Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-09-03
.MIstory versus Thurman.,,

flourish to an extent that is really mar
velous. Because Judge THURMAN has not
imposed such an imprudent falsehood upon
his hearers, the Journal is pleased to repre-
sent the Judge as carrying over the coun-
try "a stupendous, plethoric, well-condi-
toned and plausible lie."
Is Judge THURMAN guilty as thus
charged?
The testimony of all travellers IN Africa
Is concurrent that the natives of that land
the Africans-have not yet taken the first
steps in civilization They are as barbar-
ic to-day as they were thousands of years
ago. They are indolent and sensual. Out
side of Missionary circles, they know moth
ing of God or Christianity. This is indis-
putable, and is familiar to every man and
woman who has paid any attention to
Africa and the Africans. Judge THURMAN,
then, is certainly justified, by the facts, in
saying that the Africans in their native
land have made ''no advance in civilization,
no increase in wealth."
Jamaica, in length is about $50 miles and
in width about 90 miles. 1t is the largest
aud most valuable of the British West In
dia Islands. In 1874, its population was
Whites 1919; Negroes 293, ,12s; Mulattoes
6S,529. The census of 1861 showed this
population: Whites 1856; Mulattoes 81, ,O65
Negroes 346,374. This is the, last census
taken in Jamaica of which we have any
knowledge. AT that time the whole num-
Der of persons who could read was set
down as SO,724, and 50,726 as able to read
aud write.
The value of the exports of Jamaica 1--WE
quote from the Cyclopedia of Commerce,
published by Harper & Bros, of New
York city, were, before Emancipation
Value of Exports.
1903. t3 ,O33s "a
1ol0. 2,SO3.579
AFTER EMANCIPATION.
1883. .f837,276
1854 932.3l
The movable and immovable property
of Jamaica was once estimated at nearly
$2500OO,0O0, and in 1851 it had fallen off to
about 81, 800, 600; and Mr.. WEsTMoRELAND,
in speech in the Jamaica House of As
sembly stated that it was believed that the
falling off in 1852 would be nearly or fully
$10,000,0O0 more. From report made to
the Jamaica House of Assembly of the
number and extent of the plantations
abandoned during the years 1913, 49, 80,
'51, so, it appears that 12S, sugar estates
were abandoned, and II partially aban-
doned, and 96 coffee plantations were aban-
doned and &C were partially abandoned.
Thus in the brief space of five years 391, ,1S7
acres were thrown out of cultivation.
Earl GREY, in the House of Lords, Eng
land, on the 10th of June, 1852, inspeaking
of the negroes in Jamaica. said:
SIT was established by statistical facts
that the negroes aoere idle and falling back IN
ciUtlizdttOn."
The testimony of Sir II. LIGHT and Gov.
RARKLEY is, that 1.-The majority of the free
negroes of the West Indies are living in
idleness." Captain HAMILTON. in testifying
before a select committee of Parliament,
stated that Jamaica. without any exag-
geration, had become desert"
In 1850, ,.JoHN BIGELow, Esq, then one OF
the editors of the Neu York Eueninq Post,
one of the most influential Republican
papers in the country, visited Jamaica.
Truth compelled him to say that notwith-
standing that island is as prolific as any in
the world, the lands run wild, and that a
decline in the prosperity of the Island had
been going on from year to year, and that
so improvident were the Negroes that ''the
Island has reached what would appear to
be the last profound of distress and misery,
when thousands of people do not know,
when they rise in the morning, whence or
in what manner they are to procure bread
for the day. Ex-Governor WOOD, of Ohio,
In 1853, visited Jamaica, and in relation to
the condition of affairs therein, he said:
ssSince the Blacks have been liberated,
they have become indolent, insolent, de-
graded and dishonest. They are rude,
beastly set of vagabonds, lying naked
about the Streets as filthy rs the Hotten-
tots, and believe worse. On getting to the
wharf of Kingston, the first thing the
Blacks of both se1es, perfectly naked, come
sWarming about the boat, aud would dive
for Small pieces of coin that were thrown
by the passengers. On entering the city
the stranger is ANNOYED to death by Black
beggars at every step and you must often
show him your pistol or an uplifted cane to
rid yourself of their opportunities"
The report of the American and Foreign
Anti-Slavery Society, for 1858, says of
them:
s.Licentiousness prevails to most alarm
ing extent among the people,"
We have a mass. of testimony similar to
the foregoing; but we will make an extract
from the correspondence of the Boston Post
written in June last, suffice for Jamaica.
He writes:
s.In no country in the world has more
money been spent and more efforts been
made for the moral, intellectual and mate
rial improvement of the Negro than in Ja-
maica. Soon after emancipation the right
of the elective franchise was given to the
Black Man. He was allowed to hold
any office of trust which was at the
disposal of the people. A free school
system was devised and established,
with a free college or institution.
where the higher classics. the sciences and
mechanic arts were taught. All which an
enlightened nation could do for the pros
perity, the intellectual improvement and
morality of the Black man had been done
enough, one would certainly suppose, to
raise a community OF Whites to a most
prosperous state. Combined with this were
the advantages of wonderfully produc.
tive soil and salubrious climate"
And what is the result? He tells it in
these words:
s'After Emancipation the Negroes re.
mained on the old plantations. But the Lib
eralists from England began to teach then
tuat they should break loose from their ole
masters and settle ON the Government lands
or become tenants of the landholders. Thi,
fatal step they took. The Negro, finding
himself free from restraint, gave up work
He retained only sufficient vigor to plan
the few yams necessary to support life Oh
to pick the abundant fruits OF the tropics
his clothing was of the poorest kind, anc
in most cases was never removed from hi
person until it fell off; this neglect brough