Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-09-09
DECLINE OF THE NEGRO RACE IN
. .tE THE SOUTH. '-.s

The following, from the Marion (Ga.)
Journal and HssSenger, contains so much
of melancholy interest and so much food
for reflection that we invite for it a care
full reading:
The negro population of Georgia is trav
elling with giant strides towards total ex-
tinction So rapid is the decline, even
those living among it can see the decrease
very plainly. At the close Of the war all
restraints imposed upon servants by virtu-
ous masters were withdrawn, and the
freedmen and the freedwomen felt at lib
erty to do as they pleased. This quickly
resultcd-it was astonishing how quick
in almost universal lewdness. 1t is a
world wide fact that no race ever yet in
creased and fourished, which did not rig-
idly inculcate aud enforce, by the powers
of public opinion, the strictcst virtue
The negro, as a race, cares nothing for
this, and only practiced, in the days OF
bondage, habits OF morality because be
was forbidden indulgence In vice.
No one sees one negro infant to twenty
ten wears ago. Instead of the especial
emmissaries sent among them by North
ern fanatical associations teaching them
habits Of virtue, they join with them in
habits of lewdness, and, by their shame
less example, lead many of them on the
road To min. The white people of the
South have, in a measure, lost control OF
this population. Their former functions
have been assumed BY strolllng, irrespon-
sible men and women who had bad repu-
tations at home, and who find among this
simple minded people delicious field to
practice their operations. They are rap
idly destroying the race by pernicious pre-
cept and example.
A few years only will have elapsed be-
fore they will not be felt at the polls
Improvdent and irregular in their habits,
@iuttonouS in their diet, devOurng i'm
proper food, neglected IN sickness NOR
tally is prevailing among all ages 10 a
far greater extent than any oHe dreams of.
There are planters who used to own five
hundred who do not know of the existence
of one hun dred Of the number. Had they
not been freed, that family would to-day
number seven hundred at least. The idea
that they either live better or have more
freedom now than they used to is simply
ridiculous, They neither get the same
amount TO eat, drink or wear.
To one born and reared among them,
and who saw them in better days-days
when they were a thousand times more
happy than they are now-the dissolVing
view of this great phantom is curiously
interesting aud equally Instructive. Ii
shows how heaven sometimes creates ia
natical zeal and philanthropy TO a people
! for the purpose of destroying them. As
suming the form of friendship, the work of
demolition, is made the more easy and
certain and the poor victim only wakes
up in eternity to full realization OF the
means which, commencing with his moral.
was quickly followed by his bodily death,
We, sit as it were watching a panorama
which has ELECTED the attention of The
world, aud of " hich the world has grown
weary, roll away and rapidly pass from
the stage. To many it is a mournful sight
to others it is curious while the philoso
pher SEES only solution of a problem
whose every figure he has studied and
understands.