The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-01
IGNORANCE


Alarming Increase OF Illiteracy in
This Country.
In rummaging through some late sta
tistical documents q Cincinnati En-
7Rirer reporter has derived some use
| ful and interesting information on edu-
cation In the United States. How
many people would imagine that there
we're more iliiterate people in the coun-
try In 1880 than ten years previous to
that time by 5s1. e14? All Of these are
over the age of IA and unable to read
and write Altogether there are now
{, 239, 95s densely ignorant people in
this enlightened country. while in 1870
there were but 1858, Id This in
cludes the negroes, the Chinese, and
the Indians. In every division of the
country ignorance and illiteracy has
increased with the exception of the
northern division of states. Kansas,
Ohio, and Indiana decrease their iIlit-
crates more than per cent, and the
other states about per cent, making a
falling off in the decade in the major
ity. and leaving the actual increase but
Il, SOC. The southern division, where
the negro fiourishes. increased in Hit
crates 551, POI, and the Pacific division
but 46, 019, the latter division embrac-
ing the foreigners and Indians. The
progress of the negro race is not glow
ing when solid figures are taken for it.
DR.. Charles Warren, of the national bu-
reau of education. in an interesting pam
phlet on the subject, says that the Gen.
sus.of 1880 showed 100000 more col
ored than white illiterates in the coun-
try, although the white population of
the same age outnumbered the others
more than q, 500, 900.
In this connection the doctor re-
marks: Surely this is dangerous to
the colored people themselves, to the
communities in which they are resident
citizens, property owners, and voters,
and to the nation of which they form a
part. Only one in four of the colored
persons 10 years old and over in the
Southern division could write. The
colored illiterates in this part of the
union, in spite of all that has been
done by local religious, state. and vol
untary effort, increased 365, 041 in the
decade. This illiteracy Is weak spot
in our national life. Should not the
nation help to educate the surplus Of
ignorant child-life in the south which
is growing up to manhood without any
sufficient knowledge in letters, indus
try, morals, law, and citizenship" It
is gratifying to learn that illiteracy is
steadily decreasing, and in the north
and west is confined mostly to the Chi
nese and Indians. In 1870 Ohio had q
population of 2,665. 800, and in 1880
had increased to 3.198.062. OF this
population in 1870 there were 1,138, 971
native males, l, 153, 796 native females,
1873, $40 male foreigners, and 173, 914
female foreigners. In 1880 the native
males had increased to 1,401, 800; fe-
males, l, 401, 220; foreign males, 212,-
DAG; females, 1872, 879. In the United
States and territories in 1870 the entire
male native population was 16, 486, 622;
female, 16, 504, 500; foreign males, 3, 006.-
943; females 1850, 286; making grand
total of So, 36S. 81.
In 1880 the entire population had
swelled to so, 155, 7S3, the native males
numbering q, 887, 254; emales, 81, 49,
$50; foreign males, $3.50, $50; females,
5, 049,37z. f
In point of male population COM
pared with that of female population,
Texas is the most ungallant of all the
states. In 1870 the males outnumber-
ed the females 10, and in 1880 the state
boosted 81, 900 more men than women.
Missouri comes next with 40 more he's
than she's in 1870, and "a, 900 in 1880.
In 1880 there were 81, 900 more men
than women in Kansas, $4,000 in Col
orado, 10000 in Nebraska, 22,e0O in
10000 in Iowa, and 81, 900
In Michigan. Ohio acts very decently
by showing up but 1000 ahead on the
male side in 1880, while ten years pre-
viously the females were in the lead
10000. New York, Maine, Pennsyl-
vania, and most of the eastern and
southern states indicate majority on
the weaker side in 1880. "a
New York shows IS. 600 more native
women than men, Virginia "a, 600, Geor-
gia $4,000, South Carolina 5000,
North Carolina $4,000, and Massachu-
sets $4,000.
With the foreign element the males
ire largely in the lead in every state
except in Massachusetts, where the fe-
A1lCS AatS q AhJOLAIJ Va OOBOVOb dAA
a New York, where they outnumber
males 1900. This is probably due to
he shop girl element.
It appears that there are more male
han female illiterates in the country
" very large majority. In 1880. in
! total examination of SIG, 1874 of chill
lren between the ages of 10 and IA
ears who were unable to write 322, S02
# them were boys and 256,8 were
iris, leaving the male youthful litter
ties in the majority by 65,4 1t is
painful fact that in the decade this
lass of illiterates increased nearly a
hundred thousand. Yet a great many |
hink it a rarity to find a white child |
n this country aged 10 or 14years who
an not read and write. It Is matter |
# great solicitude, in spite of the inn
lroVed school facilities, the tax bur-
ems levied for educational purposes,
nd all the pains taken in this direc-
ion, that IS white children out of every
90 escaped the combined Influences of |
hurch, day school. Sunday school, and
amily teaching in 1880.