The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-03
III DUSKY EXODUS.
THE MIGRATION OF NEGROES THROUGH TIKI
SOI-Tu

THE MIGRATION OF NEGROES THROUGH THE
SOUTH.
The migration of negroes from Alabama
and Georgia is thus noticed by the New
Orleans Pacsyune Il is said by newsp-
paper correspondents that the colored labor
ers are migrating by Thousands toward
Missippi and Louisiana, and forthwith
many speculations are INDUCED in as to
what will be the result. 1t is said that the
regions bordering Immediately on the Miss
ippi and her lower tributaries will receive
the bulk of the negroes, and be controlled
politically by that race for years to come,
producing a profusion of races as well as
politics. 1t is deduced as a cOllary that the
rest of the south will be speedily filled
with white laborers who will occupy the de-
serted plantations. In Alabama, where
there is alarm at the loss of so much valuable
labor, there is also rejoicing at the opportu-
nifty now afforded for wrestling the state
permanently from tim republican party.
Georgia will not be affected politically by
the hegeri. The whites have overwhelming
controI OF affairs in that state, and the loss
of black of labor is readily replaced with
white. Indeed, the increased production of
cotton and cereals in Georgia and Alabama
if due to the increased white labor in what is
known as the white districts. While the
black counties last year fell off in produce
ton OF lc0tt0n TO an enormous extent, the
while COUNTIES maintained their position.
1laD1 NOuDAtO llClL HlO1A. Liz
position of Missippi cannot be affected po-
litically by the invarion from Alabama.
Commercially, she will probably be bene-
hted. In the case Of Louisiana the increase
of the black population in the country will
be more than offset by the growing dispro-
portion between the white and black popu-
lation of New Orleans. 1t must be borne in
mind that every year there is a flowing pop
ulatiOn westward. Texas is filling up so
rapidly that the entire black population,
which is now moving across Alabama
and Mississippi would be lost in
THE IMMENSE PLAINS
of the great empire. Since 1870 Texas has
received an accession of not less than 400, 900
people, one-fourth of whom, if we may Judge
by comparison of party votes in the late cleo
ton, were negroes. A black population
100, 900 means a voting black population of
not less than $4,000. These black voters
have been principally drawn from Louisiana
and Mississippi. Hence we conclude that an
immigration from the eastern Gulf states of
even larger proportion than what is repre-
sented by the uncertain newspaper reports
would not necessarily add to the number of
blacks in either Missippi or Louisiana. The
exodus of blacks is greater than the enfiux.
That this it true is demonstrated by the fact
that not w~ithstanding a constantly decreas-
ing of acreage of planting, there is a con-
snantly demand for laborers. Whatever the
DoltObc nloN ihulOdtC, bhOiO III 0OUOe ehcs
the white population ofLoaisana is increas-
ing and the black population decreasing.
The fears entertained so widely that Louisi-
ana will fall permanently or for any long
period, or for any period at all, into the hands
OF the negroes, may dismissed as one of the
delusiohs Z hich so often seizes the unrefiect-
ing minds. In speaking of a vast exodus Of
population, persons who write of such mat
ters must remember that the moving of 5000
voters means the moving of 10000 people,
men, women, and children, and that to re-
move that number would require a daily
train, such as is now RIM upon the Alabama
Central Railroad, for 100 days OF the 5000
who go out, many return after a brief expe-
rience in a new home, and &he places of
mano of those who 90 not return are filled
by immigration from adjoining states to the
east and west. We venture TO say that the
present movement will not materially affect
the proportion of races in any of the Gulf
states, Texas is the safety-valve of the south.
Every negroe who moves to texas is swal-
lowed up and lost as a political power. In
the mean time the white population OF the
outhern states is steadily increasing.