The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-21
The Negro Exodus.

The Negro Exodus.
The flow Of colored emigrants from the
South into the North. which at the outbreak
looked so formidable, has come to a pause
We will refer to two or three OF the causes
Of its sudden subsistence.
The reasons given for the proposed change
Of residence apply To the entire colored
population OF the Southern States. The al
legged grievance that underlies all others is
the prevalence OF caste prciudccs. Hence
the weight Of the mass TO be moved has
brought the undertaking to n stand. Money
enough could not be- raised to lift 1t to the
dignity Of a respectable failure.
Tho magnitude of the exodus closed the
door against it in the North. Four millions
Of men, women. and children TO be dis
trihuted among the States that lie above the
Potomac and the Ohio, A lair apportion-
mcnt would. for example. assign to New
York upward of 10000 souls The dcma-
gogucs in this State who would cry "All
hail To the advanced guard while the main
body remains at n safe distance. would
stand appalled, at the sudden irruption Of a
motley throug of 100000 helpless mortals
into our seahoard cities and rural counties.
The share OF New York aud Brooklyn would
be 100000. The aristocratic Republicans Of
the Hon. Tom MURPHY's Senate District
would have to make room for $4,000
This enterprise needs only to be exam
fined in the light Of statistics To bring into
full view its utter impracticability. Not
less conclusive against any serious effort to
carry it into effect, is the sober thought Of
the negroes themselves. They are learning
that hy cmigrating to the North they cs-
cape none Of the grievances Of which they
complain in the South, while in some par
ticulars their privatlons would be aggra-
waited by the change.
Their grievances, as set forth recently by
themselves consist mainly in the want OF
employment in attractive and rcmuncrative
lvocations; the refusal 10 admit them TO
schools. churches theatres, and other SINH
lar resorts, on equal terms with white citi-
zcns; frequent exclusion from the jury box
a denial Of social privileges, aud the throw
mg ohstacle- in the way Of their elevation
30 offices of honor and profit. But how Is it
at the North In these particulars our
'ulurcd population are excluded from the
higher grades OF employment and COM
Iollod TO accept the lowest wages in the
Vocatiou- to which they are admitted. Only
e. a limited extent are they received into
schools. colleges. theatres. and other like
places, on the plVc Of perfect equality
with whites The negro pew is rs prevalent
IN our churches now rs it was forty-fve
years ago when GARRISON and TAPPAS
lifted mp their voices against IT, Does any
court ia the North impanel negroes on its
grand and petit iurics Do they dine at
the tables OF the rich whites in Boston and
Chicago more frequently than in New
Orleans and Savannah?
In politics the enfranchisod class has
tprue wide sway IN the South, aud II Is yet
am important factor in determining party
contest. Ncgrocs still hold Influential and
lucrative onirr-. Eut how is it here? There
are many oducnted and worthy colorcd citi-
:,n- i'm this state, who always support the
Republican party. But nowhere in New
York have the Republicans had the magma
n'mity 10 confer upon any Of these citizens
tie office Of Representative in Congress,
member OF the Legislature or even Supcr-
Visor or School Commissioner. II the 100000
couyed voters Of the South were 10 settle in
tine North, they would ho allowed 10 vote the
Lrpuniiran ticlet-and that would bee all.
lue-o patent truths are known 10 the ma
iouty of Tie coiorcd adults Of tine South In
tine Uilr,e- presented to the recent Nash
Vile Conference by Mr.. PGNCHBACK il was
admitted that the condition Of the race in
the North Is hardly better than in the
South. This damnatpry fact Is an iusuper-
able obstacle TO the success OF the proposed
emigration scheme.
Emigration Is not a remedy for the real
grievances Of the Southern negroes. Nor
D. e., D.,
Federal bayoncts. Congress may I'LL vol
tliir after volume with enforcement acts.
bar they will not repeal the laws Of human
.Haturc or reconstruct southern society. An
aiuiy Of a hundred thousand men would not
suffice to find employment for idle laborers,
cor to force the blacks into white schools and
white churches.
As to political privileges though the
negro may not oyercstimate their value, he
Is npt o. misunderstood their quality That
Venerable African who carried "a basket To
the polls TO bring home his suffrage in, sup
posing il was something good to eat or con-
NDui'ut 10 wear took too utllitarian a view
o. lhcu-r- Of the ballot The carpet.bag-
gers ui-lcd the newly cmancipated slaves
Fr 'irir owu selfish objects they taught
them that the chief end Of the constitu-
tuual amendments was to enable the negro
To- Vot"iha Republican ticket, to make poll
ties trade, and TO rely for support on the
dripuing- of uuclcan legislation, while
leaving TO his cunning dccclycrs tho lions
share f.! the spells.
Tia" AMI experience will correct these
errors. The permanent home Of American
dl.1u, of African descent must be under
tie warm -A.cs 81 the Southern States; and
there, in the Language Of Mr. PNcHBAcK s
address, they must, 10 II largo extent, be the
architects u their own fortunes. The me-
L,eatlag Inllgeuoes Of patience and for