At the time they were first made, it was calculated
that "more than half a million of voters, scattered over
half the Union," were absolutely and notoriously incompe-
tent, from entire illiteracy, to any intelligent discharge of
the public duties intrusted to them ; and it was well added,
in the report, that " this large class of uneducated voters
are not merely citizens and voters of the States in which
they respectively reside ; they are also citizens of the
United States. The power which they wield and the in-
fluence which they exert is not merely local ; it is co-exten-
sive with the Union. Their votes may decide the issues
of peace or war ; they may control presidential elections
and give shape to the policy of the nation ; they are en-
titled to participate in the election of President and Vice-
President, of members of the House of Representatives,
and of the State Legislatures which choose Senators of the
United States ; they elect Governors and legislators of
their respective States, and in many States, judges, clerks,
sheriffs, supervisors, magistrates, and almost every officer
intrusted with the administration of public affairs; they
are themselves eligible to all positions of honor, trust, and
emolument, and legally competent to act as judges or to sit
as jurors, involving the most sacred rights of life, liberty,
and property."

This was said or written in 1880. If there were more
than half a million of such absolutely illiterate and incom-
petent voters in the Southern States then, there must be a
much larger number now. Every year has added to the
number, and must continue to add to the number until



1886] OF THE PEABODY EDUCATION FUND. 309

some adequate remedy has been provided. It is often
charged, justly or unjustly, that the colored people in some
parts of the South are deprived of the free exercise of their
elective franchise. But the exercise of that franchise, in
order to be free, must be intelligent ; and there is no
deprivation of it more positive or less excusable than the
keeping of those entitled to it in a condition of brutal
ignorance. Nor will anything have contributed so much
to make the colored people the easy subjects of deception,
intimidation, and corruption. 