The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-01-23
THE EXODUS.
tMorehouse (La.) Clarion.l

Futile efforts have been made in the
U. s. Senate during the present session,
to Investigate the negro exodus, and to
ascertain the prime cause of his de-
parture from the South. The effort has
failed OF eliciting that anxiety and in
terest which the North had hoped to
call forth. Northern congressman are
never happier than when wrangling
for some measure which is CALLING to
Southern members. They take a wicked
delight in bringing before the country
measures which fall unpleasantly upon
Southern ears. But in this case of the
exodus they have signally failed to ex-
asperate a single man from the South.
Failing In this, such lying papers as
the indianapolis Journal and Chicago
Inter-Ocean are publishing long and
|sickenfng ssinterviews" with the "exo.
dized' negroes who are now huddled
up in some of the large cities of Indi-
ana homeless, breadless and friendlcss.
It is amusing to read these interviews
and see how grossly ignorant the writ
ers are of all the customs of the South,
and ascertain what loathsone yarns
newspaper correspondents can weave
from the suggestions elected from a
mind becfouded and degraded with
African superstition. For instance, one
old woman declares positively that the
white folks in Gthe Souf7' place burning
fire Goals on the negroes to make them
work for ode pOah trash" Another
believes ode Lawd sont de yaller fevah
to punish dem white debiis in de Souf.'
These papers send such stuff all over
the North, and their readers, the
majority Of whom are as ignorant as
Hottentots, gobble itup, and in their
r3c In
precautions of Jehovah upon the South
ern whites. Now this disposition of
the press to fire the hearts of the North
against the South is selfish and political.
The object is to open the Northern
purse for the removal ofthe negro. AS
to the real welfare of the colored man,
the lying, slanderous Northern journals
have not the least solicitude. The
Presidential and Congressional elections
of 1880 are over, and the Northern
politician will not care fig whether
the negro is in Indiana or Cuba.
The sentiment of the South upon this
subject is almost universal that if the
negro is dissatisfied and longs for a
change of base, let him go. Disturbed
and restless labor is not profitable to
any country. The negro away, our
genial cline and. magnificent farms
will attract an honest, intelligent and
industrious class of people, who are
not content to exc out a mere subsis-
tence as is the case with the lazy,
sluggish negro. But it is a fact that
the thrifty, Woodworking negro has no
desire to leave the South. 1t is the inn
provident, go-easy kind of negro that
turns his head toward the North. In
short, it is precisely that kind of labor
element which the South must elimi-
nate from her toiling millions before
she can take that position to which
her natural resources entitle her. Now
there are thousands of good negroes in
the South, and we should be sorry,
indeed, to see them leave her. Their
interest is our interest. Their success
insures our success. But this class of
darkies, who are making such despe-
rate efforts to reach Kansas and the
Hoosier State, will receive joyful
farewell atthe hands ofthe Sonth. BY
all means let them go, and joy go with
them. l'-