, 1877-12-29
THE DOOMED RACE.

| EECLINE OF THE NEGRO RACE IN THE
| SOUTH.
Mr. Beadle, of the Gazette, writing from
| Memphis. makes the discovery that the
blacks in that city are dying from two or
| three times faster than the whites. This is
! a matter have given much attention to for
| the past five years, and the state OF things
in this regard Mr. Beadle finds IN Memphis
applies to every city in the south. AT differ
ent times have collected statistics IN Mem
| phis, Nashville Charleston. Columbia, Rich
mond, Chattanooga, Nicksburg, Atlanta and
Washington, and always w..h the same re-
suit. The average of black deaths to white,
taking all these cities together, and one year
with another, with relative population OF
course as a Easis-is more Than two to one;
that is, the black race Ill the southern cities
is dying of more than twice rs fast as the
white. Washington, under the very nose Or
the government, and where there Is very
philan .hropic effort to teach the blacks how
to live, the black death-rate keeps up with
that in Richmond and other southern cities
where the efforts 70 elevate the negro are
not conspicuous | do not here refer to the
elevation which comes merely from common
school education nearly all the southern
cities have made and are making praise
worthy efforts III this dIrection-but to the
elevation and benefit which comes from learn
in" them how to care for their bodily health.
The average negro has little more idea of
sanitary rules and the laws of health than a
horse. And they are almost as hardtO learn
as SO many horses. Perhaps this Is broad
statement, but the failures have met III
irving to teach those Of the race who nap
pcued to be III my employ SO simple thing
as to keep out of cold draught when heated,
Is nv excuse for an observation that may
seem extreme had almost rs soon under
take to persuade 4 negro to vote the demo
cIatic ticket as to keep him out of draughts
when heated, or from sitting around hall q
day with wet feet. | have often seen negroes
at work upon the river loading boat, and
when through and covered with perSplratlon
lie down where wind would strike them
freshest. An attempt to gently remind them
of tie danger Of this Is almost always met
with, "Oh, I'm hot and want to cool oil
And cool off they do, and the graveyard
gathers them III rapidly.
In the cities the maSs OF them 1--we IN
novels and in dirt and filth, with no more
sanitary knowledge or care for 1t than 50
many animals of the lower order. Cholera,
smallpox, typhoid fever, saliopms eonsump-
ton, and disease that thrIyeS from hlth, bad
air, and bad food, stalk among them and de-
stroy them Ike frost cutting green leaves III
autumn la the country there Is less OF
this. less filth, bad air, dampness and INSULT
cient food and the problem rs to the future
of the race simply Is, whether the natural III
crease IN the country VIII male ~ tCr tie
averages of deaths III the cities. l think 1t
VIII for 4 time, and the race may hold Its
own as to numbers for generation or two
but tha: death viii ultimately get the best
Of II, and Kill more than are born, | also be-
lieve 1t Is doomed race III America, but
the doom is Il long way oti. " one thii5
You may be sure, the Increase under Tue
slave system. amounting to about - pc.ce
every ten Years, VIII never be seen ao'Iln
Tie Census uf lGS0 will teach Il nuubes oi
things rs to tins problem, the mann one, N
nv Judgment, beng that TIE race Is not H.
creasiug 1t viii likely hold its own, rs COLL
pared with the last census, but the increase
will be very small, if any Nehave stI1k-
III. evidence Of what to expect even Ill the
census Of 1870, embracing some four years ot
slavery and SIX of freedom From 1880 to
1870 It was only 10 per cent, less than one
ha!i, The next census will set ontthe matter
50 that there can be no dOab: whether the
race is to increase, decrease, or barely hold
It's own.
In slavery, tie master and the white
populationg generally had direct pecuniary
interest lii the physical welfare OF the negro
He represented 81 much cash. 1t was the
masters interest to protect the health OF the
slave, and he had the authority to order as
was best for that interest. The result was
that the blachs OF the south Were actually
healthier and longer lived than the whites,
and increased more rapidly. This last Is
abundan.ly shown III the census reports
The diet Of the blacks was simple but nutri-
tious. The vices of fast living and mten-
perance were not theirs. Now they are a
prey To ali the vices. without the restraining
influence Of knowledge.
Whatever the crimes OF slavery, 1T IS clear
that the race does not thrive III freedom II
the welfare of race ismarked by It's increase,
rs some contend, the believer IN African
slavery as good thing for the African have
an argument here. l have heard the ques-
ton put in this shape: Is it better for the
negroes that they increase and flourish III
America is slaves, or that they die out as
freemen: Is there more happiness III exist
| ING as a slave or III not existing at all
Nobody advocates slavery these days. The
sentiment against it is deep and strong even
| where the institution few years ago had a
| tiourishing existence. 1t Is now almost uni
versallv conceded to have been an evil to the
whites, but, in the light OF the negroes con-
| dition since freedom, occasionally hear aman
say that, while he doesn't want the instIta-
ton, he believes i. was good thing Tor the
blacks
The next census will give us basis of
! calculation, and We shall then know, or at
least be able to draw an intelligent deduction
as to the future of the race in America That
| they will not increase in freedom as rapidly
as III slavery We already know. That Is as
sured. The figures OF the last census are
startling in this particular, showing as they
do so marked decrease III the ratio OF liz
crease as compared with the decade trem
1880 TO 1860.
In the south, the predOminating opinion
among the whites is that the race Is doomed,
that decrease Will be rapid heDeeforth, and
that several generations hence negroes Will
be as scarce rs Indians This opinion Is more
prevalent In city than in country, because
the evidences of the decline are So marked In
every crowded centre.
|
GES. GRANT among HIS English speeches
made one praising reserve forces He de-
ciare.f his success in the Vicksburg campaign
was due TO the volunteers who, without spe
cial military training, knew how TO build Z
bridge two thousand feet long, and did It
1--WE don't find that intelligence in the rank
and file OF the regulars said the general
''They can do manual labor; but among the
volunteers You have mechanics and men o