Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-05

work serious injury 10 some planters
aud merchants who have made sd-
vanecs and arrangements for the sea-
son. We do not, however, share the
apprehension entertained by some
that this movement will work a per-
manent injury 10 the South. 1t origi-
mated, no doubt, in the brain Of some
shrewd railroad or land agent out
West, who used negro preachers to
work up the plan. 1t took better than
expected, and now threatens to become
widespread if not general. The ne
groes of Middle Tennessee had a mild
attack Of Kansas fever, and several
hundred Of them migrated rather
suddenly some months ago. The re-
ports they sent back (for none of them
were able to get back were similar
to the message the rich man
wanted to send to his FIVE wicked
brothers, when he was in torment, save
that the conditions Of the climate
were reversed, and the exodus stopped
as suddenly and unaccountably as it
had begun. But now that the move
ment has taken such formidable pro
portions farther South, the Republi-
cans up North propose to take advan-
tage Of it and turn it to the best possl-
BILE account. Meetings have been
called in various large cities to raise
funds and devise schemes to induce
the negroes to take up the line of
march. Their object can be seen at
once. 1t is not out of any real sympa-
thy for the negro, or desire to better
his condition, but in view of the cen
sus which is to be taken, and the
elections to be held in 1880 TO gain a
political advantage. While the trans
fer of a few thousand voters from
Louisiana might not reduce the repre-
sentation Of that State in congress
they might be so distributed over In-
diana, as was attempted once by i'm
pOrtations from Kentucky, that the
State could be carried by the Republi-
cans. From this time on we expect to
hear of but few negroes going to Kan
sas, The tide Of immigration will be
directed to other localities further
Fast, where votes are needed and
can be utilized The duped negroes
will find out their mistake when too
late, like those who recently left
South Carolina for Liberia. Some
will work their way back South, others
will die of cold and want, and few,
perhaps, will become acclimated aud
obtain permanent foothold. 1t is
not likely that many Of them will i'm
prove the condition of themselves or
their posterity by the change, Soon
after the war, when the race problem
OF the South was moro serious one
than now, Governor Brownlow advo-
Gated colonization scheme for the
negroes, under which they were to BIZ
given State, or territory, exclusive and
apart fromthe whites. The idea was not
favorably received by either race,
North or South and was soon dropped
by its author. Whenever the colored
people Of the South leave in great
bodies the owners Of the land will be
compelled to cut up the great planta,
tions into small farms, something after
the system which prevails in France
though on a much larger scale, OF
course, and invite the thrifty white
people of the North and of various Eu-
rnpean States, to come and take pos
session upon terms which will be alike
advantageous in the end to all parties
Progressive white people are wanted
to build up and develop the South
The negroes of this country have
reached HIGHER state of civilization
than they have ever attained in any
other country or age. But they are al
the top of their ladder This is fully
illustrated in the Northern States
where they have been free for genera,
tions, and have had every opportunity
to attend schools, enter society, 60
into commercial life and the vari0u;
learned professions, and yet as a class
they arc race Of servants and always
will be. New England gush and sen
timeptality has never yet sent coloreC
man to congress, or elected one to {
judgeship, or any lucrative or promi
nent position. 1t cannot be said o
any other race or class of population
found here in any great numbers tha
they are totally barred by law o
nature from attaining great success
and rising to prominence in any ;f tn,
avoeations or walks of life. The pres
ent exodus, if it continues, will worl
temporary trouble and loss, but it vii
open new and attractive field for tn,
white immigrant for skilled and un
skilled labor and for capital. Will,
the negro will find his Eldorado, or
most likely his emheaosio, in Kansas
the South would become an empire o
white men, the richest, hapPiest anC