St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-12
EDUCATIONAL rcsr

twill be strange leaf of American
history. II thrOu gh the negro shall
como the best ideal Of American sui.
tragA attainable. Yet such seems likely
to be the case. The constitutional con-
vention OF Mississippi In 1890 adopted
an educational test tor suffrage. The
suffrage provision required that every
eiector should be able to read tho con-
stltuti0n Of the state. or else that he
should be competent to understand any
section Of the constitution when read to
him, and able to give an intelligentin in
depreciation OF it.
OF course, it was at once said by in
tense partisans that this was a scheme
to disfranchise the negro majority In the
old slave state. In the convention the
strongest, most sincere and logical advo-
cate of the suffrage section was a ne
gro delegate. an ex-siave. He delivered
concise and mastery argument in
favor Of the proposition, and but for
the influence he exerted a different
clause than that adopted would have pre-
vailed. As the negro champion of the ed
ucational test predicted,i it gave the state
AtOOoOAA AtOiA COHUOuIlOu duhIOWu
after the proclamation of emancipation.
as well as inducing the coIored men to
qualify as electors, they really becom-
Ing pattern for the s'poor white trash,'
who. though not so numerous as the
negroes. were considerable and more
disreputable element OF the population.
In 1892 the state of Maine adopted by
constitutional amendment an education
al test for electors identical with that Of
Mississippi. In that state there were
no negroes to disfranchise, but the he.
cessity of ballot reform required drastic
remedy. and this was adopted as the
wisest and most hopeful to meet the ex.
igency.
In the early period all the New Eng
land states had property qualification,
but most of them abandoned it after a
comparatively brief trial, Rhode island
being the last one to expnnge it. which
was doue a few years ago. At this time
IN two states. Oregon and California,
constitutional suffrage amendments
have been submitted for the approval of
the people. These amendments en-
body the educational test adopted by
Mississippi and Maine. 1t IS anticipated
that the amendments will be adopted at
the November election. SO that in four
states will exist the educational test for
electors.
There are obvious reasons which will
occur to every thoughtful man why the
educational test is desirable, aud even
absolutely essential. 1t will be an an
tidote for illiteracy; it will require the
foreign citizen to acquire the use and
understanding of the language Of the
country in which he has taken up his
abode. Certainly it imposes no hard
ship to require of the elector that he
shall be able to read and comprehend
the constitution and to write his name
in English.
Minnesota ranks among the states as
having almost the largest per cent of
population who do not read or write in
the language of the country. .Assuredly
every man who desires to enjoy the
privileges and advantages OF American
residence should be chez rfully willing
to learn the language instead of being
content to remain in ignorance, as they
otherwise must, in regard to the insti-
tutions of the republic and the ques-
tions which, from time to time, come
under public consideration.
1t is hopeful indication that two
states have taken the step stated, that
two more are moving In the same dir &C.
ton. The educational test is so merito-
rious as to be worthy of universal adop-
ton; indeed, opposition to it may we'll
be considered as un-American. tending
to impair and impede, if not destroy, the
highest privilege of citizenship in the
republic.