Year: 1876

The New England Journal of Eiuea-
ton, which has some very fine theories
for the ed ucation Of the people, faces at
last the question in practical way, in
and editorial on the "The Danger to
which we are exposed by illiterate voters
The editor says:


"There are two millions of illiterate
voters in the United States. They may
and can elect the next PRECEDENT of the
United States; they may and can elect
a majority of the membe rs of our Ma
tional Congress, and in eight of the
Southern States, at least they may and
can elect Sta te officers and control the
governments. This state of things in a
monarchy might be tolerated for a sea-
son with safety, so long as the governing
power was wise, and sustained by a well
disciplined soldiery, really at any mo-
ment to repress violence and quench
rebellion But under a government of
the people those facts are of the most
alarming nature, and should awaken the
most serious apprehensious, not only
with reference to the Wretched condition
of life under when such uuexcusabI9 ig-
nOranee exists, but also the uses TO which
such a mass Of dangerous power may be
put, and the fearful perils towards which
it tend4. And as a Presidential election
approaches, we are led TO consider the
practical character and tendency Of this
irresponsible power. And in such
crisis as 4 great popular election, it does
not affect the moral character of illi:er-
acy per Sc that 1t casts it's vote on this
cr that side of party lines. 1t is the un-
certainty of the issue which makes the
element SO dangerous. The man With
out education is the easy prey to pas
sion, and the ready dupe of designing
men. Appeals to passions rather than
to patriotism move the ignorant The
argument of threat, of personal intimi-
d ton, of paltry gain, or of personal
comfort weighs more powerfully with
him than the conscious value of princi-
pies of public justice, economy, and
virtue; and herein lies the danger. When
the excitement of partiZAn warfare IS
hottest. and the pass ions of men are
aroused; the mobile crowd moves in
obedience to the strongest passion, and
and like a rolling ballast in a ship, it
may be safe cargo on a smooth sea,
but the fatal shipwreck comes fro m the
shifting nature Of its dead but destroy
ing forces.


Commissioners Eaton, in his annual
report Oh 4otI, commenting upOu Gi6
alarming fac,s brought to light by the
census of 1870, we'll says:


But these tremendous figures do not
show the extent of this threatening evil,
for the measure of future adult illiteracy
is found IN the present record of the
number of children growing up with
out a knowledge Of the rudiments of
learning.


Were an invading hostile army to
threaten our frontiers, the whole people
would rise in arms to repel them; but
these tables show the musterings of
the hosts of d deadlier foe, more re-
lentless enemy. already within our own
borders, and by our very f7esides;
great army of ignorance, growing ever
stronger, denser, and more invincible.


Ten years without schools for chill
dren will ensure an adult generation of
ignorant citizens, who, In losing the
knowledge of, will have lost the desire
for letters Athens sank rapidly sill its
transcendant fame became only a tradi
tion- Hostile barbarians plunged Rome
into q long night of ignorance.