The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-28
OUR C0L0RED BRETHREN.
WI 1T 4 DECIDE or FREE IIBOR IND
Equality ms DONE FOR THEM
Old nnd New Memphis the Curse n
the south-Negr"es Doing Wen small
Farmers Better Pay than the Nyhltea

the south-Negroe- Doing Wen ~ small
Farmers Better Pay than the whites
MEMPHIS, Jan. 16.-Whcn I first knew
Memphis. not an idle negro WIS 10 be seen in
the Streets That was in the old days before tn,
war. Now find the city crowded with negroes,
who have nOcked in from the country. They
cluster in the rum shops AMI barber shops AMI
on the street corners. dis ussnI the Presden.
tial question. without giving thought ap.
pnrcnty TO the less ex'itngpu 'stion OF the sup
ply of hog and honiny for the old woinan's POI
on the morrow. Whether in store clothes or
taiters these citizens Of African descent carry
their heads high. and take life easily.
/ sorry to say it. but there is too murh
idlcness everywhere in the South. and il isn't
confined To the negroes.
Don't suppose all negroes are leading this
hand TO mouth life. From all can gather thu
bottcr clnss make very respectable farmers l
found u freedman ten miles out from Nom
phis. who told me he planted a crop Of los a,r,s
last year, and picked out ana sold twenty four
bales OF cotton; This ut, say 80 pee bale woul
make the handsome sum of sl.0'0. He rais"I
enough corn and oats To feed his sto Il AMI Int
ten his hogs. II was mss st'd by two Othur
men. If these cost him 500 apiece. he r'alIz, 4
the handsome sum of about 500 n for his rrpp.
percentage of the freedmen buy land AMI "a
u few years, 10y patient Industry. are all to ply
for II; "A much gr'Htrr number rent. They pay
owner of The land on ,-hnif 81 what IL md. hut
then he must feed the r'nt r. AMI furn sh thi
stock ana working tools Tn" other mode is -
pay fixed rental and find yours 'lr A fre'l-
man who rents MY n"r's VIII have to bay a
mhr. cost at least 500. anl provide for {. sly
cart $40 moro his own prnyisone. II he have a
wife and Children. 500. Without extra help hls
His wife may aid him in the crop. Ii he man:
ages well, perhaps he may gather ten bales II
eoiion ,a ind good , crop Of oo corn AMI
70 furnish pork for the next season.
The second year his expenses will be consiI.
erably lcsscned. and. II he have the nerve, ha
may hire hand and make his twenty bales
besides corn. outs AMI pork. II the year b,
| these pcople-whito and black-are not natural
| farmers. when manure can be had here in
Memphis for nothing, they don't take T. but fol.
worn out. and then move. A Now Yorker "
| Jerseyman would make fifty per cent more
| talked with n number of negroes. and found
them al doing ,well-I mean all who were farm.
complained Of want Of work. | am happy 70
record another fact, which syeaks well for thu
freedmen. physician Of Charleston. living IN
the country. told me that he preferred 90 pra'-
| tlse for the negroes that they were better pay
than the whites. II negro ownod or rented
| land. he invariably paid. The do tor said hs
had collected no money for lust ycnr's prai tire
except from the freedmen. Aud he VIA M
Northern man. II was born In Fayntie county.
one or more Southern mer,hnn,s told mo ia
same thing. prominent dealer said that hs
sometimes was compelled Up Ask ms old ntigh-
often rer'iye nothing. while h" seldom failed ~
collect all that was owing 20 l. i'm by the negroes.
H. gave me this instance: n 'grOr owed him
iGi. He asked him ior the money. have =!
money. now. said ~ free mnni hut will I
dealer said the plule was worth the money. an
| his deM WIS fully paid. seldom or never
| hal u fairrr man To- deal with" he added.
Not only Is the gro lusyins hims lfas fatm-
| or; he is beginning to develop some capacity H.
cnt'rer. On the Memphis and Charlton road,
| which runs from Memphis 81 Stevenson. Ala. |
found one or more negroes ut the stations. ready
| with good hot coffee. and tn" best fried. fr.sI
| chicken. \ few in the towns and along the ruil.
! roads haye pnanui stands. AM even small cigar
stores. Many more have good shoe shops. IN
! there IL q sprnkling Of blnnk masons and ear.
/ ~ ntrrs thrpugho the country.
/ sought th" ne-ro ON the highways pnd by.
| WAYS. and talked 70 him of tn" political stil-
ton. The ilea of war AMI boolshsi hprr Il \
/ him. II" will none ~ that / did not llnl ana
who as- RI 'l that Hay was elect ID the most
] they could say was. The thing is in "A Inu Idle ="
/ II seems to h. mixed" lid not find on who
/ want"l Hayes count'l In anyhow. All seem 4
| To- he fair min led-sAil they would ike II h gyg
| the man in who was elected. i. l.. W.