The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-18
Exodus Phases.

Aletter from Topeka, Kansas, giyesaa
amusing and Interesting account Of how
the negro refugees are faring in Kansas
and hor, the white residents feel about
the inflow of pauperism. The letter
says: s.
The feeling among the working people
of Kansas, who are brought into comps
ition with such black refasees "a, will
work, ia bitterly hostile. They Justly
complain that shey cannot compete with
labor that 10 fed, clothed and sheltered
by charity, while they are required to
feed, clothe aud shelter themselves and
families with the money they receive for
work. One working man said to mo !:
ut 10 all very well TO talk OF cheap labor.
See how it has affected me-. ] was work.
ing for o dollar day; q negro took my
place for fifty cents day. He worked
two days. Another took his place and
worked three. Then another took hold.
They were working for spending money
only, as they were fed at the barracks. i
have my family 20 support, cannot do
1t on fifty. cents o day" His objection
was sound. It is as unfair TO ask white
labor to compete with black labor that 81
supported by charity as 1t 10 TO ask them
to compete with convict labor. None OF
the white laborers about Topeka would
finch from competing with the refugee
negroes Ii the blacks were required to
gain their food. If the food ii suppIiesi
by Northern charity they feel that COM
petition is impossible. They are right.
The tender hearted people who are so
literally supplying the Topeka barracks
negroes with. food and ciothiug are. nm.
knowingly, infiicting great injury on the
white laborers of Kansas.
The negroes are living in barracks end
huts in North Topeka. Two little towns
have been built--one called Redmanyille,
the other Tennessee Town. The property
adjoining these towns has greatly dopre-
cated in value. One gentleman told me
no. owned a piece of real property that
before the negro exodus lie valued at
SO, 900; now be would gladly part with
1t for $1,000. He believed tho evil To be
q permanent one. The barracks and
huts, having been built. would he
feared, be kept full of tliia worthless
class of negroes until the buildings are
burned by some property holder.
/ When / visited the barracks the air
quiyered with laughter. Groups Of me-
groes sat summing themselves III the hot
sun. Some were dancing, others atntIs-
ing Themselves by teaching tricks 70 dogs.
There were little dogs, middle siged dogs;
big. dogs, yellow white, black, spotted,
and brlndle dogs, smooth doga, and rough
haired dogs; some with long tails, some
with etub tails, all Of the same breed
the cur. ]. weB astonished at the geuer-
osity of the subscribers 10 the excdus
fund. To feed, cfothe, aud shelter the
poor outraged negroes, who fed from the
brutality of the southern land, is chari.
table. TO cheerfully feed q drove of
NANCY animals, so as to keep the out
ragged ones from brooding over the wrongs
they haye endured by giving their minds
occupation in teaching tricks to ours, is
an unparalleled curiosity. A yellow dog
with Q bob tail, sitting up on hishannch,
es, balancing q bit of hoecake on his
nose, and at the command, "Dar, now f'
tossing it into the air and catching IL y
it fell, attracted my attention. Ifeft that
the negro was progressing in civilization.
n white man situated as this negro was
would have gone crazy realizing Ills deg
relation % pensiouer on public charity.
The negro sat in the sun, happy and con-
tented. and taught bob tailed cur tricka.
In street by the Topeka State Bank
| saw two white men dressing building
stones. counted thirty. one negroes
leaning against railing, orstanding on
the side. galk in small groups, all sn,ok-
ing, and all with great Interest Watching
the white men work. AN hour later /
again passed. There were but twenty
three black men bIlced against Che raii.
ing by the bank. Eight had crosaad 70
the ether eide of the atFeet and Joined o
gang of nine other refugees, and the
black forces, now numbering forty, stead
lily watched the two white men dress I'll 8
building stones.
not only the workingmen. but t prape..s
owners, is great. Many men living In
Topeka, who have always voted che Re-
publican ticket, will at the next election
vote. against the party that started this
exodus.