Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1883-08-02
Can We Safely Spare Tive Hundred
Thousand Negro LabOrers!

sukcucA0s % NsS Hu5s ~ heSo'
Can We Safely spare I've Hundred
Thonsand Negro LabOrers!
The summer meeting of the State
Agricultural and Mechanical Society
and State Grange took place in Ma
rion lastsweek. The discussion of the
labor question was the main point of
interest, and Senator M. c. Butler,
who was present, said that this wac
the great question for the farmer.
ave should not mince matters in
this discussion. The labor Of this
country is becoming more unsettled
every year. There has been no time
since 1865 when the labor has been
more unreliable than now. 1t is ad
mitted by the colored men. even that
those born since freedom are becom
ing more and more worthless. Wemust
get q supply for this deficiency. We
could safely spale two hundred thous
and of the negro laborera. Let them
go into Kansas and elsewhere if they
wish. We could follow the example
Of Mr.. Crayton and get Germans.
There is too much cheap labor. Some
have been driven by necessity to pro.
cure machinery and use it them
selves. They have not ten mouths
now to feed where they should have
had one. Experience is good for US
all. 90 upon the farms and give
them personal supervision. Land iii
New Jersey which was worth 81 per
acre is now worth $lOO per sore. He
was sorry to believe that the laborers
we have are not making progress in
this country. The white race cannot
afford to be handicapped by such
drag upon them, and must use all
labor saving machines and get rid Of
an army of drones. There is no ques-
tion Of so much consequence to the
progress of the State. There should
be no question between capital and
labor. No question is so grave as that
of maintaining the efficiency of our
labor. There is no more bene6cent
purpose for the use of brain than the
tilling Of the soil.
Senator Butler said furthermore, I
wish m elicit discussion. 7 have done
all in my power TO show that had
reluctantly come to the conclusion
that negro labor is not reliable OF
progressive. Has it advanced, as it
should have done? The Lien law was
passed to meet the exigencies of the
occasion. No people got so much
benefit from this law as the colored
people. We have kept them going
at our own expense. Can we afford
to continue this ruinous system !?
Will they never be able to stand
alone? &hey are as bad off to day as
when they started in 1865. II is not
aquestion Of sentiment, but one Of
interest, which concerns US and our
children. 1t is not a question of how
many bales of cotton this or that man
can make, but there is no parallel in
history where people has stood by
an inferior race as we Of the South
have done. But we must do simple
Justice to ourselves, and must strive
every year more and more to make
ourselves independent of them. There
is no man but will admit that such
labor 10 becoming more and more in
efficient. How are we to meet this
question To my mind we must do
as some of our friends have said, that
is, put homogeneous race in their
p1aces.- But haif of the cotton of the
South has been made by white labor.
What becomes of these people when
we take the protecting intelligence of
the white man away from them ?
They ret,ograde to a condition that
no one could have dreamed of. Let
that labor take charge Of this country
and you have bowling wilderness in
the place of plenty. The colored man
has not made the progress which your
speakers have noticed so forcibly here
to-day. I do not decry negro labor,
but want to see this country inde-
pendent of It. We cannot rely upon
them alone. The great progress in
this country is due to the white la
borer and not to the negro. One who
has labored in the cause of education
of the negro said "that he could go to
certain point but all beyond that
made him topheavy, and that he has
not made one step forward morally"
I have been forced to admit, against
my will, to say that the time has
come for US to look for some way out
of this difficulty. We have progressed
in spite of fate. If they want to go
to Indiana let them 60. You will
never have any material increase in
your white population until you get
q material diminution of the colored
man. When you put the foreigner
into competition with the negro he
does not stay, he goes, and 80 would
you. He has no people to associate
with. I think twenty years is expert
ment enough. We cannot afford to
carry this incubus on our shoulders.
They must keep up with the course Of
progress or must be left behind.
Selling Liquor to a Man Of known