New-York tribune., 1879-04-15
~ OPPORTHNLTY EOR KANSAS.

An OPPORTUNITY FOR KANSAS
How Time brings his revenges Twenty-Five
wears ago, reckless and brutal young men OF
white skins were migrating from all parts OF
the South to Kansas. Their aim was to make
that u Slave State. New men, women and
children of dark skins are migrating from
the South to Kansas by the thousand,
and their reason is that Kansas IS
known to them as a State where real
freedom can be found. Few Of them, II
any, ii is probable, have any intention OF al
fccting by their hegira the condition of the
States from which they fly. Nevertheless, 1T
is true that this movement will tend most
strongly to produce in Louisiana and Missis-
sippi more real freedom than has ever yet
existed.
The appeal presented to the President
on Monday by Mr.. Taudy, colored citizen OF
St. Louis, states very forcibly the spirit which
has caused this flight from the Southern
States It is not longing for Kansas.
Twenty years ago, it may be, the older
men among these immigrants, as they
waited about slaye-owning masters, did
hear that Kansas had been made a Free
State, and the fact, stated with many wrathy
cxpletlves, may have taught them to identify
Kansas and freedom. But most OF tho who
migrate, it is only too evident, know little OF
the State to which they have fed. " They
care not drawn by the attractions OF Kansas"
says the memorial they are driven by the
"terrors Of Mississippi and Louisiana" This
they kn0w-that life has become intolerable
where landowners and storekeepcrs and poll
ticians and officials were all IN league to de-
pIive the laborer of every civil and political
right and of the entire fruit OF his labor.
Others may reason as they VIII; these
people come from the plantations, and
they know what they have left be-
hind. PartiSans may dispute and deny till
Doomsday; the naked fact that thousands Of
half-clad colored people have been landed
on the leyee in st. Louis tells the
whole story. They have not moved with
out reason from the climate and soil of their
birth These people, 50 child-likc, so fond of
homo and attached to the Sunny South. so
ignorant and so lacking in that "entcrprise"
which charactorize5 the Anglo-SaXon, have
not undertaken such migration without tho
most powerful reasons.
To many, the removal will he very disas-
trous. Their sulerings will be but poorly
met by the charity OF the people to whom
their needs may be made known. Largo sums
were given only last year TO help the yellow
fever sufferers in the very region from which
these fugitives come. But the poor creatures
who face death rather than stay in Louisiana
and Mississippi represent i'll Their needs more
than half the population of those States and
who will gather subscriptions in the Cham
,g nd
tainments in the Opera-houses TO help
the wretched victims of greed, brutality
and Democracy 2 Many will suffer. But their
martyrdom will not be without avail. The
millions who remain at the South will know
greater freedom and peace hereafter, because
it has been proved that the laboring class of
that section can migrate whenever it is badly
treated.
Kansas, fortunate State, has another Oppor-
tunity. 1t is not like the brave men who
wrested that State from tho Slave Power to
sit in stold apathy while willing labor
knocks at tho door, asking only freedom and
opportunity. Kansas has u vast unoccu-
pied territory, and rich land, and can
command for any worthy object millions
of capital from the East. Why does not
Kansas bestir itself at once TO welcome and
help the Labor which comes seeking adnIs-
sonY There are thousands of farmers who
want good hands; are there none who
can cultivate more acres if they can
command more labor2 Emigration societies
at the East made Kansas what it is. Migra-
ton and colonization societies in Kansas, if
well directed, can easily secure for that State,
by prompt action now, a marvellous increase
in population and in wealth. 1t will not
be the aim of any honorable or benevolent
Northern society to luro the colored laborer
from the South. But if he wishes to leave
any State, or section, or plantation. it is the
part of self-mterest, as of humanity, TO pro-
vide place for his willing industry else
where.