Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-02-26
A COlOred Clergyman's View of
Kansas.
from the Missouri Republican

From the Missouri Republican,
Rev. Henry Dickinson. a colored cler-
gyman of Louisiana, tells the Shreve-
port Times the following story of his
experience on recent visit to Kansas:
81 am presiding elder, having four church
es in Bossier parish in my circuit. My home
is on w. H. Wise's place Some time ago my
people insisted that | should 90 TO Kansas and
examine Into the condition of the emigrants
who had already gone there, and ascertain
whether they could better themselves by leav-
ing their present homes. So, with that end in
view. on the 18th OF January, / started by rail
for Parsons, where l arrived on the 10Th in
slant. When l got there didn't receive any
more attention than if had not been dele
gate--nObOdy seeming to care whether had
come or aged away. After looking around the
depot where there were good many able
bodied cOlOred men, whom l didn't know,
ST anding around, ragged and dirty and look
ing very much troubled and dOwn-bearted, /
started out in search of some of the people
who had gone from my neighbOrhOOd, end
with whom I was acquainted. had proceed
ed only short distance up the street when l
met three men who had been there with their
families some two days. They were overjoyed
to see me, and took me to see their families,
who were camped out on the communicating
there without shelter, and had had no food
since their arrival. When the women saw me
they threw up their hands and exclaimed with
don't know how we have been suffering from
cold and hunger. For Gods sake take us
away from this dreadful place. Further on
met Others of my people, some of whom had
no employment and others under obligations
to work for their food, and glad of the chance.
All those l talked TO were anxious to come
home, and we're only deferred therefrOm by
reason of their having no money to pay their
way. People who were in comfortable cir
cumstances at home are at starvation's door
in Kansas.
From Parsons I went to Cherryvale and
there found more people and more suffering.
The only man OF my acquaintance who had
any prospect of making aliving was George
Davis, who went from MIR. Fosters place
among the first. He had bought place of 81
acres with two little box houses on 1t, for
which he paid 500 cash. From here l went
to Independence, where arrived on the Goth
the same old cry. Lots of people, no work, no
money. Near Independence three families
had bought a small place, for which they paid
81, 200 They were more comfortably fixed
than any OF their neighbors and were quite
sanguine as to what the future would bring
forth. They had sent 4ck to Denison for q
ton of cotton seed and were determined to see
If Kansas soil and climate would not bring
forth cotton. visited other localities with
the hope of finding an improved condition of
things. but was always disappointed. The
colored people have been basely deceived and
ere awakening to that knowledge. The bur-
Oen OF Jnetr song is, we want TO get Dack TO
our home in Louisiana, where the trees grow
green, the cotton opens white and the sun
shines warm.''
The planters in Mr.. Dickinson's neigh
borhood had so much confidence in his
honesty and intelligence that they of
fered to pay his expenses on this tour
Of investigation. But he declined, say
ing that some parishioners might doubt
his statements if he went ION white
peoples money" So he went on his
own responsibility and paid his own
bills. He now proposes calling pub
lie meeting of his colored friends, and
them to stay whore they are;
or if they must leave home, in Gods
name, to avoid Kansas Will"Gen.n
Conway please step down to Louisiana
and convert Brother Dickinson from
the error of his ways?