New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-03
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
NEGRO REFUGEES AT WYANDoTTE.


| SHELTERED, FED AND SENT TO HOMES - THE
EDITOR or THE wYANDOTTE GAZETTE DGSPOsEs
OF The sTATEMENT THAT THE REFUGEES WERE
FoRCIBLY KEPT FROM LANDING.
To the Editor or Thc Tribune
SIR: Allow me to say through the columns Of
THE TRIBUNE. behalf Of the Republicans and all
law-abdng citizens Of Wyandotte, and of Kansas
generally, that the statement which Is being eX-
tensvely published by Democratic papers through
out the country, TO the effect that the citizens of
Wyandotte attempted by force to prevent the
landing of the c0ored refugees from the South, is
malicious lie gathered up and circulated solely for
political purposes, and foul SANDER upon the far
fame of eur city and State.
Not only is the assertion false in every particular,
but on the other hand, the facts are that some
twelve hundred Of the poor colored refugees, fleeing
from locality where Democratic Outrages and
atrocities made it impossible for them to live ex-
cept in a condition far than slavery did land
at our wharf, and remained in city nearly four
weeks. During that time committee, composed OF
some of our best citizens sheltered them, fed them,
clothed them, furnished medicines and medical at
tendance for their sick buried their dead and from
time to time shipped various numbers Of them to
other points in the State, where homes and employ
ment have been obtained for them. There yet
remain here perhaps $780, nearly one-third Of
whom are sick with ailments incident TO the change
of climate and the long and tedious river voy-
age. and unable at present to be sent forward. As
soon as possible however all viii be located in diff
fercnt places throughout the State, where they can
comfortably support themselves
As WyandOtte Is a city of but 1000 lnhaDl-
tants, with already more than just proportion OF
destitute persons to support, il viii be readily I'M
derstOod that in caring for many ot these unfOr-
tunate refugees no light burden undertaken but
olVroC
The money which has been received from abroad.
days ago. will be more than sufficient TO provide
for the necessities of those who are still here Wle
they remain aud the balance will be turned over 10
the state Committee, which organization has Ell
fected arrangements whereby III future those who
are shipped from ST. LOUIS will be sent through
direct such points i'm the interior of the state *
may be determined upon for their permanent loca-
ton.
There are, it is true, a few men in town
VINO have expressed the OplniOn-Only ~
an individual capacity, however-that force
| should be used to prev,n the landing
/ of any more of the refugees But, remarkable =
as II may seem, these men are, with scarcely "A
single exception, Democrats And yet tie Demo
cratic papers, with their customary consist euty
and regard for the truth, in the face OF these un-
deniable facts, are sTenuOusy endeayorlng IN
manufacture political capital for their party by
| boldly charging that Republicans, in the Repub-
| lean City Of WYandOtue, IN the Republican stare
| of Kansas stood guard on the leyee, armed with
shOt-guus and prevented the cOlOrcd refugees IRON
/ landing, by threatening 70 Kill any who dared
touch foot upon the soiil Surely the cause Is very
weak th9t must needs he bOstered up by such out
rageOus and infamous srepresentatlQns;