The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-05-13
THE poor WHITES OF THE SOUTH
Slavery Not Respeasibie for Their Exist.
eace-Ths Need OF Sumner sehssls.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-SI: Frank
Wilkeson charges slavery with producing the
race Of poor whites" in the South. I once be.
lleved rs he does on this subject. 1t was nat
aral and convenient to charge overv Southern
svil to the one sin which overshadowed all
others. But after eight years. residence in q
Southern State. a sense Of justice alone COM
pels me to believo that II not single one OF
Africa's ebon sons had ever set foot on This
SOIL the poor white would still exist. II IL q
matter Of soil. climate. cheap md abundant
fuel. and Inherent traits OF character. He is
the descendant Of the improvdcnt. the shift
less. the extravaganza. as wol as the indo!ent
and ignorant for many generations. and he
still retains his Inherited share Of oil these
slss Il" The rss.on he Is more
abundant IN rural districts here than At the
North and West. is because II Is possible for
same low rates OF wages Of which Mr.. Wiikeson
complains. and DO more comfortable than hs
could on twice tho amount OF work and pay in
One good Northern winter would nearly ex-
terminate the poor whites; for tho effort put
forth here to procure fnel. food. clothing. and
shelter would DO totally insufficient there to
Keep them from suffering starvation or freez-
ing. As one poor wretch said to mo some years
that snow had lain on much longer" He had
issne, and other comforts Tor a. sick baby.
eaubed and chinkod' with mud or clay. u
10 creep in for Y door. l grant this to be an
extreme extreme case. Tho poor mans cabin is gen;
s sr. m m! comfortable. but there are all
From what have seen and read Of Georgia.
isurmise 1t is very similar to Tennessee. but 1t
advertisers to sing its praises. I've heard
that the rate Of wages is about the same ~
hsre. Unless the Georgia farmer is much bot
SIully rs jlst as the employer can AFFORD. II
Franz Wkeson will farm for y few. years on a
hundred acres OF that soil. he will soon dis
cover that he himself IN every crop he raises.
Is not SO well paid as the laborer whom he en-
boyS; 1.-THE soil yielded i!s bonntiful crops ~
iarmers. rs we'll ~ the extreme poor. would
ihavs better opportunity To ascend more rap
, MS the pefnunary ladder As it is. the prog,
The poor white follows literally tho saviours
Command. Take no thought for the morrow"
There are Wild fruits and nuts which are no lii
tie assistance TO him throughout tho year. He
S1uite as satisfied when he has bacon. bread
aud tobacco ~ the humble bee is in tho clover
patch; ,H~ deems It unnecessary to strive Tor
nay higher Injuries. The lack of public schools
has retained In him an Ignorance and super
M, u.il which would b. amusing II itwere not
%. On this line alone may slavery b charged
E,h producing the poor white" But though
NE public school system has made n fur be-
ginning in Tennessee il seems to be OF very lit
70 benefit 70 him. The schools are run only in
me fow coolest months Of the year. The dis
!ricts are largo, and the poor white is npt to DO
settled where tho outlying land is OF little
Mine and fuel plentiful and convenient. This
makes an inconvenient distance "a send young
children, and older ones must work. They
have little time for education. Shoes ars a
Msury they soluom enjoy. They can be dis-
oshsod with without danger while lowering
over tho cabin fro but they arc needed for u
wax Of mile or two In frost aud mud.
hy heart has ached for many years over the
popr 'i'tla children who tenant many OF these
@olns. Taught absolutely nothing from years
s ve ignorance. profanity. and obscenty.
INA, cnn be- expected OF them except to become
~ luiure HE inmntes OF the penitentiary? They
S%rsy need free summer schools. in which
MO- mora. and industrial training predominxte.
eesu, whether ~ private or public aid ought to
s nav hem; Their needs in tnis line are great
iy KIN ,n ,h a q the frssdnan for slavery
Inn mn III lts evils, and 10 oil household slaves
n mSre Wern rei lining and elevating influences
hal had " 900 DO deniod or despised. and these have
uWy.ssn"wledscd heretofore
.,ie, thr missionary societies are so deeply
hs"ssrh with the freedman TINT his wants
hay" ,e crowded out thosa OF their own race who
ISn. IaN.ht industry nor economy. ~ has his
co,, h bfrth"r. IT'S true they havc II pride to
dsanena with that the gentleman OF African
or. wiz they be susceptible OF elevation. Let
ne, nj uio readily condomG quality which.
GoI'ntro,Her, n the human soul, is doubtless
o serp ps rev ,h fii,n tv u ~ na 1he
drsr,ss,s, ana Christians to strive 10 elevate tho
iornJta' ana convert the heathen wherever
Divine , Lnry depart from tho ,cxampl? Of the
Ssi Ii. sH .t TGr s HiscS am
ssnihrSpIs,. 1s Pa 81 HI His E@ shia
Vas Sssn ~ ,aT, 70 sGvSiy needy i not more So
'" '''' out N Ne saowssf total g. neglect
'H'sE''s, Tam. xava