The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-29
OUR COLORED BROTHER
As Seen by Chicago Clergyman.


ReV. Frank M. Bristol, pastor of the
Trinity Methodist Episcopal church has
just returned from visit to Alabama and
New Orleans. At the last meeting of the
Methodist ministers Mr.. Bristol, in speak
ing of his southern experience, said he
came back convinced that the negroes
were wholly unreliable and unchaste and
could with difficulty be educated. Rev.
Dr. Stowe, the next speaker, said he
thought "some Of the southern whites had
been giving Brother Bristol some taffy !"
Before the discussion closed, however
Dr. Stowe admitted that the condition of
both whites and blacks was "deplorable, A."
but he thought they were gaining ground.
The exchange of opinion regarding the
condition of the negro has excited consid-
cradle comment in the city, and yesterday
the Herald received note bearing this
request: Please inform me whether
Rev. F. NJ. Bristol is a republican or
democrat"
Subsequently a reporter propounded
the question to Mr.. Bristol He replied
promptly; Il am arepublican. Why do
you ask"
To oblige a reporter of the Herald,
who thinks, perhaps, that you preached
Democratic doctrine at Mondays meeting
of the ministers.
Mr.. Bristol laughed as he replied:
Yes, and my friend Dr. Stowe said he
thought some of the southern whites had
been giving me 'taffy' | went south to
regain my health, not to be regaled on any
sweetmeat of southern Misrepresentation.
| talked with representatives of all classes.
| went into the fields, visited the planta-
tions and spent some time in the black
belt of Alabama, where there are three
or four negroes to every white man. So
far as the political situation is concerned,
found that the problem is not so much
the difference between democrats and
republicans as between white and black
1t is difficult for northern man to com
prehend the situation IN the far southern
states. The negro there seems to be q
different product from the average negro
of the north. The conditions are differ
ent For instance, in the black belt,
where the vote of the negro overwhGlms
| abe white vote, the negroes favor policy
which taxes the planters and real estate
owners unfairly"
Are there no negro land owners?"
Only few-just the exception which
proves the rule. A few of the negroes
lease little land. but thy are bad, and
generally speaking, Improbable tenants
They forget that their welfare and tht
| interests of the land owner are identical
and they vote to handicap real estate will
| taxation. Having no land themselves
they think they escape all those evil con
sequences which spring from excessive
| taxation"
Did you find many republicans in the
south aside from the blacks?'
Il did not AsI said. before, it is {
question of color rather than of political
| parties
DO you think, Mr. Bristol, if you lived
iu the south you would vote the democrat
| ic ticketf'
Il am not prepared to say that
merely give expression to my views of the
negro as social, financial and politica
factor | tell you it is great problem
down there. The whites say they mus
be allowed to control local and genera
policy in their cities, counties and states
| in order to obtain the best results From
all the light | can gather. | am in accorC
with them on that point. The southern
negroes are dishonest. 1t seems to b,
second nature for them to lie You canno
depend upon their word. They are unreli
able in making contracts. They lacl
stability and morality.
DO not the majority of them attent
church?"
Yes, they are emotional and must have
some vent for their paroxysmal nature
but the shouting and religious athletics o
| their meeting houses is worth bus little t.
the G, ,000. 900 negroes of the south. The
divorce religion from morals; hence thei
uuchastty and their peculations"
What is the sentiment of the southern
whites toward northerners?"
The northern man is in demand dowI
there. They want men with northern
ideas, northern energy, northern machin-
cry. The soil is extremely productive
but fully one half the land is not titled
| As is well known, the native born south
erner is an en0rvated character. He j
lacking in many of those traits whicl
command success, particularly in northern
agricultural districts The pride of sec
tionalism is such that the southerner
welcome men and measures which prom
ise the better development of their ferti
lands
How do northern men get along witt
the negrOes?"
Poorly until they understand them
You may think it strdnge, but kindness
thrown away upon the darkies If
Chicago employer were to go south an
pursue the same course of treatmen
toward his colored employees that govern
him in dealing with laborers and farn
hands here he would be bankruptet
iu short order. The negroes must b
driven Unless watched they will no
work. AS rule, they shun physical ex
ertion. Only the harsh pangs of hunge
or the harsher voice of an overseer drive
them to the performance of even th
minimum amount of labor. This ma
seem strange, but it is the truth. TIL
laziness of the negro is inbred. A frien
of mine, northern gentleman, who IT
Gently spent some time IN the south
writes a letter in which he says that, wit
Boston man, he visited St. Landr
parish, about 175 miles west of Me-
Orleans, My friend adds: We stoppe
at 0pelousas and spent two days anon
the planters and negroes in that vicinity
We found five colored women out of 81
unmarried mothers We found the aver
age plantation hand so lazy that when th
door of his cabin tumbled down he allow
ed it to lie on the ground for years sub
stituting piece of sacking. We foun
that nine negroes out of ten were regarde
as pig and chicken thieves. We foun
of colored SCHOOLS not one. We foun
| that an attempt had recently been made I
start q colored Sunday school on tn
nlantation of Mr.. Sylvester. The frs
lau1vsoe 10 ck19dxy Savi yfv ~