The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1882-12-07

These revelations Of the census
ought to overwhelm with shame and
stimulate every power of the nation
al intellect and command every dol.
lar within reach Of the taxing power
TO provide remedy equal to the ter
rible disease. What q travesty is
such illiteracy upon the elective fran.
chise, what contemplate farce is
a formal election The most fervid
imagination cannot over-color.
''Intimidation and illegal inte.fer-
ence at elections are not the off
spring Of secession, not the evidence
of disloyalty. They are the protest,
not Legitimate. nor defens.ble, but,
according to the present constitution
cf human nature, the inevitable pro-
test, the recalcitration.o of intelligence
and property and traditional superb
ority. against Ignorance, superstition
poverty, in alliance with alienage and
fraud and robbery. President Gar
field, in his inaugural. expressed his
earnest desire for a free ballot.
Honest elections are sine qua non
in representative governments. Fraud
at the ballot box, or in the returns.
sends its poison through every vein
and fibre ofthe body polite. High
places, held as the result Of wrong.an
fraud. and force, lower the standard
of private and official integrity, and
faint the minus and hearts of the
people. A great crime demoralized
a nation. century. Infexibility of
moral principal is more necessary in
politics. in public stations, than in
common life. The '.bulwark of all
upright politics is LOST when the
slightest infraction of moral princi-
pie is allowed and justified. Nothing
out inhexible adhere..ce to honesty,
truth and right. can preserve the pu
rity and stability of a free State.
Free institutions cannot be built on
tho ruins Of morals, but free ballot
means knowledge, choice. will, as
well as absence of coercion or fear
and should have behind it, and in it,
intelligence and integrity.
"People accustomed to self-govern-
ment will not submit willingly to the
misrule Of ignorance, pauperism, ven.
ality and bossism. Ohio would re.
slst the introduction of $50, 900 ignor.
ant and alien voters. By her unwil-
ingness to receive few thousand
Mongolians. California brings to hel
feet both the great parties and the
Federal Congress. Massachusetts
and Connecticut prescribe as condi-
tions precedent to sutfrag payment
Of taxes and ability to read. The
remedy for interference in elections
is the free school. The national as
sembly Of France dissolved the cor.
porations Of the nobility and a pen
stoned church, because otherwise, in
the struggle against despotism, the
strongest tortresses AID most faith
tul troops OF her adversary would
nave been spared. We commit su-
premest folly IN our effort to perpe.
tuate free institutions. if we fail te
raze to the ground the Bastlles o1
ignorance and superstition.
s'if even ha. of what has been af
flrmed be true, the the exigency is
perilous, summonl og the united anC
gigantic efforts OF eve"y patriot anC
Christian. llliteracy is nationa
peril. Its removal is a nationa
problem.
In 1880 more than $12,OOO,OOO
were expended by the Southern
States. despite their exL austed re
sources, for public schools. Thi:
sum is insufficient for the education
of near 100000 children. Nation
al aid is needed, aud it should be
given, under we'll guarded and stim
ulating restrictions, to existing Stat'
+. systems. The policy of the Peabody
trustees is to help such communities
as help themselves, and so nationa
aid should b. given to the States OF
the condition OF some proportionate
State appropriations. Religions an(
individual. benefactions, howeve
, large, do not and cannot meet th'
|, want. Only by national aid, prompt
liberal and experimenting what Stat
r systems are doing, can be checked
the anarchic forces, which, ,uncontrol]
a ed. are nursing the impatient earth
| quake
"tree government is vet on trla
f Representative institutions have n
> guaranty Of perpetual. youth. Gu
experiment is not like a mathemat1
+ cal demons nstration, to be made one
+ and forever. Each generation mus
!. demonstrate anew for itself A nobl
@ heritage is held in trust Tor our oW
and for other lands. Here is tn
n most splendid field for sagacious an
broad state smanship ever voucAsafe
to human ability