The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-07-05

With here and there huge cotton farm cul
tivated by negroes! The fact Isl that hVe
sixths Of its area ID hill and dale, inter
spersed with noble forests and interested
by flowing streams. do not propose tina
we should abandon cotton culture, but Civ
it healthier existence by limiting II u
economic bounds, and carrying forward BY
the side of it the needed auxiliaries.
find myself so near grave matter, thu
question paramount with us, that will ex
press myself upon it to these young gentle
men. A policy which looks to the lessenins
of our dependence on the negro population
and of its influence on our affairs, is, in my
opinion, the true policy, for many weighty
considerations Owing to inherent infirm-
tiles that population can only attain to in
dependent life, if at all, by very slow
process, and when that shall be attained, its
want Of thrift and energy will render il
incapable of advancing the material inter
ests of a country where they form so large
an element as they do here. Added to these
hindrances is a position in the politics Of
the country which keeps it in state Of
restless expectation and discomfort Their
one conception of a mission, and that was
twin-born with their freedom, is to obey
blindly people ard parties outside of our
borders, and l am forced to believe that these
influences are becoming more and more I'M
friendly to us. Thus constituted, thus ami
mated and thus swayed, and so strong in
numbers, this population is standing men
ace to the supremacy of those who should
control in affairs, constantly presenting an
issue dangerous to the peace of the coun-
| A. + ntI y rn.
curing source of danger, they offer that
temptation to the worst elements in pop
ular government, which will gradually
undermine and finally destroy all political
virtue. Again: This incessant and danger
GUS turmoil and the hopelessness of found
ing on the negro any solid prosperity, will
| drive the enterprising white people to seek
elsewhere exemption from these evils. 1t is
with no satisfaction that contemplate the
possibility that what you are to build up
here shall take the impress of that people,
and pray that by the peaceful operation
of those laws and causes which move popu-
lations to seek TO better their condition,
that you may, by degrees, be finally deiiy-
cred from the body of this death" and at al
events, that their numbers will be so far
reduced that they will no longer attract the
attention OF men and parties.
They are not responsible for the condition
which surround us, and there can be no
Justification for measures of repression of
the desire to disperse themselves in the
west or elsewhere, ana no justification for
Fastening such movements. The remedy is
to learn to dispense with them by adding
to our industries, and thus bringing them
under the influence of that ebb and flow
which wages and efficiency and demand
create in the same class everywhere. can
not too strongly impress upon you the eau
tion not to allow yourselves to fall into that
hypochrondriacha condition in which you
shall conceive nothing and do nothing ex-
eept in connection with the African. Be
just to the negro That is the manly part
but rely on yourselves.
Coming back to my main plea for society
work as the machinery by which public
spirit takes hold of the problems of society.
These societies are vigiant and diligent to
find remedies and resources.
Let me give another direction to the sub
iect. Since the disastrous civil war, there
has been great tumbling down of fortunes
and families. These calamities have fallen
more heavily upon the women than upon
the men; for even with our limited range
of pursuits, the men have found something
to do, but the women nothing. Needle
work is vile drudgery and altogether in
adequate. | heard missionary say that
he had found a tribe in Africa whose social
structure had these remarkable features
The men wove the cloth and fashioned and
made all the garments for the men, women
and children of the tribe The women
were the merchants and shop-keepers.
Should we be tempted to borrow anything
more from Africa, | vote for that, with ap-
propriate limitations.
don't propose to take up the subject of
the education of women for professional or
scientific pursuits. Certain branches of the |
arts, all indeed that pertain to design, to
grace and beauty of form, decorative art in
in that direction. My attention,
however, has been drawn to an humber
nd more general want, and that is, suitable
york to make living. There are countless
rticles in daily use here, which are the pro-
uct of the female skill of other countries
Why shall we not produce them here? If
re lack the skill we can acquire it. If we
ick the materials we can import them, as
theirs do. | said to gentleman not long
nee on this subject: "Go into a variety
ore and see how largely the stock is COM
1sed of articles that are the handiwork of
omen. Can we not introduce the manu- l
cture of such things hereT His reply, t
as: Don't you know that most of these 9
lings are made by machinery?' 1t seems t
} me this is no answer. From personal OBJ j
ervation l know that in the manufacture of
lese articles female skill presides over it
Il. They preside over the machinery so
If as it is employed. | venture to say that
l any community, if the philosophical
len and women would organize themselves
ito a society to promote this object, thew {
ill find the remedy, because they will look
n it. | once asked General Fremont how {
e accounted for the singular fact that the s
panish settlers in California, who tramped
yer that country for century with gold
] the earth and on the earth, without dis
1vering it, " For the simple reason" said
e, that they did not look for it. When |
'ent there l organized a search for it, and
course found it." We have vet to or.
anize search for the remedy we want.and !
} | might say of remedies fer much elsa
lat is wanting here.
Now, my young friends, when you come
, take on yourselves the duties of manhood,
ont suppose that you have fulfilled your
uty to the gentler sex by mounting the
Ugh horse and riding into the lists of some
shby de la Couch of high society, but
18th nobler manhood and a more knightIy
brit, bethinA you Of lie thou, ,4ds OF Lit
c Nells who should not be left to the char
y of the old schoolmaster. No; nor to
rarity at all. You will combine and per.
st until that remedy is found.
| am confronted in my plea for society