Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-11
SIXTEEN PAGES
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY Il. 1900.
WHY SHALL @T9OD CITIZENS BE
CIVlLLY DEGRADED1

1t isla primary principle in govern
ment that the broader the foundation
Of a State, the larger its constituency
OF free and equal citizens. the safer and
stronger 1t is, and the more likely are
fits affairs to be conducted with a due
4 regard to the rights and interests of
ell On this foundation only can the
\ stability, reace, prosperity and strength
i OF my State be assured. Per contra,
any reduction of the actual constitu-
q ent body is sure 10 do injury to the
S State by the sense of wrong and injus-
+ graded; and this feeling is certain to
& extend to mnny others, not only by
I sympathy, but from the reason OF the
matter. If any cause can Justify any
such experiment of reduction, it should
\ he and must be Il very grave one: and
the Just and logical connection between
the proposed reduction and the hoped
forNsood results SHOULD be close and ne
4 ccssaf;y A mere prejudice against or
q contemptuous differentiation of the
elements\ proposed to be degraded are
very dangerous advisers in such grave
subjects.
6B Leave the negro out of the discussion,
and consider only the white men who
must inevitably be disfranchised under
any law to limit the suffrage in Vir
ginia that can escape the provisions OF
the Federal constitution. the supreme
law of the land. Either property.
educational or poll-tax qualification is
certain to disfranchise many white men,
3 and either qualification will deprive a
great many of the suffra germany
good and true men, who have approved
themselves SO in every relation Of life
5i'.N0 matter" say the thoughtless. IF
they are poor and ignorant, cannot read
nor understand their State constitu
tion, and have no property, they are
a worthless lot. "Yet many of the
most learned and pious men in the
State possess no real property, and
very little of any other taxable prop
erty; and among our white Voters VII
havefno ian1 moi meney, and who can
not read are no few men who were he
roes Tor their State and for what they
believed to be their rights as free men.
Anybody who chooses to observe such
things, must be struck with the fact
that reading and writing are really
needed very little in the actual affairs
of life: .iand that both can be dispensed
,r{t1, a., west ~, ~ otJora ,v;tboi,t INV
great loss to anybody. Another fact
!. the observer Will note Is that compar-
!, atiyely few persons who can read and
write do either. or very little that is
& OF any good wha teyer. There was q
time when scholars were little thought
of. and when great Kings. statesmen
and warriors, unskilled with the pen.
made their signatures with cross
mark, as orr untaught people do to-
day. But these ancient illiterates were
men among men, the leaders of their
people. and often the sages of their
age. Men Of sense. ability and charac-
Ser are born, not made; and many a
learned fool, especially in this very
matter Of government has had to bow
obeea,ronsly in the train Of unlettered
Snasters OF their age.
Men are the same to-day. 1t is
Z aeither education nor property: useful
4 as boil, are. that make true manhood.
or Indicate II. Gather a congregation
! af educntcd and learned men in any
comtnunity, and an assessment will re-
veal that onl y q very small minority, II
1 3sass ars Wealt Thy. They care more fol