, must
be removed before that liberty of opinion and
expression which is the safeguard Of popular
government can exist as at the North That
education must form an important factor in
the final solution of the Southern problem"
has been matter of general belief among in
telligent people ever since the task of its 80
luton devolved upon the country in conse-
belief, however, has been held by most North
ern people rs a mere theory, or as something
which chiefly concerned the Southern States
themselves, rather than as q matter of imme-
diate and vital national importance. That
broader and more enlightened view is at
length beginning to prevail among those who
have given the subject the most thoughtful
attention is largely due, no doubt, to the re-
suits of recent elections and the course of
usurpation and fraud which Southern Demo
Gratis have pursued therein.
Judge Tourgee-than whom there is prob
ably no person better qualified to speak on
this subjeot-calls attention to it in thought
full article which appears in the current num-
Der of the North American Review. He
shows that 40 per cent. of the voters of the
Southern States are unable to read their bal
lots, the larger proportion of illiterates being,
of course, among the negroes. Consequent
ly the iliteracy of the South, plus per cent.
of the voters who are able to read, can exer-
else the entire political power of those States
II the illiterate vote is neutralized by force or
fraud, a majority of the intelligent voters or
only % per cent. of the whole number, will
exercise their entire national strength. There
is thus presented, then, the alternative dan
gers of honest but incapable ignorance and
of dishonest fraud or unlawful violence. In
either of these there is peril to the nation ;
and the nations right of self protection which
justified the war, gives also the right to adopt
any measure or measures, not prohibited by
the constitution, for removing this peril
which, notably in the last two presidential
elections, has threatened disaster to the best
interests of the country.
Aside, therefore, from all considerations
which justice or benevolence suggests as to
what is due to the people of the South, wheth-
err white or black, it becomes the duty of the
nation, as an act of self protection, to adopt
such measures for the education of the igno-
rant classes who compose the bone and sinew
of the South, as shall enable them TO main
tain their rights rs citizens, and render i'm
possible the repetition of acts which threaten
the destruction of that government "of the
people, by the people, and for the people, ="
to which our soil is dedicated.
AS to how the remedy shall be applied
Judge Tourgee suggests the appropriation of
a fund in aid of primary schools, to be ad-
ministered under the supervision and control
of the national government. The essential
| features Of his plan are that the fund should
be raised by direct appropriation that it
should be contributed on the basis of illitera-
cy; that the schools aided should be free to
all and open for a specified portion of the
year; that there should be Thorough system
of inspection and reports, and that the sum
allowed should not be more than one-third or
one-half enough to support the schools in
any case, the necessary balance being provid-
ed by State taxation or private subscription
The adoption of a measure of this sort would
it is thought, be accepted by the people of
the South generally as an indication of gen.
uine sympathy and an earnest desire to pro-
mote their welfare and, in conjunction with
the philanthropic agencies now at work in the
same direction, would prove powerful au1il-
larry in the work of Southern regeneration.