The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-30

THE TINES. in all its editions. Morning. Even
ing. and Sunday will be sent 10 one address
for FIFTY CENTS per month. Addresses changed
as often a. 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 it's operation, equitable, and right
eous. 1t starts a reform which we trust
will sweep the country from end to end,
and terminate the disgrace of 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-
way Whatever might be said in crit
icism of these Commonwealth 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 temper
airy political colonists and repeaters
from the District of Columbia. lirg MIA.
and Pennsylvania, which has been
scandal and an outrage for many years.
Few if any of these criminals will 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
pIllory for her just course, the intelli-
gent public opinion of America will
honor her. and, before long. follow her
wise example. No one is injured by the
restrictions imposed If 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 il 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 a fit person to exercise
the suffrage. So that settles itself prop
erly and automatically.
II is shame to 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 OF nation. We
are not arguing for race or class dis
tinction in the ballot. II 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-
sonally in regard to public movements,
events. and the politics of the day is
morally not entitled to be one of the
nations electors and arbiters of its des-
tiny.
New York, Philadelphia, Boston. Chi
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-
Hitting the high and sacred right of
suffrage. Many Of those who ought To
be the buiwarks of the nation. ignore
their duty, and permit demagugues and
bribers to have the political field to
themselves. The excuse is that they
cannot compete in primaries and ward
" AAi4 TX -cAaAiSSh VII
der corrupt leadership. But were Hit
eracy once generally disfranchised |
local politics would be different mat
ter. Then reputable citizens would feel |
that they had chance. and would not |
shirk their responsibilities as. unhap- |
PLY. they have shirked them in the
past
The results Of such reform through !
out the land would be revolutionary. |
The Republican party would be certain |
TO lose its standing in several States, |
which Of late II has been in the habit of |
carrying with the help of illiterate |
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 will not be cast by a citizen
competent 10 judge Of the cause or can
didate receiving his support at the polls
Obsolete Language.
1t is said that while there is a strong
movement In Ireland for the revival Of
the ancient Irish language. it is differ
ent in Wales. A poll taken at Cardiff