Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-09
educational Qualifications.

The Harrisonburg Spirit has Joined the ranks
Of The Republican censorers OF the South who
sry to make capital for tne1r party by charging
chat tho negro vote In the South IL suppressed
ID says:
"south Carolina has seven members OF the
Hoass Of Representatives and Kansas has exact
" the same number. Now, the total vote cast
fdr tho candidates IN thoao soven districts IN
eouth Carolina was 300'7. while the total vote
easi for the candidates in the seven districts OF
Kansas was 27O,lSo. DO net these figures speak
Noiumesf
What wouk the Spirit have Are the negroes
% be forced 70 loarn 70 read aud compelled
" vote! II not why complain that they stay AZ
nome on election dsy9 II 10 true South Caro-
ina has what ~ called an educational qualih-
cation y; but Massachusetts, has al educational
qualification also. The Nation comedies that
ylsere IL no difference 10 kind between the edu-
saaopsl Qualification required In South Carolina
and the educational qualification required In
Massachusetts In Massachusetts, tho person
xsyorlns 70 vote must DO able 70 reed the Con-
stftution Of the United States In South Caro-
Sua the person Offering to vote must be- able 10
read wis, is vrit1en or printed or painted upon
me ballot-boxes Certainly. IL does not require
greater intnligeoce 20 read the words, For
Covernor,s or "For lieuteDantI3oyernor," or
~ror Acknowledgement" upon the outside OF
balIos-box thsn II docs 10 read the Constitution
OF the United states Ia book. In the case OF
she ballot boz tho lertors used are prooaoiya
hundred or perhaps thousand times as large
O. are Tie lottersfa q book.
The head asd front Of the offending OF South
Carolina hath this extent-no more" She Will
NOS allow a maa 70 vote. whether he Ii white or
black who cannot distinguish ono baliotbox
from another by the inscriptions, or labels. or
words painted upon tbom. Is this requirement
ahardship7 Ia man entitled 70 vote who will
not learn 10 read those few words7 Does such a
man value the right OF suffragef How many
hours would IL take any man, white or black, 10
learn 10 distinguish between the words " For
Congress and the words For Governor il
. man greatly wronged who declines to become
q voter upon these liberal terms
But above all, is there any suppression OF tho
negro vote IN the operation Of a constitutional
provision which keeps from the bsloI-oox Whito
men az well "a black ones7 There IS in the
case before US no distinction ION account OF
race. color, or previous condition Of serVitude."
All. Negroes and Caucssians. have known for
long time Just what thoy would have 10 do In
order 10 be allowed 70 vote. No snap-tudgment
was taken against them. They have now had
wears In which 10 learn 10 reGd a dozen such
words as For the Senate" or For Sheriff."
and yet have not qualified themselves 70 vote.
Shall We exclaim,
.~You who have tears prepare TO shed them
nor,"
over the neglect or failure Of the negroes TO
vote and not have a word Of censure for them
for the low value which they place upon the in
srument
(which executes a froeman's will
As lightning does the will OF God"7
In 1885 In one congressional district in Nassa-
ichusetts only 1884 votes we're cast The same
lyear In the Third district this disuicD OF Viz
lginia there were $3.50 votes cast Was the
white vote suppressed in Massachusetts,
The northern people are learning that the
Isouthern people have dinicult problem to
solve, and that we solve il better ourselves
than with their assistance Let not the SPIRIT undo
mis- good work nor again arouse the prejudices
of our northern brethren against the people OF
Chs section.