New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-01
COLoRED REFUGEES IN KANSAS.

HOW THEY FEEL AND TALK AND ACI-CLEAR EVIL
DENCE THAT IT Is OPPRESSION THEY ARE FLEE
ING FROM
To me Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR; Hitherto movements have been instl-
tinted and carried on for the coored peoples this time
they have begun q movement for themselves without
help or warning thoy have surprised us with their
presence We have awakened from our deep dream of
peace and behold. the stranger is within our gates
Conflicting OF the Of their leaving the
South viii be circulated aud 1t Will be well TO keep
careful watch of passing events well to know the
very truth, that unwise or harmful beliefs result
from ignorance or Misrepresentation.
over Two hundred % people now in Lawrence
and no one who has watched them and talked with
Them a your correspondent has DONE fail TO be con
ynced OF the truthfulness OF their statements. The
work which investigating commissions failed to do
10 the entire satisfaction OF the Northern people is be-
ing unoonsciousy done by these refugees They let
ting In food light upon the condition OF the coiored
people OF the SOUTH They are not on the witness stand
embarrassed or harrassed by crossquestlonng, nor
impeed by desire to tell large stories or create senss
tons La fact they not here to taxi they are here
sefex killed from friends aud homo associations because
their situation In the south next to insuiferable.
They answer questions in quiet unconscious manner,
rs II were almost superhuous to tell their story They
know 40 well the ihings about which they are asked
that they have an almost amusing air OF
wonderment that everybody else does not
know the same. They are not here to complain They
have no continuous story TO tell no reatyforthe-occa
sion account to give OF themselves. The answers 10
vour questions will just they remember. Sell
dom Ia information volunteered. They to have
taken their treatment by the whites as matter Of
course and have come Kansas because OF induce
euts not to escape work hardship, but to feel safe
and 10 gain livelihood. surely and sadly is the solemn
conviction forced upon those who talk with thom that
they were prosecuted and opprossed-many of them In
daily and nightly fear OF their hyesand taken advan
tage OF in every business relation. They wore utterly
homeless OF gaining anything more than mere subsst
ence with hard aud constant labor
The refugees now in Lawrence and women Of
good common sense, OF fair intelligence, with serious.
earnest iaces Nearly all farmers and want land 10
works they want to keep together and that Of
their friends coming. On my last visit TO Il cir
quarters seated m self bestie sensible whOles
woman and after talking about her little ones quietly
asked il had felt any fear OF the white people She
replied oh. yes. was frad mos every day" Well"
said l. "you only afraid, no one ever really did
trouble your " On, laws. We, many times de vi bite
men Just throw stones when dey BY our house-ley
don't care what do 10 do colored folks" But that
was long ago, IL notf sad they don't do those
filings any more do they ~ "Yes, man. dey keep dom
dem and worse; lust few days before we lef
young white man riding by our house sa. our
him said niger had no business with dog. then
he Qot OF ais and said he'd shoot me II made
fus, den he slapped ms on de J Jaw ana den danced
bout IT," Said l. Why Old you not complain OF him r.
Laws. 'twoudnt been use, he might sworn some
thing put Ia jail faint never no use for US to
go into the law with white folks"
With few exceptions tho people OF Kansas have er
tended hearty welcome 70 these people nnd as rapidly
IA poss' 10 will place them IN position TO help them
selves The crust OF public Indifference and senshness
Is brOkc aud underneath arc seen the same generous
justice owing spirits who came to Kansas TO mage her
free AUD noble state A. l.. DIG0s.
Laicrt nee, Kan. April "a, 1879