Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-17

army of the United States The Southern
States contain 317 ,281 illitsrate white adults,
and 820,O22 illiterate colored adults-a dead
weight that threatens to sink both free gov
eminent and prosperity here; aud what
sinks the South sinks the North, for we are
one national body, and no single member
can be injured or benefited without in like
manner affecting the whole bedy. The North
ern States would receive proportionate
share of all moneys appropriated for educa-
tional purposes, az there are more iliiterate
whites in the North than the South. 1gno-
rant suffrage is a menace TO free government,
and since il is dangerous 10 disfranchise 1t,
there is but one remedy, and that is to edu-
cate the masses. The talk about passing
law to permit only the educated to vote is
sheer nonsense. The illiterate whites and
blacks have been given the right OF suffrage
to protect themselves, and once given IT can
never be taken away without revolution.
The ilIiterate are proud of the right OF
suffrage, but they do not understand that ii is
a law of nature for the intelligence OF a coun-
try to rule it, In all countries the intelli-
gent forces rule the ignorant masses, and
hence demagogues who consult their own
interests oppose education az the public ex-
peuse. Pauperism and crime are the natural
products of ignorance. In the three States
of Pennsylvanis, Ohio and Illinois the illit-
crates furnish thirty times their proportion
ate share of paupers, and ten times
their preportionate share Of criminals.
Illiterates in the whole country commit ten
times their numerical proportion OF crimes;
in New York ffty-three times, in which
in a work just published by an eminent
gentleman, have become in less than CEN
tury, the progenitors Of 1900 paupers and
criminals. Illiterscy is prolific of public
burdens and destructive to the wealth of the
There are but two remedies for this
evil. The one, partial and unjust, is TO
take away the suffrage from the illiterates,
both white and black. But this is imprac-
ticable, as il would change the government
10 an oligarcby, force disfranchised ignorance
10 combine in warning upon the government
which regarded them az fit to fight its bat
lies but unfit 10 have voice in select
Jog their rulers, and would not ex-
patriate the evil of illiieracy, which would
still remain a cancer eating to the vitals OF
the country. The other ia the one pro-
posed by Mr.. Fortune, the colored editor
Of the New York Globe in :he extract quoted
above. The remedy which he proposes is per-
% anent and humane Education f. The need
Of the country, and especially here in the
South. AS the colored people become more
they become more liberal and
better citizens. Fifteen years ago, if Ed
Shaw, Ham Carter, Green Evans and George
Hayden had dared to manifest the independ-
snce which they now exhibit, they would
have been hunted down and mobbed. But
he whole colored race are thinking for them
selves. They do not propose longer to be
hewers OF wood and drawers of water for |
either party. Experience has been hard
lesson to them. As they acquired knowledge |
higher and more profitable than that inn |
parted by theloyal leagues, their views have
expanded. They now care less for politics and |
begin to take thought for tomorrow, and |
IRE stimulated to labor and TO save. In the |
South the colored race is no longer dark |
cloud of human cattle under the influence |
Of carpet-bsggers seeking 10 transfer power |
md place from the white race TO the colored. |
rney are now more intelligent, indus. |
rious and productive human beings, who |
regard the interests OF both races as identic- |
u, and are asking not what will add to |
he success of the party, but which party |
will promote the greatest prosperity and hap |
oness to both races.