Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-03
LLIrEEACYINrHE UNITED STATES

+ arbitrary rule. Our country is free because
i the people rule, but il we leave the people in
Il Ignorance they cannot rule, and whether a
n country 80 situated be called a republic or
r not, it is not free, for the people do not rule
a A country may be only partially ignorant,
/. but in proportion to that ignorance the gov
4 eminent will be corrupt, and abuses will
exist. To have entire freedom the popula-
q ton that votes must know how 20 vote, what
principles to adopt and what TO repudiate
= The patriotic citizen, whose mind is subdued
? with the principles that animated
I our revolutionary sires, and in whose
Z heart love OF country has secure
lodgment knows, as he hears of corruption
and fraud in Washington and in the CAPT
tails OF the States, that we have allowed too
much ignorance to remain among "a or these
things would not be.-He complain Of the
abominable bribery, embezzlensnt, trickery
and fraud that is found in high places; our
census statistics tell us why men capable Of
such dishonor and criminslity can obtain
place and power. There are $3.50 958 per-
sons-I7 per cent. of the entire adult popu-
, rarrorr or rne- United States-that are in a
condltlon oil ignorance, unable 10 write their
own names. This Proportion OF ignorance
In the lower strata of society is like bed of
petroleum flowing on the cellar floor of a
house, and that house is unsafe however
strongly it may have been built. OF these
illiterate millions 1909 305 are in the South
ern States, and consist principally, of course,
OF negroes; but even among The whites the
amount of uneducated population is fright
ful. Thirty-two per cent, close upon one
third of the people of North Carolina, are
| illiterate, and the condition is the same of
q per cent. in Tennessee, over a quarter of
the whsle State population; % per cent. in
Arkansas, just quarter of the whole; "a per
cent. in Alabama, % per cent. in Georgia,
and % per cent. in Kentucky. We rails
gorgeous churches-the most ignorant ns-
lions in Europe do the same, and the tail |
towers OF the mosques rise gracefully where |
ignorant subjects of an arbitrary sovereign |
bow to the faith of the Koran, but are our |
schoolhouses receiving equal attention? OF !
the whole population of our country that are !
ten years old and over, the following porpor- |
ton can both read and write out of 100 per-
sons: Oh the whole population, 49,; of the
white population, SO 2-5; of the native
white, 91.3; of the foreign white, SO; of
the colored, 80. Taking the colored popu-
lation in the Southern States that cannot
write, we find the most favorable statement
from Missouri, $50. More than one-half of !
those of ten years old and over cannot writes.1
-Four States have between so and 80 per cent.
in the same condition; ten States between 20
and so, and two States, Georgia and Alabama,
have over so colored people out of 100
that cannot write. In Tennessee III per
cent. of the colored people are in this condi-
ton. The whole brings out the fact that in
these United States in 1880 there were G, 239,-
958 persons who could not write, and of
these 3,0l9,080 were whites and go, 1873 ne
groes. There were per cent. fewer of those
unable to read than of those unable to write {
Thirty per cent. of all the negroes through
out the country can both read and write
We must not weary the reader with figures, !
and therefore merely say that in some cases
one-Eourth of the white population in the I
Southern States can neither read nor write.
OF the 1874 11 persons OF foreign birth in :
the country ouly IL in 100 were unable 10 !
read and write, showing superiority over 4
|
These statements are the reverse of fatteripg s
10 us in the South, but it is best to face the S
facts; nothing ia to be gained by trying 10
evade them. On the contrary, to know just
the extent of the evil is to know what n
we have to remedy, and how far it is Q
important that we should proceed to apply =
he remedy without delay. so that another 9
census year may find the stigma of ignor- b
lnce in great degree Dnoved from our n
borders. But while frankly recognizing this y
unhappy condition Of things, We have GER +
ain palliating circumstances for which due h
ll6wance should be made. One of the W
miserable necessities of slavery was thst the 4,
negroes should be kept in ignorance, neces- A
airy on that principle of arbitrary rule of II
Thich we have spoken above, The fruit of ~
'hich was war, as corruption and fraud is ri
Consequence OF the II per cent. of ignorance m
hat prevails to-dsy. After the war these q
eople were left ignorant on our hands, while Sc
ne ballot was put into their hands. With h;
ne wisdom or want of wisdom of tn at act an
e have nothing to do in connection with m
ae subject before us. Again we are We
IMPLY facing existing facts The South, y, ~
nee the war, has done much to oil
iucate these people, aud has taxed itself str
support of their schools. But edu-
sting psople by the million is severe y.
sk. The Peabody fund and other assist iul
nee has given aid we heartily appreciate, en-
ut the burden has proved beyond the wa
rength OF people emerging from the faI
ushing fortunes of war carried on upon sar
4
ese circumstances, for ignorance is dan "A
IT TO our national institutions and should ho,
IT be allowed? The Northern press agree of
it'll the opinion of the Southern people on the
IS point that, in a case so exceptional, the :
neral government that freed the race and he
We it the ballot should aid, at least in thr
ltting that race into a condition 10 dis at
arge the duties and to bear inteliigenlly $40
e responsibilities placed upon it, We la ooo
snt the ignorance, white and black, that is wr.
ound US; we know that if we are to four all
and be prosperous it must be dispelled. me
t the government put shoulder and
the wheel with the blacks, that tor
hands may be, at least, partially free 10 OF,
end 10 the whites. The matter has been mas
ore Congress. Ten years ago the House abo
ssed measures TO accomplish ikis object, call
they failed in the Senate; afterwsrd the Iron
tate took the step but there was fall w, %nc
in the House; nos let the two houses do cIaE
ether what each of them have already hea
lie separately, and danger and disgrace taey
l bs rs,.o-sd f,o,, ~ oo,,,,.,. 1r;ii;. iheI
O- disa
Puone money haSe been iriiered away, and
We all know; here is.an object whose fund
entail Importance we all acknowledge; let
, statesmaushiP for once have sway, in mar
ice both to the white man AID the black. licat
ton
,.,., Pagt
"i S"risaie'ion. Stat,
TITLE ROCK, ARK, December 2.-To-day TO Is
State Supreme Court, IN the case of the dowr
esEille and Brinkley railway, which pc code
med for nd In. =.