Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-30
ATALK WITH PROF. LANGSTON.
His Views Upon the Exodus and
Upon Haytien Affairs.

"A TcpWter OF IHE STAR tulS uorniuS uco
Prof. Langston, U. s. minister to Hayti, and
the following conversation was had:
STAR Professor, what are your views upon
the subject Of the Degro exodus?"
Prof. Ldngst0n:-"For certain reasons which
seem % suf1ieent t to me- am In i favor @ Of the
nent elevation Of the colored people while they
remain In the midst of scenes of their former
en-, enslavement, With the 3ld master class and the
the soil and the possesSors of education and
intelligence, but In many localities superior In
numbers. By these means they control the
laboring classes, as the emancipated classes
must always be, certainly during the early
years following their emancipation. New
scenes, new surroundings seem to me to be ab-
emancipated conscious of their freedom and
responsibilities In the new and even more diff
icult ways OF life. Besides, there Is such excess
the old order Of slavery and slave-holding
methods of industry, that emf ration seems to
be Indispensable to bring about state Of things
that will give remunerative labor to those who
remain in the SOUTH"
Star:-"Would you advise general eXodus?"
Prot. L.:-"Oh no: reasonable emigration
the condition of the larger body of the colored
people remaining there, but would tend, per
necessity, to superinduce and establish habits
OF Intelligent industry among the whites, GER
tainly The poorer classes of them, and thus a
general benefit would be wrought. In view of
such considerations and others that might be
mentioned, l have felt that the exodus was on
the whole. movement promising considerable
good to all concerned"
Star" Where would you advise the colored
people to locate?"
to one particular state of the north, but settle
in the states generally, wherever remunerative
labor is promised, with such opportunities for
finds in such states. Indiana, Ohio, Michigan,
Illinois, not to name other states need IaborerS,
and believe would give the negro cordial
and hearty reception. He can hope, however,
considerable length Of time, only as he puts
himself upon his good behavior and demon
strates his value to the community In which he
lives"
Star" Do you believe the negro can stand
the northern climate?''
Pret. LIN my Judgment there is no ques-
tion but that the negro does even better as a
laborer In the northern climate than in the
south, and then the necessities connected with
life in the north gives him providence and
south or any tropical part of the world. His
education in the north, In business point Of
view, as regards all the practical things OF life,
as well as that of books In the schools, will be
very much advanced and prove very much
more thorough than anything Of this sort he
can gain for many years In the south. l think
that the negro forms no exception, as to his
general interest and improvement in nature
and aptitude among the peoples OF the earth,
to the law Of emigration, which is so plainly
Whites In the history and advancement OF man.
colonies down to this day. In this regard what
seems to be good for the Irishman of our coun-
try, emtgrating from his native land, seems to
so ge aay,sn,tageons Va nag 10 Jhe colored American
the latter-that he is not required to leave his
country nor his government-but only to move
from one section Of our great country to
another. He has no change of language to
contend with, and no obstruction to overcome
in an opposing public sentiment or general
feeling against him. Indeed, he goes toward
yInfn lnrorr
him his freedom
AFFAIRS IN HAYT1.
Star:-"ProfessOr; having concluded the ex-
odus subject will you give THE STAR some in
formation in regard to Hayti and its commerce
with the United states?'
Prot. L.:-"Certa1nly. Our commercial rela-
tions with the island of Hayti are steadily i'm
proving. We are not only supplying that country
now with its provisions but trade in our cotton
cloths is commencing with promise of general
pie Of Haytl with ali the silver coin Which con
stitutes their currency. Coffee and logwood
are being constantly sent by steamships and
sailing h vessels to our country the to
transhipment to Europe. 1t cannot De great
while, however, before the Haytian coffee,
gathered and cleaned in an improved manner
and by improved methods, will be sold In our
markets, and it will prove most acceptable
article. Indeed, 1t is fact, that Haytian coffee
vel vel secured cure is considered to be most excel
star:..fs there any prospect of stable gov
ernment in Hayti?"
Prot. .L.:-"Yes, there is. The constitution
government is administered, is modelled after
our own and promises to work salutary results
politically In the establishment of a well-or-
dered government, peace and security to life
and property"
S,ar:-"Did not the late revolution do the
country very great harm?"
q q NV aynQ anf proS
dent, whose term of office was within ten
months Of its close; but, Notwithstanding this
and the fact that large amount Of property
luton may finally work new order Of things
which may result in q longer peace and more
extended and general prosperity than the re-
public has enjoyed for many years. The pre-
liminary steps will at once be taken for organ
izing permanent government under the
present constitution. The most prominent
candidate for President at this time seems to
know, elect senate. and that senate and the
house, In joint session, elect President. The
house is elected by the people, so that the
p President Is by this system, really the ehoieeof
Stdr:-"Does not the prevalence OF yellow
fever operate against the prosperity of Hayti?'
Prof L.:."Yellow fever is not indigenous to
GENERALLY supposed. There has has not nc s been any
yellow fever there, until this summer, since
1867. During part Of the present season yellow
lever has pItVdutU LII 1tdyUl W SOIlo OxJcuU,
especially at Port-au-Prince, Mirragone and
AUX Cages. 1t has, more or less, fnterfered
with the commerce between that country and
ours, since, during its prevalence, steamships
and sailing vessels would hesitate to land at
either OF the three ports named, by reason Of
the fact that they would be subject to rigid
quarantine regulations upon returning to our
country"
STAR" Has the fever been very fatal?"
Prot. L." Not large number of Americans
died OF It. during the past seaSon, but among
While the fever has been quite severe, it has
not prevailed to anything like the extent, nor
has 1t been so fatal as In our own country, es-
pecially at Memphis. Yellow fever seems to
have but little effect upon the natives, but dur
ing its prevalence they sicken and die Of a
disease called the Mauvaise fever. This Is
malignant fever, and seems to be in many of
Its characteristics the same thing as yellow
fever. 1t prevails among the co1ored people
almost exclusively, but is not regarded as con-
tagious; neither Is the yellow fever, but both
are infectious"
"Let me add" said the Professor, as the re-
porter was leaving him, 'sas showing the i'm
portance Of the commerce between this coun-
try and Hayti, that within very short period
two lines of steamships, one running direct
from New York uia Port-au- Prince to the Span
ish Main, and the other Uia Kingston, Jamaica
to Port-au- Prince, have been established and
are said to be doing very excellent business.
Then, there Is very large number of sailing
vessels plying between Haytian and American