The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-08
Rrl.lrlulld nispaith.
THURSDAY. ....FEBRCAkf s. 1850
Tho NEGRO Problem.

The writer for tho North american lie
r;e,c who predicts that the negroes VIII ~
the course Of timc root out the whites o.
The South, because they increased more
rapldly in certain States during one decade
than did the whites, has omitted gooo
many Of the factors Of The problem. TIC
might rs well contend that the white Is tho
Inferior race.
In what States do the negroes increase
moro rapidly than the whites? ii III any
only in those In which there Is an aDunu'
ance Of cheap land, demand for agr'cuI'
tursl laborers, or sparse white popnia'
tion. This state Of things cannot continue
10 exist indefinitely; and so soon as inc
whites feel the competition OF the negroes
they will prove themselves TO DC inc mas
tiers OF the situation. AT present the
whites gladly employ all the negro iaoorer'
they can TO produce cotton, tobacco rice'
sugar, &c. Let the negroes once become
numerous enough TO threaten white SUI
premacy-though this they will never DO
and the conditions will have been changed
The circumstances OF the negroes viii mol
then tend to that rapid increase in then
numbers which the census report tells u
took place in some OF the southern States
between 1870 aud 1880.
The census OF 1870 was burlesque upon
ccpsuscs. 1t was, so far as the South was
concerned, totally unreliable. We can have
no respect for any estimates based upon
such foundation. But even according 10
that census the ncgI oes of Virginia did not
increase as rapidly as the whites from 1917
to lSsO-ihe census Of 1850 being accepted
as correct. The increase OF the whites was
about twenty-five per cent. The increase
of the blacks was about twenty-threc per
cent. And yet il there is any State IN TINS
JTuion where the negro is better cared LOT
than in any other State, or any other part
Of the world as to that, Virginia is that
State. Virginia is the paradise OF negroes
They have here good schools, churches
perfect freedom. enjoy all their civil rights,
delight In the companionship OF large num-
bers OF their own race, and sun themselves
In warm cline, Negroes refuse to serve
In New York, Boston, Philadelphia, OF
Brooklyn, for pay doubIy as large as that
which they are glad to get in Rich
mopd. The Virginia negro is perhaps
the happicst laborer in the world. Yet
even here, we repeat, the whites increase
moro rapidly than the negroes. And what
will the next census show as to Virginia!
1t will probably show that the whites have
increased so per cent. and the negroes not
over 90. The whole history Of the country
proves that the white race will allow no
rival in these United States. In fact, we
repeat, the negro will never seriously con-
tcst the white mans claim to be "lord OF
thc fowl and the brute" ''from the sea all
round to the shore"
But, above all, there are already forty
three and half millions OF whites in this
country. aud only six and a half millions OF
negroes; and when we say "this coun-
try,n we mean the possessions of the United
States. What blindness to draw line be-
tween the South and the North and assume
that the whites will not 80 over that line to
drive out the negroes. Who would be
silly enough TO predict the supremacy OF
the negro in Soutbside Virginia because
there are now more negroes in that section
than whites? Nobody. Everybody knows
that the white population will press down
southwards, and that it will be but few
years comparatively before the whites will
constitute majority OF the population Of
The South Side.
And so it will be on larger scale with
all that portion OF the country in which the
negroes now outnumber the whites. The
southern States have better climate and a
better soil than the northern. These advan-
tages are bound to tell in the end. In fact,
nothing but the institution OF slavery
threw the South behind the North in popu-
lation whilst that institution lasted. No
thing but the presence OF negroes now
causes northcrners and foreigners to
prefer the cold far West to the balmy
South. The pressure Of population when
the country shall number hundred
million inhabitants will flood the south.
ern States with whites. "The fittest viii
survive" The Indians fate may not fore
shadow that of the negro. We will moi
indulge guess a. to that. There arc toe
many other ways IN which the. problem
may be solved. Mexico and Central Anne
RIGA may become part and parcel OF thi.
Union, and the negro may gradually worl
his way thther. Or he may slip of
TO the isles Of the gulf or the ocean
But LET him do what he will, he will nevel
be the ruler OF any Of the southern States
OF this Union, any more than of the north
ern States. Perhaps, II we look TO New
York. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, w
may see the negroes circlmstanced as they
will be In Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, ant
Mississippi a hundred years from now.
---------------
THE RICHMOND SCHOOL BoARD.-Th,
Constitution. as we read II, does not forbid
members OF the City Council to hold an!
other State office but DrOhibits them from