The times., 1901-03-30
The nisfranchisement of Ignorance,

for FIFTY CENTS per month. Addresses changed
often desired
The Disfrnnchiscment of Ignorance.
The tone of the Northern Republican
press in relation to the passage, by the
Legislature Of Maryland. of Law dis
franchising citizens unable to read is
altogether partisan. illogical, and mex
cusable. The Maryland law is timely
greatly needed. and in every way equal
in its operation. equitable and right
eous. It starts reform which we trust
win sweep the country from end to end,
and terminate the disgrace Of a suf-
frage in every State Of the Union ex-
ercised by a greater or less proportion
of voters who have not the remotest
idea of what they are voting for.
1t is the disingenuous policy Of our
Northern Republican contemporaries TO
confuse the action of Maryland with
that of North Carolina, Mississippi. and
Louisiana, which States also have legis-
lated to purge illiteracy from their vot-
ing masses. but in an entirely different
way Whatever might be said in crit
icism of these Commonwealths on ethi-
cal or constitutional grounds could not
be made to apply To Maryland. That
Commonwealth deserves the highest
credit and praise for rescuing itself
from conditions which have made its
elections a mockery Of universal suf-
frage. In its particular case, and that
is the gravamen of the Republican re
sentiment. Maryland has not only elimi-
mated ignorance from the free ballot as
far as her own inhabitants are con
cerned. but has taken an effective step
in the direction of preventing the hith-
erto customary importation Of tempor-
airy political colonists and repeaters
from the District of Columbia, Eirg MIA.
and Pennsylvania, which has been a
scandal and an outrage for many years
Few if any Of these criminals viii be
found available under the new law, for
only in rare cases can persons with any
education be induced to take the risks
of detection and punishment involved
in such penitentiary offences.
Instead Of putting Maryland in the
pilIory for her just course. the intelH-
gent public opinion Of America Will
honor her, and, before long follow her
wise example. No one is injured by the
restrictions imposed. If a citizen does
not know how to read. he has only TO
go and learn. Surely the right to par
ticipate in the government Of one Of the
greatest nations on the earth ought TO
be worth that small effort. And if the
DISTINGUISHED illiterate is too lazy or too
stupid to acquire so small a matter of
education. that is sufficient evidence
that he is not fit person to exercise
the suffrage. SO that settles itself prop
erly and automatically.
It is a shame 30 think that in many
American localities the voice Of citizens
who know what they are about, and
have earnest and enlightened views Of
affairs. policies. and administration is
neutralized by ignorant and often venal
numbers who know nothing and care
less concerning the effect Of their votes
upon the welfare Of State or nation We
are not arguing for race or class dis
tinc'ion in the ballot. It matters moth
ing whether ignorance is represented in
persons native born or naturalized-of
American. English, Scotch, Irish, Ger
man. Scandinavian, Hungarian, Rus
sian. Italian. French. Spanish, or Afri-
can extraction. The man who cannot
read the papers and inform himself per
sonaliy IN regard to public movements,
events. and the politics Of the day is
morally not entitled to be one Of the
nations electors and srbiters Of its des-
tiny
cago, and San Francisco. and more
places and districts in our component
States from the Atlantic to the Pacific
than could be remembered in a week
are in crying need Of election laws like
that of Maryland. The country gener-
ally has fallen into an evil habit Of be 1
HttIing the high and sacred right Of
suffrage Many OF those who ought 10 /
be the bulwarks Of the nation. ignore I
their duty, and permit demagOgues and /
bTibers 10 have the political field 70 I
themselves. The excuse is that they
cannot compete in primaries and ward I
meetings with organized ignorance un- /
der corrupt leadership. But were hit /
eracy once generally disfranchised. /
local politics would be a different mat
ter. Then reputable citizens would feel
that they had a chance. and would not 1
shirk their responsibilities as. unhap-
PLY. they have shirked them in the
past
The results Of such a reform through
out the land would be revolutionary.
The Republican party would be certain
TO lose its standing in several States
which OF late it has been in the habit Of
carrying with the help Of illlterate
voters and imported repeaters But the
effect upon American elections would
be excellent and welcome. We can only
trust that the day may soon come when
not vote shall be cast for President.
Governor, or Representative in Con
gress which viii not be cast by a citizen
competent TO judge Of the cause or can
didate receiving his support al tie polls
Obsolete Language.
II is said that while there is strong
movement In Ireland for the revival Of
the ancient Irish language it is differ
ent in Wales. A poll taken at Cardiff
op.the question whether children sho1tId