Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-03-29
THE NEGRO EXODUS.
How the Tide of immigration was Started
by Anonymous Clrculars'-.The
FaIslty Of the lntlmi'
dalton Theory.
St. Louis Times-Journal, 2lth.l

McPike & Johnston, Star Sale stables
ON Fifth street, in conversation with a
Times-Journal reporter yesterday,
stated several interesting facts in rela-
ton to the negro exodus. Mr.. McPike
resides at Alton, illinois, but he has a
large plantation in Kinds county,
Mississippi, where he passes a greater
portion Of his time.
In speaking of the exodus, he said
that for the past eighteen months the
South had been flooded with circulars
and hand-bills, which described in the
most alluring terms the beauties and
advantages of Kansas as a place of
residence for the negro, who was led to
believe that here he could find a com
Portable living ready for him, and with
in a very short time he could acquire
a large amount of property. There
were no names signed to these circu-
lars and hand bills, but the more in
telligent residents of the South be-
lieved that they were circulated in the
interest of some railroad or land com
pany. There were also undoubtedly
agents for this company or these
companies, but they never made
themselves known to the white people
while they were in the South.
The negroes snapped at the bait
thrown out to them and prepared to
leave for the promised land. There
was no real cause for the exodus, and
it was simply done by influencing the
minds of the negroes against the
whites and by lying to them regarding
the soil, climate, and special induce
ments offered in Kansas.
Mr.. McPike stated positively that
all these stories about ill-treatment
of the negroes we're entirely false.
There was no such thing as bad treat
ment. All were treated well, and
every man had his political rights, and
exercised them freely, whether white
or black. In regard to their political
persecution and the murder Of colored
voters that were false. Nothing of the
kind had taken place in Mississippi
for over three years. There were acts
of that kind when Ames was governor,
but since that time these things had
entirely ceased. In Kinds county
there had not been a man killed in
over three years, and such a thing as
the persecution of colored voters was
unknown. Yet several hundreds Of
negroes had joined the exodus from
that county, came North, and stated
that they were il~l-treated, when they
knew the statement to be false. Mr..
Mop. stated that he had met one of
the emigrants in this city last week
and asked him why he left the South.
The negro told him that he had to
leave, as he was afraid Of being MUIR
dcred by the white people that he
had been terribly treated, and that he
could not stay there. Mr.. McP. asked
him if he did not know the statement
was false, and then told him who he
was and exactly how matters were in
the South. While the negro did not.
admit that he had made a false state
ment. Che eyincedia desire to change
the subject.
One cause Of the exodus, Mr.. Ne
Pike said, might have been that the
crops last year we're very bad. 1t was
an exceedingly unfavorable year, and
everybody had suffered. OF course
the poor mar had felt it more than
the rich, but all had felt its effects
more or less.
but" said Mr.. McPike, /" there is
something behind all this. 1t cannot
be that the negroes were enticed to
Kansas for political reason, for they
already have enough voters there to
carry the State. The negroes are bet
ter off in the South than they can
possibly be in Kansas.
The soil is better and the climate is
better, and if they would be content
to work as other people work they
could do much better by staying there
than by ~emigrating. They receive
from $40 to $l2 per month and board
for their work, and this is as much as
they can get anywhere. There is
ALWAYS WORK ENOUGH
for them too. But a negro's idea of
liberty is to have all he wants to eat
and wear and to have no work to do.
He cares for nothing else. His idea of
liberty is realized here in st. Louis.
He comes here and is fed and has
nothing to do, and he will stay here
just as long as this lasts. This is all
the liberty he wants.
If this thing continues it will seri-
Ously damage the South, for it cannot
get along without the negroes. 1t has
not suffered much as yet, but it will do
so unless the exodus is stopped. The
idea that the people want to drive out
the negroes Is an absurd one. They
want them there and they cannot do
without their labor. If they 20 TO
Kansas and settle they will stay there.
for they will never be able 10 get back
unless they are sent back. The South
will suffer by it aud so will the ne
groes, but they will leave, because
they have caught the immigration
fever. The end is not yet, and | sup
pose a great many more will como
North before they become convinced
! tL.A 49, Iat.- l. IL. I'LL 7