The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-08-18
Facts of the Census.


The census returns are beginning
to come in, and they show a steady
growth Of the Southern population
Seven Of the principal cities in the
South, in Maryland, Kentucky, Mis-
souri,, West Virginia, Georgia anc
Louisiana, which, in 1870, contained
an aggregate population of 943, 600
have increased 214,000 in ten years
being an average increase of 224 pei
cent These cities embrace places show
+ ing the greatest, the least, and the
average increase-New Orleans show
ing the smallest and Atlanta the largest
per centum Of increase. Eighteen
Northern cities, having a population Of
;, 1856, 900 in 1870, show an increase of
I ,3S5, 900 in ten years, being an aver
age increase of 40 per cent. These
cities also embrace places showing the
maximum, minimum and average in
crease in the States Of Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wis
consin, Minnesota, California and Colo
RADIO
1t is estimated that the total popula
ton Of the country will be about 30,
600 900; that Of the South Is, 900, 900.
What effect the new census will have
on the Congressional representation is
exciting no little comment 1t is vet a
matter Of conjecture. 1t is certain that
important notifications will take place.
New England will lose a share of its re-
lative strength, and so will other older
States, while the drift of immigration
to the Northwest and the Southwest
will certainly largely increase the inhu-
ence Of these regions in Congress. But
ii Is too early yet to make accurate cal
culations on the subject. 1t viii de-
pend on the ratio Of representation es-
tablished by Congress. The present ra-
ito is 1870, 425, giving to each State one
representative in the House for every
1870, 40 souls in its population, and an
additional one fora fraction greater than
one-half Of that number. The number
Of representatives in Congress at pre-
sent Is 1913, and if it shall be decided to
keep it at that number, the ratio will
have to be raised, and this will have the
effect of cutting down the delegations
Of those States that have made but lit
tie gains in population. If the present
representative ratio shall be preserved
it will increase the number Of members
in the House to 375. No State will
lose 4 member, as no one shows a con
siderable diminution Of population but
those that have made but little gain
will only retain their present quota, and
the eighty-two additional members will
be apportioned to those States that have
made notable gains.
Meantime, the disappointment Of the
Northern Republican leaders at the re
turns SO far rs received, is manifest. In
his Chicago Convention speech, it will
be remembered that Gen. Garfield sta
ted that the census would come to the
aid OF the Republican party and turn
the scale in its favor, if it could only
hold out until new apportionment is
made But the South is panning out
better than they expected, and here is
the way they express their grief:
The census returns from the Southern |
States are beginning to attract considerable (
attention on account of the large gains
which they show. During the last ten years /
there has been no immigration of any kind
into the South; on the contrary, there has
been emigration from that region. The fe
1undity of the colored people can scarcely
account for the increase, and, in fact, the
only way in which it can be accounted for
is that the census enumeratOrs, who are
mainly the creatures of the Confederate
Jongressmeu-for the Brigadiers IN the Sen
ate refused to confirm any others-have
lrawn largely on the imagination, and, fol-
owing the advice of their Confederate lead
ars, have combined to give the South large
SO that it might secure a large
representation. 1t is deter
mined that an investigation shall be had
into the means by which the South has
grown in population at a greater rate than
The North.
Ofcourse all Of this stuff is the merest
fancy, and the outbreak of chagrin
md disappointment. SO far as the
South is concerned, the census has been .
fairly taken. Both parties were repre-
,ented in the corps of enumerators, and
there is no evidence that either acted
1t is gratifying that both Houses Of
Congress are in the possession of the
Democrats, and it is to be hoped that in
.he adoption Of new apPortionment,
hey viii take care that justice is done
o all sections of the common country.
Secretary Sherman's Tricks.
A Washington special says that there