Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-03-13
Concerning Wooden Soap.


window of drug store we noticed sew
eral pyramids of cakes of toilet soap,
tastefully arranged and bearing a label
of surprising cheapness. We stepped |
in, purchased half dozen of the pieces.
and took them home rejoicing in the
bargain we had found. The article was |
beautifully mottled, finely scented, and |
at first washed very well; but in a few
days dark spots began to appear in it, |
and a little further use disclosed the
fact that the bulk of the article was |
really only a wooden block of black |
walnut, thinly plated with soap on the
outside. We were straightway dis
posed to become quite aggravated at
this saponaceous fraud, but upon re-
Election it became apparent that there
was nothing very novel or strange in it;
the same kind of imposition is prac-
ticed in graver and more important
matters.
The leaders and managers of the Re-
publican party boldly say, with respect
to the African hegira to Indiana, that
it is a voluntary movements bona 1fde
migration of that people hither. We do
not know, and care very little, what
exodus may be brought to light by the
Congressional investigation which has
been ordered on the subject. There
are some facts prominent in its history,
which are SO patent and pronounced
that their significance can hardly be
affected in any way by the testimony
before the Senatorial Committee.
The color of the emigrants is one
of these facts. The attachment of the
negro race to their place of abode has
been frequently noticed by those who
have written upon the subject of their
disposition and habits. It has been
often called one of the strongest traits
in their character. Such was their
attachment to their houses and homes,
even during the existence of slavery,
that it was accounted one of the great
reasons why they submitted to and
remained in servitude. They preferred
the cabins and quarters, which they
occupied upon the plantation of their
masters, to life of freedom among
strangers, in a strange land. Yet the
recent emigration from North Carolina
the blacks. In the early history of In
diana, doubtless many white people
moved from the elder State to the
newer one. Many portions of the older
parts of Indiana were settled long ago
by pioneers from the Old North State.
But all this is gone by. Since the in
crease of wealth and population, and
the consequent rise in value of lands
| here, that emigration has ceased; and
indeed had virtually ceased many years
before the war. 1t is many years now
since party of white movers have left
their homes upon the Yadkin or the
Catawba, and struck the trace for the
Wabash. That this spirit of migration
should have suddenly shown itself
among another class of North Car
olinians, of all others the most
unalterably attached to their homes
and their surroundings, we do not
credit That the long established
caracter of the negro race should have
been all at once changed, transmitted
and transformed, we do not believe,
except that it has been brought about
by some outside, extraneous agency of
great power and influence. The exit
Of Israel from Egypt was made to es-
cape the service of the taskmaster.
Pharaoh tried hard to prevent it. But,
in the modern Ethiopian exodus there
are no chariots or horsemen in pursuit.
The taskmaster aids in the flight, well
knowing that the fleeing multitude will
still remain in his political service, and
that they can make bricks, either with
or without straw, to better purpose for
him in the West than in the South.
Another one of these facts is the place
from which the emigration is coming.
North Carolina is a Democratic State,
and very largely SO in its Legislature,
its Congressional delegation and its
popular vote. Neither the war, nor
the consequences of the war, have
made or are likely to make any change
in the political sentiment of her people.
Republican politicians count the vote OF
the State as certainly against them.
The instant removal of every colored
voter from Indiana to North Carolina
would have no appreciable effect in
changing the political character of the
latter State. But the migration of a
small portion of the colored voters
of North Carolina to Indiana might
have very important effect upon the
result of elections in Indiana. But
that this pseudo-exodus and spurious
migration is not being brought about
with reference to anything except to
attempt the change of the politics Of
our State is just as manifest from a
consideration of the place to which the
Democratic State, but it is such only by
. low UAOuo1Au VI tAO POPuld1
vote. Many of the Legislative and
Congressional districts in It are Demo
cratic only by few hundred, and some
of them by less than one hundred ma.
jority. The location of a few score o1
voters in particular localities might
change the representation of the State,
either in the Federal Senate or House
of Representatives. And when it il
considered, further, that this attempt
at colonization is confined wholly te
close or doubtful counties in Indiana
the cause thereof becomes very appar
ent, even without investigation. II
Wayne and Randolph, Grant and How.
ard there is no emigration, but Putnam
and Shelby, Montgomery and Newton
where close and doubtful contests occu
in such districts and counties these
colored colonists are being carefully
. located.
1t seems then perfectly clear that
1. There is State indubitably Dem
ocratic, from which a class of voters
credulous and ignorant, but thorough,
Republican, may well be spared, be
cause their action there is useless ant
unavailing to the directors and con
ductors Of this great political caravan
for the West. This State is North Car
olina.
2. There is another State which i
well known and recognized as th
battle-ground of close and doubtful
political contest, in which the sam
, class 6f voters may be used to the ut
most advantage.
3. There exists faction of desperat
political adventures in the Republical
camp, whose whole life and fortune ma
, depend upon the result in Indiana, an
l who have shown themselves, in repeat
. ed instances, capable Of any means. an
, of any degree of wrong, fraud an
crime to attain their purposes.
!, These three elements are abundant
able to account for this strange mic
winter fitting of the hitherto stays
home African, or even to have create
and set it in motion out of less promis
ing materials.
! A careful examination of these fact
will enable any impartial observer t
arrive at the true inwardness of thi
abnormal Ethiopian egress from tn
. South to the West. Much may be sal
! of the good faith, honest purpose an
voluntary character of this migration
: but these professions will not avail yer
long to conceal its true character. Lik
! the counterfeit cakes of CASTLE on tn
counter of the knavish druggist, the