Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-04-27


and provided for during their three
or four days stay by their friends and
the members of the Episcopal church.
Asua-usn-usuuu-uu-u-uu--u--@
SOME weeks ago 1O5 colored south
erners emigrated from Phillips and
Lee counties, back of HelenS, Ark,
hundred miles south of here, pass
ing this city one dark night on board
the steamer Golden Rule, bound for
the Ohio river, Cincinnati, New York,
and on to Liberia; or SO they said at
least. Visitors to the steamer noticed
the sleek, happy-looking, dusky-
skinned crowd. There were about
forty families in the party, ALI had
been tillers Of the soil, cotton and
corn growers. They had sold their
crops for cash in hand, and the net
returns then in their wallets footed
up more than $4,000, or an average Of
$50 per head, little and big. The
darkies were little reticent regard
ing their future plans and hopes, but
they were very independent, said they
asked no favors, were properly pro-
vided for, and were bound for the
promised land Of their forefathers
They had previously sent intelligent
couriers abroad to look at the country
and report back, and the report was to
them entirely satisfactory. 1t re-
quired FIVE hours for the steamer
Golden Rule to get the plunder of the
emigrants or board at Helena, and
the people of that place all agree that
the crowd were kindly treated, or let
severely alone, while they tarried in
their city. 1t is a free country, the
Helenians say, and people white or
black can go where they list, unmo.
Tested and unrestricted Two or three
leading citizens, one banker and
large planter, had employed a portion
of these emigrants, and in his settle
ment after their cotton crop was gath
cred and sold, had paid each one a
round asum of money, all of which
they carried of, apparently in the
best possible temper. Nothing seemed
to go wrong with these emigrants until
they arrived at Cincinnati. Here they
related to a soft-pated news reporter
a lot of mandacious stuff, which veri'
fies most truly the appropriateness Of
the old motto Lord, how this
world is giving to lying" They told
of extortion, for poll taxes, of severa
dollars per head, and charges on the
wharfboat at Helena, drawn from
them under threats, which were nevel
made or charged, but which the news
4 monger apparently believed, or affect
ed to, and he printed it. The TO-
= darkies. big and little, landed in New
York in due time,. and as they flee
through the streets Of chat emporium
with their plunder on their backs
they attracted as much attention al
would Barnum annual circus process
sion. Such a scene in Memphis, o
any other city, or river ferry crossing
in the south, would have excited nj
remarkabeing an everyday exhibition
In old slavery times, professions of
similar character, only oft times thre
or four-fold larger, were numerous
aud in the present days of freedom
they are plentiful. But it was move
to New Workers, and they marvele'
at it. Then sympathetic peopl
caught at an idea. The darkies wer
bulIdozed out Of the south, we're pen
niless, and objects worthy Of their pro
found regard. stir was made owe
it, column after column in the news
papers related their imaginary abuse
sufferings and needs, and subscrip
tions flowed in upon the committees
Finally it leaked out that the colore
brothers and sisters we're imposing o
good nature. They were dirty
lazy, lying lot, 50 dissenters asserted
and quarrel in the camp let ou
ever so much refugee logic, which lie
many to think that the Liberia
emigrants cared more to bask in idle
ness on the bounty of credulous pee
ple's pooketbooks than they cared I
earn an honest living by labor, Q
proeeed on their proposed journ.
The coloreds are still in New Yorl
comfortably sheltered, but are sol