Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-29
Illiteracy and the Ballot.
Galveston NelUS.

At national educational convention held
at Ocean Grove, N. j., last week, the illite-
racy question was made prominent In dis
Gu sion. DR.. H. r. Waite, of the Census
Bureau, was present and spoke'on "llliterscy
and rs Relation to the Government" He
made the startling statement that 80 per
cent. OF the voters of the country cannot
read the ballots they cast He claimed to
draw his text from the census statistics, and
presented in strong colors the dangers to
our institutions resulting from the alleged
fact that "these ignorant voters are almost
invariably manipulated by demagogues." DR..
Hartzell, of Louisiana, then exhibited map
showing by shades from white to black the
sections where the greatest illiteracy exists
The reporter says: "It appears by this map,
which is published by the census depart
ment, that 20 per cent. of the ignorant peo-
pie live in the South, where only one-third
of the population is found. By the South
he indicated the old slave territory, Wnere,
out Of 100000 voters of the country who
can not read, 1,5OO 600 are found" It will
be seen that DR.. Hsrtzell's map and figures
do not exactly correspond with DR.. Waite's
statement. DIR. Waite says 80 per cent. are
unable to read. DR.. Hartzell puts the total
illiteracy of the country at 1900, 900,
and makes the census say that
100000, or IS per cent. thereof are
found In the old slave States. Now, in the
first place, 1900, 600 are not 80 per cent. of
the voting population. The census puts the
total number Of males In the United States
and Territories, of 81 years and upward, at
IL, $50, ,349. This includes Japanese, Chi
nese, Indians and all unnaturalized immi-
grants, convicts and idiots; but these do not
probably exceed 1880, 0,349, thus leaving
10000, 600 voters. The last vote for Presi-
dent exceeded 1900, 900 by several hundred
thousand. Thirty-two per cent. of
10. 100000 is 100000. Therefore, accord
ing to the statements made by
these two doctors, the census tables show
less than so per cent. of the illiteracy
Of the country to exist at the South.
The ignorance in all sections is appalling,
and the dangers to American institutions
from this cause were not over estimated by
DIR. Waite; but close analysis of the color
ing given to sectional illiteracy, by the gen
tlemen who seem to have led in the discus
sion, discloses an animus alike discreditable
and untruthful. 1t was evidently their
purpose to make 1t appear that the white
people Of the South are more illiterate than
in other sections of the country. No allow
ance was made for the enfranchised slaves
who became voters. When this is fairly and
honestly taken into the count, it will be found
that the per cent. of tlliteracy among tho
whites of the fifteen slave States is not
greater than in the other sections. Out OF
the 1000 900 of colored voters 1t is fair to
assume that not more than 90 per
cent, or 100000, can read the ballots
they cast. This would leave zoo, 600 whites
in the South in that deplorsble condition,
Just fraction less than Is per cent. of the
total illiteracy. 1t is said that figures do
not lie, but this New Jersey National Edu-
cstional Convention has wonderful facilities
for arranging them in a manner at variance
with truth. The convention is mentioned
as the first of a series OF assemblages to dis
euss this and kindred branches of national
education in its relation to the government.