Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-19
THE SUFFRAGE PROBLEM.
How en Educational Test Would
Work I'm Virginia.

] n ~
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
Overwhelming statistics can be produced
TO prove that no State or country under
the modern conditions of life IS holding
It's own in the struggle for supremacy
where considerable portion Of its popu-
lation is illiterate
Never In the history Of the human race
has the fact that knowledge is power
been so pre-eminently true as it IS to-
DAY. The ignorant man whose mind and
faculties are unframed cannot hope 10
compete with his more intelligent neigh
Dor In the most mental occupations Of
life. Labor-saving appliances. demand
Ing trained mind and hand, are now
used in every department Of human labor.
and the uneducated are doomed to hone
less poverty.
Should any Of your readers be opposed
10 popular education let them compare
England where per cent. Of the adults
are lllterate, with Russia, where s. per
cent. OF the adults are nliteratc. Ger
many, where only 4 per cent. Of the
adults are illiterate, with Spain. W. re e
per cent. OF the adults are nliterate:
france where 10 per cent. Of the ADULTS
are illlterate, with Austria, where d per
cent. or the adults are illterate; the
republic OF Switzerland. where 8 per cent
Of its adults are iliterate. with italy
where 80 per cent. of the adults are ilite-
rate; Scotland, where only per cent.
OF the adults are illiterate. with ireland.
where . per cent. of the adults are
ilhterate. These comparisons, which can
be almost indefinitely extended. Should
speak volumes to those whose duty il
70 to legisate for the people of Virginia.
II Is painful reading TO a Nrgnian 10
ind that according to the United States
census Of 1850 over 30 per cent. Of tie
population OF the State over 10 wears
Of age Is stll illiterate. There has been.
II Is true, large increase In the last
two years in our school population. but
sun the fact remains that about one third
or our population seems doomed 10 hope
less poverty. \ population which must
for years 10 come be a menace 10 good
government. for with intelligence and ac-
cumuiated wealth come respect for law,
and with II an enormous decrease in the
cost of enforcing the law.
Any legislation which viii tend 10 re-
move superstition and ignorance from
the minds OF almost one third Of our pop
ulation should be fearlessly adopted.
1t does not seem possible for a voter
TO form a very correct opinion on any
great public question of the day to whom
the achievements Of the printing press
are sealed.
There could be no greater incentive 10
education than an educational qualiiica-
ton as a qualification for voting. Let a
parent once fully realize that his children
cannot hope to have voice in the gov
eminent OF his State unless they shall
he viii see to it that they are sent 10
school The children will themselves re-
alize the necessity OF education.
IT IN claimed by some well-informed
Virginians that an educational qualifi-
cation would give an undue advantage TO
the black man over the white. II Is
claimed that the negro Is educating his
children while the poor white is not.
Statistics do not seem TO indicate this.
III 1t was the case. there could be no
stronger reason why the State should
hold out 10 the white man some greater
incentive TO educate his children.
As a matter OF fact in 1890 10y the
United States census) only II per cent of
the white population OF Virginia over 10
years of age was illiterate, while 81 per
cent. Of the colored population was iliite-
rate. The State has for years past offer-
ed every inhabitant Of Virginia under
% years Of age q common school educa-
ton. She may not have given every
citizen an opportunity TO acquire a given
amount of property. She can claim that
there is no valid excuse why any Of her
people should be iliiterate.
Let the State Of Virginia adopt such a |
constitutional amendment as Will exclude /
from suffrage. and from the list Of regis |
tered voters, all who cannot read the /
Constitution OF the State and write their /
names in English and II the experience |
OF other States and countries IS a safe /
guide, Virginia will IN the next decade
make strides which viii surprise her
most optimistic friends.
Should such an an educational qualif- |
cation seem a hardship 20 her old soldiers.
who were giving their bodies as a living
breastwork In defence OF their State.
While others were at school, let her
exempt all old soldiers from the educa-
tional qualification. Some OF the New
England States make exemptions in favor
OF old soldiers. and Vermont excludes
ex-Confederates from suffrage. No man
can safely claim 10 be able TO read the
state Constitution when II can be so
easily proven he cannot do so Trickery
and fraud can be easily exposed pub
lie sentiment will be aroused which will
the questionable use OF
money In our elections. whether that
money be subscribed by individuals or
AS in England. where
Of Parliament was recently I'M
seated because his agent Illegally used
money 10 feed the horses OF friends fur
nished gratuitousiy 20 transport his cleo
tors. so In Virginia we Will have free
and unbiased expression Of opinion by
and enlightened electors.
J. Il b.