New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-06
NCRE1SE And PROSPERITY or TN
FREEDMEN.

The recent registrations and elections at the South
have demonstrated that the colored race are not
dying of ut anything like the rate which leading
Johnsouites and Democrats were predicting On the
contrary it is quite the reverse. They don't die
worth a cent" Gov Sharkey two year, ago testified
that about half Of them had died of in Mississippi
Yet they are alive and voting This has Ted 90 the
charge that the registrations must Doe incorrect for
fine theory that "hr negroes like the Indians cannot
survive n state of competition with the whites, and
are gradually passing away is too good a one To- be
lightly abandoned This charge has induced Gen. O.
O. Howard of the Frccdmcn's Bureau TO make %
statement from the facts and CURES lu ms posses
sion bearing ON the point lie states HAT thc mclgcr
statistics ON which 20 had been reported that DE coll
ored population of tho rural districts u some parts of
the South had diminished are more than couutcrhal-
anced by the great number Of blacks who have
hocked TO the towns and villages. and the cou,ideIa-
bic number who have come North and found homes.
From The Washington District alone 1900 have come
90 the North.
Assuming the colorcd population 10 have increased
from 1850 TO I-,j 40 the same ratio 81, from 1850 90
$780, ., per cent or from 10 to l-Go. % per cent
and the colorcd population 90 the outbreak OF the
Rebellion numbering ael35s9, would have amounted
al the close of the war 20 43--ol. or increase boz
five wears Of fii $50 persons Excepting the number.
about 5000 enrolled iu tho Union army. thc entire
colored population was but little exposed to thc haI-
ards and yicisstudcs Of the war. aud 90 great cN-
tent aborcd on n physical health and safety through
out the struggle. But granting that the oolorod
population increased al the rate a- the white.
and suffered the same los, from the wai viz; i0 per
cent. and the total iu $50 would ,ul amount Co
U2C5a
The effects NJ emancipation todiminish the African
L.. a.. f..1rt
can have no parallel in the Southern States. because
in the West Indies the previous increase and aggrc
gate supply was not the result of natural growth
and reproduction. but Of constant importation from
Africa by the slayc-tradcrs. In the South the slave
trade has been suspended for half century, and the
slpplv prior 10 the Rebellion resulted from IeprOdur
ton. In the West Indies thcy wore ignorant. bar
bafou, unchri-tiauizcd. aud divided among them
,elyes-tle blacks. mulattoes and mafoons beng
each al war with the other. In the South they are
at peace The creole masters of the West Indies
were OF lower Grade Of intellect and Therefore did
not exert upon the negroes an equally ciyilZng and
christianizing influence with that eXered by the
Southern masters during the 30 years Of the dura-
ton of Slavery a large portion OF the freedmen
were either members OF Christian churches Or ire
Ouent attendants on divine service, and impressed
with Christian influences. The best argument
against tho theory OF Tie RiddHA tAtlh'-
lion Of the colorcd race by their alleged
thriftlessncss is found in the fact that
despite the damaging rains and the overflow iu the
Mississippi Valley during the present year. the cot
ton cropof 1861 is estimated by tie Bureau Of Stats
ties at 100000 bales being nearly twO-thirds of the
largest crop ever produced, and the grain crop rs
double any ever before raised in the Southern States
while there has been fair yield OF rice sugar. and
tobacco This is the product mainly Of coloTcd labor
I'm spite of all the obstacles thrown in its way and
the refusal Of the landed monoposts of some see
tons TO employ free labor still bett9r measure of
the laborers Thrift is the amount of his savings The
freedmen have deposited during the present year
the savings banks established by the Bureau. nearly
as 100000 all of which is invested in United states
bonds aud bears them interest at per cent.
IL Louisiana the taxable property Of colorcd per
sons amounts to nearly slsOOO0O yet there, in all
the Southern States, they are excluded from the
public schools that their taxes contribute to support
II isestimacd that besides the 2e OO0coorcd children
in schools reported to the Bureau 100000 at
tending schools not officially reported. This fact
has stimulated emulation among the whites, who
are seeking education lest they should be left behind
in the race. Gen Howard concludes by recommend
ing liberal grants of land for the endowment Of a
Through and uniform system Of public schools in
fine south and asserts that the impartial historian
will record that the negroes OF the United States
have already demonstrated that they are not only
brave and Trustworthy soldiers IN wal but loyal aud
industrious citizens m peace.
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