Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-05-08
EDU eating BLACKS AT THE
SOUTH.

Mr.. Frank Wilkerson, who seems to
be regular correspondent of the New
York Sun, as lie certain is for the most
part a very intelligent one, protests, as
northern democrat against the
grab of "Sl05, 900. 600 out of the ma
tional treasury for the alleged purpose
of educating the illiterate classes of
our country" In support of this po-
sition he gives several reasons of more
or less force which would be likely 70
occur to.any intelligent person, but he
adds one that seems peculiar as we'll as
honest He says
Nine tenths OF the vast sum appro-
priated by the Blair bill Tor the educa-
ton of the white youth of the south
| will be raised by the taxation of the
northern people. There is no intentions
| of educating the negroes. The south
ern whites dare not educate them. The
election and registration laws of South
Carolina are based on the inability of
the negroes 10 read. If they could
read and had the courage, they would
! regain political control of that tate
at the next election. | firmly believe
that the southern States snould be con
trolled by the white men who live
there. Ii the ignorance of the negroes
prevents them from voting under the
present election laws of the various
southern States, and this is fact, it
is absurd to say that the southern
white men intend to educate the
blacks.
The old southern notion-undoubt
edly correct-w that high degre?
Of intelligence among the colored peor
pie was incompatible with the existence
of slavery, and hence the law against
teaching slaves TO read. 1t is no doubt
true-and the white people of the south
must know it-that general education
of the colored children, such as the
Blair bill is intended To bring about,
would inevitably result III the success
| full assertion of the colored mans right
to vote and to have his vote counted.
1t is useless for anybody to expect
as Mr.. Wilkerson appears to, that a
great body of voters like the negroes
at the south can in the long rul have
| the right of the ballot without eNercis-
ing it, Even if il is held in abeyan. q
through one generation. it will strug-
g!e into sight in another. In the course
OF time either the negro viii be disfran-
chised by law, or he will vote Rs freely
as the white does. Nobody expects
that any class Of men who have once
been admitted 10 ths full rights of cit
izenShip in the United States will ever
be deprived of one jot or title of the
privileges that belong to them. The
only way OF safety for the south is 10
education of every child, black or
white. upon its soil. llliteracy among
the whites, which prevails to such a
terrible extent al the sodth, Is no bet
ter than illiteracy among the blacks
The people of the Republican north
have very generally acquiesced in the
plan TO devote portion of the nation
al revenue to the education according
TO the needs OF the various sections o.
the country IA measured by their illit
eracy. The prime object is to mak,
the blacks of the south more worthy
of citizenship-to undo, as far as L.a!
be, the wrong of ignorance that ha
been forced upon them both by custom
; and by statute law for generations. -
Unless the southern members OF Con
, gress are Intentionally deceiving tn
country, Mr.. Wilkerson's view of tn
situation las northern democrat, i
less just to the blacks than the vie,
; held 10y the southern democrats gcner
ally. Detroit Post and Tribune.