The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-04-25
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KANSAS.
N. Y Tribune

How time brings his revenge. TWEEN.
ty-hVe years ago, reckless and brutal
young men of white skins were migrat.
ing from all parts of the south of Kan.
sas. Their aim was to make that a
slave state. Now, men, women and
children of dark skins are migrating
from the south to Kansas, by the thous-
and, and their reason is that Kansas is
known to them as state where real
freedom can be found. Few of them. if
any, it is probable, have any intention of
affecting by their hegira the condition of
the states from which they fly. Never
theless, it is true that this movement
will then tend most strongly to produce
in Louisiana and Mississippi more real
freedom than has ever yet existed.
The appeal presented to the president
on Monday by Dir. Taudy, colored citi-
zen OF st. Louis, states very forcibly the
spirit which has caused this flight from
the southern states. 1t is not a longing
for Kansas. Twenty years ago, it may
be, the older men among these immi-
grants, as they waited about slave-own-
ing masters, did hear Kansas had been
made free state, and the fact. stated
with many wrathy explosives, may have
taught them to identify Kansas and free
dom. But most of those who migrate, it
Is only too evedent, know little of the
state TO which they have fled. t'They
are not drawn by the attractions of Kan
sas, !" says the memorial -"they are driv-
en- by the terrors of Mississippi and
Louisiana" This they know-that life
has become intOlerable where landown-
ers and storekeepers and politicians and
officials were all in league to deprive
the laborer of every civil and political
right and of the entire fruit of his labor.
people come from the plantations, and
they know what they have left behind.
Partisans may dispute and deny till
doOmsday; the naked fact that thousands
of half-cla colored people have landed
on the levee in st. Louis tells the whole
story. They have not moved without
reason from the climate and soil of their
birth. These people, so child-like, so
fond of home and attached to the Sunny
south, so ignorant and so lacking in that
enterprise" which characterizes the
Anglo-Saxon, have not undertaken such
migration without the most powerful
reasons.
To many, the removal will be very dis
astrous. Their sufferings will be but
poorly met by the charity of the people
to whom their needs may be made
known. Large sums were given only
last year to help the yellow fever suffer
ers in the very region from which these
fugitives come. But the poor creatures
who face death rather than stay IN
Louisiana and Mississippi represent in
their needs more than half the popula-
ton of those states; and who will gather
subscriptions in the chambers of COM
merce, and prepare special entertain
wretched victims of greed, brutality and
democracy? Many will suffer. But
their martyrdOm will not be without
avail. The millions who remain at the
south will know greater freedom and
peace hereafter, because it has been
proved that the laboring class of that
section can migrate whenever it is badly
treated.
Kansas, fortunate state, has another
opportunity. 1t is not like the brave
men who wrested that state from the
slave power to sit in stolid apathy while
willing labor knocks at the door, asking
| only freedom and opportunity. Kansas
| has vast unoccupied territory, and rich
land, and can command for any worthy
| object millions of capital from the east
Why does not Kansas bestir herself al
| once to welcome and help the labor
which comes seeking admission
There are thousands of farmers who want
good hands; are there none who can cul
| tivate more acres If they can command
more labor? Emigration societies al
the east made Kansas what it is Mi
grafton and colonization societies in
Kansas, if well directed, can easily secure
for that state, by prompt action now, q
marvellous increase IN population and in
wealth. 1t will not be the aim of any
honorable or benevolent northern society
| to lure the colored labOrer from the south
But if he wishes to leave any state, or
plantation, it is the part of selfinterest
as of humanity, to provide place for his
willing industry elsewhere.