The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-05-16
THE COLORED EXODUS.
Frederick Douglas Makes an Argument
Against 1t.
From the National View

Against 1t.
From the National View.
cheerfully accept your offer ola limi-
ted space in your columns, in which to
state the grounds of my opposition to
the so-called colored exodus. l am
briefly opposed to that movement, be
cause it is not the proper solution of the
southern question. That question will
not be solved and cannot be solved until
the constitutional provisions guarantee
ing equal rights shall be peacefully eX-
ecutcd in every state of the union. South
rs well as north. l am opposed to this
exodus, because it is a wretched substi-
tute for the fulfillment of the national
obligations by which the government is
held and firmly bound to protect every
American citizen, ofwhatever color, upon
any and every part of the American
domain. / am opposed to this exodus
because it is an untimely concession to
the idea that colored people and white
people cannot live together in peace and
prosperity unless the whites are a MAORI
ty and control the legislation and hold
the offices of the state. am opposed to
this exodus, because it will cast upon the
people of Kansas and other Northern
states multitude of deluded, hungry,
homeless, naked and destitute people
to be supported in large measure by
aims. am opposed to this exodus,
because it will enable our political adj
versaries to make successful appeals to
popular prejudibe (as in the case of the
Chinese), on the ground these people, so
| ignorant and helpless have been import
ed for the purpose of making the north
solid by Outvoting intelligent white
northern citizens. am opposed to this
exodus, because rolling stones gather no
moss, and agree with Emerson, that
the men who made Rome or any other
locality worth going TO see staid there.
There is, in my judgment, no part of the
i United States where an industrious and
| intelligent colored man can serve his
race more wisely and efficiently than
upon the soil where he was born and
reared and is known. / am opposed to
this exodus because see in it a tendency
to convert colored laboring men into
travelling tramps, first going north be
cause they are prosecuted, and then re
turning south because they have been
i deceived and disappointed IN their ex
pectations; who will excite against
themselves and against our whole race
an increased measure of popular con
tempt and Scorn. l am opposed to this
exodus, because / believe that the con
ditionS of existence in the southern
states are steadily improving, and that
the colored man there will ultimately
realize the fullest measure of liberty
and equality accorded and secured in
any section of our common country.
1t is all nonsense (and perhaps some
thing worse) and almost beneath con
tempt to compare the evils (great as they
are) from which the colored man is now
fleeing TO the north with those endured
by colored men in the time of slavery
The men who make this comparison with
a view to convict me of inconsistency
know that there is nothing analogous il
the two situations. There the BLACK
man was chattel; now he is a man anC
q man among men. Then the black MAJ
was slave now he is free man. TheI
the black man had no legal or constitu
tional rights which anybody was bount
: to respect; now he has all the legal ant
constitutional rights whom are guaran
teed to the most exalted citizen of tn
republic. 1t is true that these right
have been in many instances clover
down by violence, and that for the pres
lent the constitution is imperative; Blu