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

A letter from Topeka, Kansas, gives an
amusing and interesting account of how
the negro refugees are faring in Kansas,
and how the white residents feel about
the inflow of pauperism. The letter
says:
The feeling among the working people
of Kansas, who are brought into compe-
tition with such black refugees as will
work, is bitterly hostile. They justly
complain that they cannot compete with
labor that is fed, clothed and sheltered
by charity, while they are required to
feed, clothe and shelter themselves and
families with the money they receive for
work. One working man said to me:
"It is all very we'll to talk of cheap labor.
See how it has affected me. I was work.
ing for dollar day; a 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. l
have my family to support. l cannot do
it on fifty cents a day." His objection
was sound. 1t is as unfair to ask white
labor to compete with black labor that is
supported by charity as it is to ask them
to compete with convict labor. None of
the white laborers about Topeka would
finch from competing with the refugee
negroes if the blacks were required to
gain their food. If the food is supplied
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 clothing are, un-
knowingly, inaicting great injury on the
white laborers of Kansas.
The negroes are living in barracks and
huts in North Topeka. Two little towns
have been built-one called Redmanyille,
the other Tennessee Town. The property
adjoining these towns has greatly depre-
ciated in value. One gentleman told me
he owned piece of real property that
before the negro exodus he valued at
$4,000; now he would gladly part with
it for S2,600. He believed the evil to be
permanent one. The barracks and
huts, having been built, would, he
feared, be kept full of this worthless
class of negroes until the buildings are
burned by some property holder.
quivered with laughter. Groups of ne
groes sat summing themselves in the hot
sun. Some were dancing, others anus
ing themselves by teaching tricks to dogs.
There were little dogs, middle sized dogs,
big dogs, yellow, white, black, spotted,
and brindle dogs, smooth dogs, and rough
haired dogs; some with long tails, some
with stub tails, all of the same breed
the cur. I was astonished at the gener-
osity of the subscribers to the exodus
fund. To feed, clothe, and shelter the
poor outraged negroes, who fed from the
brutality Of the southern land, is chari-
table. To cheerfully feed a drove of
NANCY animals, so as to keep the out
ragged ones from brooding over the wrongs
they have endured by giving their minds
occupation in teaching tricks to ours, is
an unparalleled curiosity. A yellow dog
with bob tail, sitting up Oh his haunch-
es, balancing bit of hoecake on his
nose, and at the command, "Dar, nowp
tossing it into the air and catching it as
it fell, attracted my attention. l felt that
the negro was progressing in civilization.
A white man situated as this negro was
would have gone crazy realizing his deg
relation as pensiouer on public charity.
The negro sat in the sun, happy and con-
tented, and taught bob tailed cur tricks.
In street by the Topeka State Bank
I saw two white men dressing building
stones. l counted thirty one negroes
leaning against railing, or standing on
the side walk in small groups, all smok-
ing, and all with great interest watching
the white men work. An hour later l
again passed. There were but twenty
three black men braced against the rail-
ing by the bank. Eight had crossed to
the other side of the street and joined
gang of nine other refugees. and the
black forces, now numbering forty, stead
ily watched the two white men dress the
building stones.
The change in political feeling among
not only the workingmen, but property
owners, is great. Many men living in
Topeka, who have always voted the Re-
publican ticket, will at the next election
vote against the party that started this
exodus.