The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-08-05
The Debris Of the Exodus.

OF llem.-N T. WOJtL.
The Debris Of the Exodus.
A committee of benevolent ladies are
in Washington urging upon the chart
table attention of Congress certain inn
pecunious negroes in Kansas, the debris
of the almost forgotten exodus. We
believe the committee wants Congress
either to settle these negroes on Gov
eminent lands, support them where
they are, or in some way to relieve
them from the consequences of their
own ignorance and folly. We do not
see how the Republican Congressional
majority can consistently refuse the
ladies' petition. The negroes are the
special Republican pets, and the exodus
was an exclusive Republican device;
therefore, let Republicans, as usual,
put their hands in the public pocket
and pay for their fun. If "General"
Conway is still on the hither side of
Jordan, any funds voted might be
placed in his keeping, as the surest way
for the beneliciaries not to get a cent,
and so be in condition to hold out
their hats again at an early day.
1t is impossible to contemplate the
deceased exodus business without
mingled amusement and indignation.
1t was gotten up by Republican ennis
saries for the furtherance of Repub-
lican interests. These emissaries. TAX
ing advantage of the chronic dissatis-
faction among certain class of col
ored population in the South, en-
couraged them to seek " fresh fields
and pastures new on the celestial
plains of Kansas; soil consecrated to
freedom and to Africa by the labors
of John Brown and steady and heavy
Republican majorities. The bait was
swallowed and the exodus begun. In
vain Democratic journals North and
South warned the victims of what was
in store for them; in vain such colored
leaders as Douglass, Bruce and Revels
urged them to remain where they were;
in vain their best friends everywhere
protested against change of base
fraught with grave perils to them and
theirs. Go they would, and go they
did; patted on the back by Republican
papers, which thought they saw votes in
the movement, or at any rate annoy
ance and embarrassment to the South
ern people. Kansas at first received
them with open arms, but very soon
turned her back and tried TO lock the
door. Still they came, and an effort
was made to divert the unwelcome tide
of immigration into other States; Gen.
eral Raum, now a candidate for the Sem
ate, declaring that Illinois could and
would easily and gladly find room for
at least fifty thousand of them. But
Raum's motion was not seconded by his
constituents, and we believe Kansas got
three-fourths of the bad bargain. Some
became self-supporting, but the bulk
have only managed to live from
"hand to mouth" and those who could
find their way back to "the house Of
bondage" in the South did not hesitate
to return. How many contributions
were called for by the Kansas authori-
ties. burdened with colored pauperism,
we need not say; and, it would seem,
from the presence of the female com
mittee in Washington, that pecuniary
aid is still in demand for the unlucky
sojourners in that promised land.
Now, the best evidence that the exc
dus was wholly unnecessary. is that il
ceased as suddenly as it began. Moth
ing is heard of it now except in appeals
for charity such as we have noticed. Il
it had been based on the superior ad
vantages of the North to the South as Q
place of permanent residence for the
colored population it would have con
tinued indefinitely. That it stopped
when and as it did is proof positive o
lack of Just cause or provocation; proc
positive that the South, and not the
North, offers greatest inducements t.
the thrifty and industrious colored mar
or woman; proof positive that the move
ment was artificial, not natural, and du'
to influences of partisan character. /
is remarkable and significant fact tina
those Republican papers which did thu
most to help on the exodus have thu
least to say about its collapse. The,
hope by their silence to avoid the re
sponsibility of a miserable and disas
trous failure; failure which cost hun
dreds, if not thousands, of poor negroe
their lives, and other thousands thei
scanty supply of cash and property. Blu
the blame of the exodus business canno
thus be shuffied off. 1t will rest wher
it belongs-upon Republican shoulders
and il theSouthern blacks are ever caugh
again by this Republican bait they will
deserve no sympathy or assistance from
any quarter.-St. Louis Republican.
"A concert at public cost is given o.
Boston Common every Sunday after
noon in summer. There was opposition