Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-04-16
THE NEGRO STAMPEDE.

hatSfSh may w thS N"u'el 'hN NV
gro exodus from the South tothe West
is an important fact. 1t began about
the middle of March, when several
hundred colored men wssS lacded from
a Mississippi steamboat at st. Louis.
These pioneers were in a most desti-
tute condition and had not the means
to pay their way TO Kansas, region
which, they had been told, was an
earthly paradise. The steamboat
agents were accused OF encouraging
these people in their fight in order to
reap harvest from transportation,
but they denied the charge and offered
to take the emigrants back. The
refugees, however, refused to go. They
would only starvc, they said, if they
went andi they escaped death in that
form it would only be that they might
be massacrcd. They were taken care
Of but hardly were they under shelter
when anotherand another load arrived.
All told the same story. They had
been led to believe that in Kansas they
would find home without cost, and it
had been impressed upon them that q
general massacre of the negroes had
been ordered as soon as the crops
should be gathered. The negro field
hands are unreasoning, but gregarious.
They accepted all the wild, Ohimerical
stories as true, and hence it is that
every day colorcd emigrants from
Mississippi and Louisiana are landed
in st. Louis.
This exodus of the blacks not only
threatens hard lines for emigrants, but
for the planters, too. Already fears
are entertained that the cotton regions
the upper country, as it is termed in
Louisiana--will be depopulated. If
such should prove the case, what would
be the result? These negroes have
been trained from infancy, almost, for
the cotton fields. They are as indis-
pensable to the cotton fields as is the
cotton itself to the manufacturer.
They are peculiarly fitted for the labor
and can keep steadily at their task
where the white laborer would sue.
cumb under the hot sun, or, at best
perform but small portion of the work
done by his African neighbor. 1t il
possible thatthe much despsed Chinese
labor might bead vantageously employ
ed. this could only be determined by
experience. Certain ii is, however
; that the colored mans place could moi
be Immediately filled, and, perhaps
never completely. The planters are
respondent. Business depression, cou
pied with the uncertainty attaching K
the movements of their laborers, makes
it hard for them to get their customary
advances on their crops, anditisnot Al
all surprising that they should view thi'
sudden exodus with alarm. The effecti
OF universal emigration from th,
upper river counties would be imme
diate, while falling off in the crops
and the crippling to certain exten
of one OF the staples Of the South
would be left for years. This is but
one side of the case on the other
{ what will the refugees be able to do
So sure are they that their land o
promise is overfowing with milk ant
honey that they are but il.prepared tc
seek new home. As a class the ne
groes Of the far South are ignorant
and totally incapable of taking care o.
themselves The movement is full O.
peril for them, and those who are in
citing it, by working on the coloret
mems tears and by holding out prom
ises which cannot be fulfilled, are guilty
of great crime. Choosing time o
depression they are coaxing the
negroes from their own soil to lanC
they know nothing OF. Mono Of th'
! emigrants are prepared for it. Desti
tute, without money sufficient even t.
carry them to their journeys end, they
are pouring into St. Louis, hoping t.
be forwarded and provided for through
; the instrumentality Of others.
1t is grave question what can b,
done with these negroes when they
shall have reached Kansas. True
there are broad acresawaiting cultiva
ton, but it is very doubtful whethel
they have the energy or capability o
; successful pioneers. They are children
of the South. The low, tropical land
of the Mississippi are vastly differen
from the broad prairies, exposed to tb,
biting winds Of the West. A gradua
emigration, conducted in a cool, thought
full manner, would be Of undoubte,
benefit. Could the negroes be taken il
small companies under the direction o
guiding hand and be provided will
means Tor establishing homes good re
suits might follow but when they joil
by the thousand in wild, aimles
stampede to country and climat
with which they are totally unacquaint
r cd, only to find that their vision of
land of milk and honey is mirage
disaster and distress are sure TO follow
II is too late to check tho movement
its impetus is too great. 1t would seen
to be the part of wisdom to enlist th'
philanthropic Of the whole land in al
effort to make tho road Of the emigran
as easy as possible. In other day
there were Kansas relief societies
which did much for the cause of free
dom, which was the cause of the negr,
when Kansas was a territory. Some
thing Of the same sort is needed now
The people of that State will no doub
do all in their power to make the un
invited guest comfortable, but tn
burden is too heavy to be carried o.
their shoulders alone The emigrant
need capital, but will arrive pennies