The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-12
The Narro Irodns.

Kansas, aud thousands more are on III
way. The loss Of their labor has seriousl
embarrassed the cotton and sugar planters
some of whom have been compelled to l.
their lands lie idle in consequence. Thi
embarrassment is but temporary, however
for the planters will supply their place,
as speedily as possible, with Chinese
Great privation aud suffering must neces
sarily be felt by the negroes in Kansas
many of whom are penniless and will b
unable to obtain employment. This exodu
is said to be mainly due to Western Ian,
agents and spectators who have led tn
negroes to believe that their fortunes woul,
be improved by going to Kansas. A Mas
sachusetts Emigration Society, located il
Boston, has had its agents at work to thi
end ever since the war, and that Societ,
is said to be largely responsible for thi,
result. The Baltimore Dolly Ners com
ments upon the political aspect of the case
10 the subjoined extract:
The wholesale emigration of the colored
people of the South TO Kansas has attracted
national attention, and ELECTED much partisan
comment. For the tender hearted Republi.
can--who dotes on the unambitious and un,
official negro-is sensitive TO anything affect
ing his pet voter, and did not lose a minute
in making capital out Of this sudden and start.
ling exodus. Hence, when reports came that
the colored people of Louisiana we're nocking
towards Kansas, the first cry Of the Radical
priesthood was that they were poor refugees
flying from a serfdom and persecution worse
than slavery. 1t was affecting to see how
they took the woes Of the emigrants to heart
The crimson political undergarment was
stained afresh and waved on high, while in
dignant champions roared and rayed in Con.
gress and through the press to call the atten.
ton of the humane to the moving army Of
martyrs.
The changes were rung on the outrage key,
and the effort made to convince the North
that these poor negroes were flying amy
where, anywhere, out Of the world to escape
the brutalities Of Southern ruifans. 10 give
this report more apparent strength and make
il effective as an argument against repeating
the Force bills, the negroes were applauded
for leaving the land without labor which
yielded them only injury and outrage for their
fidelity to liberty. Bot soon the Radical
leaders noticed that the outflow was rather
from Radical districts, where the negroes were
thiekest and where they controlled elections,
and not from the Democratic strongholds, and
hence that their exodus was weakening the
Republican vote 10 such an extent as to leave
those districts to be carried by the Democrats
hereafter. Worse than all, the Republican
party was losing all benefit Of such votes from
the fact that the colored voters were focking
to Kansas, already largely Republican, where
their votes would unnecessarily increase the
local Republican majority, while the loss of
the districts they were leaving would reduce
the Radical strength in Congress.
Then their notes Of anguish were pitched in
a higher key. The South was upbraided for
driving its labor from it; it was given out that
crops would fail and the general prosperity be
affected by the removal of the colored work
men; emmissaries were sent TO exhort the ne
groes to remain, but without avail
The darkey had become possessed of the
idea that he must look out for himself, and
he refused TO listen to the warnings and ex.
hortations of political prophets; and thou.
sands after thousands have Joined the STAN.
pede, and thousands more are preparing to
do SO.
Making virtue of necessity, the Republi.
can organs have tenaciously chung to and re-
iterated the charge of outrage and persecu.
ton. They still claim that the poor colored
people have been bulldozed into this unwise
step, and that they have been made serfs by
landowners who drove hard bargains with
them in business and oppressed and degraded
them in politics. The outcropping of the
truth has not stopped this mendacious outcry.
II is now revealed that the whole exodus bus.
mess was inspired by northern spectators.
Companies in the north, taking advantage of
the restlessness OF the negroes indicated and
suggested by the South Carolina emigration
to Liberia, undertook scheme Of eolonizing
vacant lands in Texas with Southern freed
men. Having aroused the negroes to the
proper pitch of enthusiasm, they went to work
to secure the land to sell them. Before their
arrangements were completed, however, the
smart railroad managers, who are anxious TO
settle the land grants along their subsidized
lines, rushed in, and the movement the North.
ern land companies inaugurated could not be
controlled. The railroad companies obtained
the start, and are securing the emigrants.
Ii remains to be seen whether the negroes
will profit or suffer by this exodus. They
are being taken to new lands and harsher
climates than they have been accustomed to
they are being thrown upon their own re.
sources to build up colonies aud develop new
regions they will come In contact with hard.
ships which only the courage, intelligence,
hardihood and industry of the white race have
yet overcome. The savings of the colored
men are being taken for these wild lands, and,
if disaster comes upon them, this experiment
or scheme will prove rather to be northern
swindle than southern outrage. This is the
truth of the matter and no amount Of misrep.
resentation Of the social condition of the south
or mourning over the repeal of unconstitution.
al and partisan election laws will conceal or
disguise it.