The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-05-29
THE NEGRO EXODUS.

The flow of colored emigrants from
the South into the North, which a
the outbreak looked so formidable, ha!
come to a pause. We will refer t.
two or three of the causes of its sud
den subsidence.
The reason given for the proposed
change of residence apply to the en-
tire colored population of the South
ern States. The alleged grievance
that underlies all others is the preva
lence of caste prejudices. Hence the
weight of the mass to be moved ha,
brought the undertaking to a stand
Money enough could not be raised tC
lift it to the dignity of respectable
failure.
The magnitude of the exodus closed
the door against it in the North
Four millions of men, woman, and
children to be distributed among the
States that lie above the Potomac and
the Ohio! A fair appOrtionment would,
for example, assign to New York up
ward of 100000 souls. The dema-
gogues in this State who would cry
"All hail" to the advanced guard while
the main body remains at a safe dis
tance, would stand appalled, at the
sudden irruption Of a motley throng
of 100000 helpiess mortals into our
seaboard cities and rural counties.
The share of New York and Brooklyn
would be 100000. The aristocratic
Republicans of the Hon. Tom MUIR
phys Senate District would have to
make room for $4,000.
This enterprise needs only to be ex-
amined in the light of statistics to
bring into full view its utter impract-
liability. Not less conclusive against
any serious effort to carry it into effect,
is the sober thought of the negroes
themselves. They are learning that
by emigrating to the North they es.
cape none of the grievances of which
they complain in the South, while in
some particulars their privations would
be aggravated by the change.
Their grievances, as set forth recent
ly by themselves, consist mainly in
the want Of employment in attractive
and remunerative avocation; the refu-
sal TO admit them to schools, churches,
theatres, and other similar resorts, on
equal terms with white citizens; fre-
quent exclusion from the jury box;
denial Of social privileges; and the
throwing obstacles in the way of their
elevation to Offices of honor and profit.
But how is it at the North in these
particulars? Our colored population
are excluded from the higher grades
of employment, and compelled to ac-
cept the lowest wages in the vocations
to which they are admitted. Only to
4 limited extent are they received into
schools, colleges, theatres, and other
like places, on the plane of a perfect
with whites. The negro pew
is as prevalent in our churches now as
it was fOrty-fve years ago when Gar
rison and Tappan lifted up their voices
against it. Does any court in the
North impanel negroes on its grand
and petit juries? DO they dine at the
tables of the rich whites in Boston and
Chicago more frequently than III New
Orleans and Savannah?
In politics the enfranchised class
has borne wide sway in the South, and
it is yet an important factor in de-
termining party contests. Negroes
still hold influential and lucrative Of
fees. But how is it here? There are
many educated and worthy colored
citizeni in this State, who always sup
port the Republican party. But no.
where in New York have the Repub-
licans had the magnanimity to confer
upon any Of these citizens the office of
in Congress, member
Of the Legislature, or even Supervisor
or School Commissioner. If the 700,
600 colored voters of the South were
to settle in the North, they would be
allowed to vote the Republican ticket
and that would be all.-NeaO York
Sun.