Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-22

The Negro Problem.

In an article entitled 1.-The silent
Struggle IN the South" the Missouri
Republican discusses several phases Of the
negro problem which have already re-
ceved a great deal of attention from the
newspapers and magazines. The Re-
publican reaches the conclusion that there
are sections of the South that will have
to be wholly given up to the negro, and
that these sections contain the richest
lands. The reasons that these rich lands
will become the possessions of the negro
are, says the Republican, that the young
white men are leaving them for Texas, or
the far West, and that the "negros'
lnertness and capacity of prOcreation are
more than a match for the white mans
Intelligence, enterprise and intolerance"
The Repu5i5cdR's reasons amount 10
little more than assertions which have
been denied again and again. II has not
yet been satisfactorily shown that larger
percentage Of the young white men Of the
black districts than OF other sections of
the South seek homes in Texas and the
West, and it has been denied as often as
it has been asserted that the negroes, in
proportion to their number, are increas-
ing more rapidly that the white people
The truth is that the facts at present
attainable with respect TO the improve
ment and increase of the negroes are not
sufficient to form satisfactory conclu-
sion with respect to what the solution Of
the negro problem is to be. There is
about as much TO be said against as for
any theory that has not yet been ad-
vanced. The negro problem is clearly
not to be solved Immediately. A century
may be occupied in its solution.
There is one thing which the Republican
states from which there will be little dis
sent. 1t is that the negro is the force that
keeps foreign immigration away from the
South. "lf there was a Chinese WALL"
says the Republican, running entirely
round the South, it would not be half as
effective barrier against the tide of inn
migration as is the presence OF the $780,
900 blacks. 1t is that dusky and deterrent
spectre which forces the perpetually flow
Ing stream from Europe TO swerve North
ward and leave the South unenriched with
the precipitation that gives numbers,
wealth and power everywhere else. There
are Immigration sOCiebleb III some OF the
Southern States, and efforts have been
made to attract settlers; but these efforts
have succeeded only in making it clear
that the negro cannot be displaced"
European immigrants object to settling
in the South because they do not want to
make their homes where they will. to
some extent, be placed on an equality
with an inferior race.
immigration from the Northern and
Western States would flow South, how
ever, if it were properly encouraged. The
growth Of Florida is wonderful. The
men who are building up that State are
from the North, as well as from the
South. The negro hasn't proven to be a
bar to immigration there. Indeed, it
would not be surprising if, in the course
of time, the whites should practically
drive the blacks out Of that State. What
is taking place in Florida may take place
in other Southern States. The "silent
struggle to which the Republican alludes
may not result, as some writers take
pleasure in asserting, in a victory for the
negro.