The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-24

prejudices against free schools, and many
more have been unable 10 avaii 'he'"-
selves even OF free schools. But we care
not what the cause may be, ana VINO may
be responsible for It. The fact Is '"a'
there is a large body OF our white Fellow
citizens who cannot read or "'i'e' "'"'
the great body OF them live In the cou"-
try. where they have been brought UP III
the fear of God and under the most cob-
servatiye Influences. They are hohest'
bravo and. though they cannot read. IN
telligent men. far better quaiified 10 exef-
else the suffrage intelligently and safeiy
than thousands of those who dwell In the
cities and have learned to read at the
nubllc free schools. Whoever served In
the ranks an Confederate soldier knows
that these men and their fathers were
the essential backbone of that Confed-
crate army which sustained Its country
with a heroism and devotion that have no
sort OF parallel In the worlds history.
Are we 10 be told that men who cheer
fully barred their bosoms TO the bullets
OF their country's enemies, while starving
and freezing for four long years, shall
have their voices stifed when their coun-
trys action is in question, merely because
they were never trained up TO that men,
tai legerdemain and trick OF combining
letters and words which we call reading
and writing?
And are the sons of these men. VINO
have inherited from Their fathers al
their love OF country, their heroic spirit
their self-respect. and their sympathes
and reverence for what is great and good'
10 be branded amongst their neighDors as
unfit to have a voice In the RUE OF mat
country for which their fathers Willingly
offered their lives. merely because those
fathers. in the terrible exgencies in when
the war left them, have faiied 10 give
them a school education? Are we TO ne
fold that these men and their fathers
were III 10 cheerfully interpose their per-
sons between their country and that rate
which cruel and remorseless foe had
reserved for her, but that they are not
fit 10 have a voice in determining on the
laws and rulers that that country shall
have? We care not what the alternative
may be, we will never consent to 1t. They
were no drawer than other Confederate
soldiers They could not storm battery
ar receive the fire of line of bat'le
with any more steadiness than their fci-
lows. But, with no interest in the cause
but love of country and pride IN their
manhood, they patiently endured all mat
men can endure, without murmur or
complaint to the end. and we VIII never
consent TO see them or their sons put at
a disadvantage with their neighbors' we
care not what is offered as the alterna-
tive.
TIE blood does not course as quickly
through our veit.s as 1t die thirty years
ago, but if anything could ever tempt Us
TO take up arms again it would De 'ha'
we might fight in the cause of these men,
I'm resistance to any such attempt 10 put
a dishonorable brand upon them. we
knew them in the war. and we Khe"
them TO be made Of the sternest ana
the truest stuff. They are citizens whose
mental and moral qualities entiue them
to an equal voice in their countrys rule
and we shall contend for their right 10 IL
while breath remains in this mortal
frame.
We are not writing this for their eyes,
for their disabilities forbid them to read
q lint there are others like ourselves,
who only need to hear the proposition OF
disfranchsemen of these men presented
TO them. to have it instantly secuted ana
resented.