The Washington times., 1901-07-29
yIrginia's Illiternte Voters,

The figures showing the extent Of IL
are especially interesting at this time,
in view of the proposition to introduce
an educational requirement into the
suffrage law of the State. 1t appears
that the total number of white males Of
voting age is 301,37 OF these, little
more than twelve per cent, or &c, ,493, are
classed as illiterates. The colored
voters number ,122, of whom fifty
two per cent, or 1874, are illiterate.
This clearly indicates two things: First.
that, except possibly in certain locali-
ties, there is no danger OF the negroes,
standing by themselves, dominating the
politics of the State, although they
might do SO measurably by combining
with minority of the white voters;
second, that a general disqualification
on the ground of illiteracy will make
white supremacy absolutely assured.
Such provision would leave the white
vote 264, ,SS6, and the colored vote 1888,
the whites outnumbering the blacks
nearly four to one. sJaq,
The figures as given also show the alb
surdity of any such exceptions in favor
of the illiterate whites as would be in
volved in adopting the much mooted
grandfather clause" The purpose of
this device is to reduce white disfran-
chisement to a minimum, thus doubly
assuring the preponderance of the
white vote. and at the same time favor
ing especially those illiterates who are
of native ancestry. This latter consid-
Grafton is entitled to no weight at all;
and even If it were upon moral grounds,
it would be the height of political un-
wisdom to so embody it into suffrage
law as to endanger its constitutionality.
1t is possible that if the Supreme Court
should decide the grandfather clause
to be unconstitutional it might still up
hold the remainder OF the law, although
that is very doubtful. But If this clause
alone were held invalid, of course its
purposes would be defeated, while If the
entire law were to be overthrown, the
work of revision would go for naught
and SO far as suffrage Is concerned, the
State would remain right where it is
now.
A sweeping disfranchisement of all
illiterates could hardly be held uncon-
stitutional upon the ground that it af-
fected more blacks than whites. The
Federal Constitution merely provides
that the negroes shall not be disfran-
chised on account of race. color, or pre-
vious condition of servitude. The Ques-
ton of disfranchisement on the ground
of illiteracy is not touched. If illiteracy
is a universal disqualification regard
less cf color, 1t can make no possible
difference which race is affected in the
larger numbers. If the percentage of
illiteracy among the blacks is high, it
furnishes all the more reason for dis
reimbursement on that score; for, ii ig-
norance is TO be deemed Objectionable
in voter, the more ignorance there is
the greater the objection becomes, no
matter what the color of the voter
may be.
The uneducated sons or grandsons of
men who could vote are entitled to no
favors whatever upon any ground. so
far as the franchise goes. If in any
case the proposed discrimination could
with propriety be made in their behalf,
there certainly is no political point to
be gained by doing so in Virginia, for
even of the thirty-six thousand white
illiterate voters there must be many
who do not come under the grand
father clause"