The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-10-12
Negro Peasant Proprietors.

81. NSk4V ON0tSAV AAVYAAOVVACs3. ,1
The negro.labor question is much dis
cussed in the southern journals. While
some "negro haters," like Hamburg
Massacre" Butler, denounce the colored
laborers as idle, lazy and worthless, the
balance ofopinion is quite the other
way, and most of the planters and farm-
ers agree in giving the colored race a
fair character Tor industry, diligence and
thrift. Wherever the colored men are
owners oftheir farms or little plantations,
they are able to hold their own with
their white neighbors. Peasant pro-
prietary has, as in the case of the more
favored face, though perhaps with less
degree, conferred on the colored people
sense of responsibility, and the con-
servatisn ofownersllip has spurred them
to industry and begotten in them habits
of thrift and carefulness. The circum-
stances under which the colored people
of America became free have not been
favorable to their becoming peasant
owners, and it is not surprising that
most of them are landless. The number
of those who own their own farms and
plantations, however, is yearly increas-
ing and the indications are that it will
continue to increase. It may be inter-
esting, therefore to examine into the
condition ola negro population where
the majority are peasant owners. This
is the case in Jamaica.
OF the half-million of inhabitants ofthe
island of Jamaica almost all Except the
European merchants of the towns, the
English soldiery, and the English Of
ficials) are negroes. Their occupation
consists mostly of Embarrassing and sugar.
cane and coffee cultivation. Since their
emancipation they have made great
progress, and have most of them become
owners OF their own little plots of ground
averaging from three to four acres.
OF these 10000 are not over an acre, and
26, 900 are between two and three acres.
In the old days ofslavery sugar-cal.e cul-
tiyation was the principal Industry of
the island. It was ass .rted by those who
opposed the abolition that with emanci-
patton this industry would languish and
die. 1t was said the negroes would not
engage in the hard work required unless
under absolute compulsion. This has
been totally disproved by the events.
The exports of sugar and rum last year
were larger than for any yea since 1889.
and IN the meantime various other pro.
ductive industries have been established
by the emancipated negro peasant pro-
prietors, adding greatly to the wealth of
the island. The value of the coffee ex-
ported in 1879 alone was ST ,245,0 900. But
the most noticeable advance made by
the Jamaica negroes is in the cultivation
of fruit, which they send largely to this
country. In 1867 the whole fruit trade
with the United States amounted to
$3.50; last year 81, 100000 oranges alone
were sent here, and the total value of
the fruit trade was $62O.OOr.
II should also be stated that while the
export trade has been growing yearly as
the negroes continue to grow in knowl-
edge, and as the number of negro peas.
ant proprietors increases, there
has been falling off in imports. Thus
last year the imports were $3.50, 900
less than the previous year, and in
the matter of breadstuffs alone, which
form the staple import. there was fall
ing off in values from 100000 in 1875
to ~, 100000 in 1882. The people are
learning each year to depend more and
more on home produce, and are becom-
ing more skilled in cultivation.
When the negroes were emancipated
there was hardly peasant proprietor
in the whole island. There are now ST.
600, mostly negroes, and all have ac-
quiz ed their little holdings from the
white plan ers by purchase. Their own
ership ls the fruit of honest, patient toll.
It has been hard struggle, uphill
work, so far, but their progress has been
great. 1t will be much greater hence
forward. They have now a firmer foun-
dation on which to build; they are their
own masters, the owners of their own
land. There is hope ahead. What
peasant proprietary has done for the
whites of France and Belgium it will
also do for the negroes Of the West
Indies and the United States. 1t will
make them thrifty and industrious, and
will bring them prosperity.-Chicago
Tribune.