The New York herald., 1879-07-29
THE NEGRO'S FUTURE.

HIS CHANCES IN THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH
NEY-HIs WRONGS AND HIS HOPES.
Mr.. Joseph II. Rainey of South Carolina. for
several terms since the war member of Congress-
and who is regarded as one of the ablest and most
influential leaders Of the coorcd race, is sojourning
for a few days at tho st. Denis Hotel. HERALD
reporter had a lengthy conversation with him in
his room yesterday and found him quite willing to
communicate his views political questions: The
reporter opened the interview with general ques
ton as to the ex-Congressman's views as to the
and effects of the exodus OF the colored popu
laton from the South.
'In reply to your question would say" said Mr..
Rainey, .'that this emigration movement is no
myth. 1t is assuming o moro formidable and de-
termined aspect every day. Tho oppression to
which tho colored people have been subjected in the
South furnishes sufficient cause to account for 1t.
They naturally seek more lucrative field OF labor
where the fu enjoyment of all the rights of citizen
ship will be allowed them don't believe they
move for political reasons alone or from any hatred
toward their former masters from any dis
like to their present home. They feel
that they will never be able to enjoy
in safety tho right to life. liberty and
the pursuit of happiness In their old homes The
older ones have but little to hope for but they are
very desrous that the condition of their children
should be bcttercd in some way. This movement.
might add in self-dcfence is not brought about by
any persuasion entreaties extraordinary induce
ments.
SIGNIFICANT FACT
..It was unwise, am aware. for so many of the
people to leave the Mississippi Valley without
nickel in their pockets but shows the extremity
which they must have been brought to induce them
thus to einigra,e under such unfavorablo auspices"
what do the white people OF the South think
about the movcmcntp
"Really do not think they realize the situation.
They hatter themselves that they can persuade and
intmidate the negro to do anything. That assump-
ton is based on the ground that they know the col
orcd man better than he knows himself. But that
is a great mistake. The coorcd people slaves
might have been known to some degree by their
emily and have better understanding of manhood
than in former days. They desire Improvement
both morally and intellectually. and also to have full
scope to exercise their political rights without
lostation. At present they cannot do this in the
South.
THE EFFECT on THE SOUTH
what effect will this exodus. IL it continues. have
upon the Southy
ii will njure very materially the prosperity of the
Southern states. You must not lose sight of tho
fact that the blacks furnish the principal part of
Southern labor. The millions of bales of cotton
raised in the south nearly ull the product col
orod labor From reliable statistics l am prepared
to say that tho aggregated value of their labor in
cotton. sugar. tobacco rice and other products of
the South amounted to S20O.OO0UOO in the
past year. II they should quit the land there is
other class of laborcrs who could MI their places
They can bcttor stand the heat and burden of the
climate than any other class of laborers Let them
desert tho southern States and. word for II, the
supply of cotton will DC heavily reduced as well
all other products OF these States pro rata.
THE PROPOSED HOME.
''But can they enauro the cold climate of the
Northwcstr
"Why notg l was in Michigan last year and saw
thousands of colorcd people out there, many OF
whom fugitives VINO are living in prosperity
in that State in the full enjoyment of health. For
mcrly masters very anxious 10 take slaves To
Kansas. They had no apprehension then that their
health would be impaired, or that the cold would bc
severe enough TO XIII them oil. II they could live
there ~ free for am willing to- have them
try it, believing do that their condition will be
improved
you say the colorcd people discon tented in
the South. IL was generally supposed that they
getting on very ncclyr
III nave doubt 1t generally supposed that
they concntcd. because IL has been the aim OF
the southern democratic politician to make IL so
appear. / care not what they may say, l know to
the contrary. that there IL unrest among the
people. They have lost confidence in the southern
whites because OF their trcacherous of
action toward them. Individually trust may exist
in degree; but collectively the coiorcd people
feel that their rights in jeopardy II intrustcd
soloy to the whites. IL that much vaunted conf
denco existed the eoored people would be found