The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-05-25
Do Not Forget 1908.
Wilmington Messenger.

-nSoCNhe"i'
Under the above heading the Sails
bury Sun calls attention to the TACT
that the year above named will soon
be upon us, and says:
"Do you know what it means to many
white people in this country? Ii the law
is faithfully and justly executed 1t VIII
mean that a man who cannot read his
ballot cannot vote.
Is not the Sun too sweeping IN us
assertion that after that year "a man
who cannot read his ballot cannot
vote" if it is meant to apply the
statement to all white men IN this
State? The Constitution provides
that any man not able to read his
ballot who had the right of suffrage
on January /, 1867, or whose ances-
tor enjoyed such privilege, would
still have the right to vote after the
year 1908, provided he had registered
before that date. Illiterate white men
who now have the right to vote under
the grandfather clause and all
such as come of age prior to Deem
Der 81, 1908, who register prior to
that date will not have the right OF
suffrage taken from them. But all
male citizens coming OF age after that
date must be able to read their bal
lots in order to vote, whether they
be descendants of former qualified
voters or not. The loss will apply
alike to all who come of age after
that date, and puts them in the same
class as the illiterates Of the present
time who cannot qualify under the
grandfather clause"
This, though, should not lessen
general interest in the subject OF edu-
cation, especially of the PRESENT gen
Grafton of youths. The percentage
of illiterates among them should be
decreased. 1t should be attended to
that as large a number as possible OF
the young white men OF the State
coming of age in the next few years
should receive a common school edu-
cation. The disfranchisement OF the
negro under this amendment to the
Constitution is only temporary. Each
year a larger number OF the males OF
this race are qualifying themselves as
voters The percentage OF illiterate
negroes coming of age is decreasing
each year. Each generation OF ne
groes is taking greater interest in
education. By 1908 there will be a
much larger number of negroes quail
flied to vote than there are now.
The danger is that the increase among
the white youths qualifying them
col ,-nl " Ill or hn a 1rpa0f n nrnnnr-
ton to the population.
This view of the matter should be
continually and seriously impressed
upon our white population. Alter
1908 education among the white
people will be of vastly greater i'm
portance politically than it is now.
Unless more interest is taken in it
than at present by the white people
especially in the rural districts we
are afraid there will be a good many
young men who on coming OF age
will find themselves disfranchised. OF
course such persons can qualify them
selves by learning to read, but very
few men do this. A man who reaches
his majority without having Il rudi-
mentary education is not apt to &C
quire it later From now the effort
should be made to have every white
boy in the State taught to read and
write. Enough money is being spent
by the State, the counties and towns
to do this. Those who fail to acquire
this small amount OF education have
no one to blame but themselves or
their parents. Those young white
men who after 1908 find themselves
debarred the right to vote cannot
blame the laws and the Constitution
OF this State. The fault will be their
own. They have had plenty of notice
as to what the consequences would
be and have been given sufficient op-
pOrtunity to qualify themselves.