The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-08
THE APPEAL TO CESAR.

THE APPEAL TO CESAR.
The Charleston News and Courier, in a
very temperate and sensible article, carries
comfort to many an aching Democratic heart.
CONSERVATION had seized upon many Of the
faithful after having read, or heard read,
Judge Tourgees argument that it was only
question Of time when the colored race, like
the locusts of Egypt, would spread over all
the land, to the overthrow Of the white,
through force of numbers. Tourgee, in his
appeal to Cesar showed, or attempted to
show, that the ratio Of increase was much
greater with the black than with the white.
He made it to appear that the negroes were
doubling in population every twenty years,
while the whites accomplished the same in
thirty-ive. From this it was easy to see
just how many years it would take for the
former to overtake the latter and have his
own sweet way in politics Judge Tourgee
didn't go to the trouble to clinch his argu-
ment but contented himself by pointing to
the census and saying, Figure it out for
yourself" Well, this was very startling,
and negrophobists at once took oath that
they would never stand it; that there must be
a mistake somewhere, and if no mistake
we'll, they wouldn't have it that way, that was
ALL Others took the cue from Tourgee, and
spun out fine theories on the statements made
hxf1 cfo
being that the colored race was multiplying
more rapidly than the white because of the
fact that negroes were not so averse to chill
dren, and, as rule, had larger families Ac
! cording to this, nature was about to get in her
| revenge by turning the balance Of numerical
power in favor of that people more in accord
with her laws. For the most part, the white
people of the North gave little attention to
tho matter. Beyond half -hearte6 sIs-that-
so?" they made no sign of alarm, content
to let the race problem solve itself
if natural agents were to do
the figuring But the South would
not have it that way, and found solace in the
| alleged discovery that it is all a mistake; the
blacks are not increasing by any such ratio
as 100 per cent. in twenty years. The News
| and Courier "knocks OUT the versatile
Tourgee by destroying the reliability
of the census of 1870, upon which,
compared with that Of 1880, Tourgee based
his awful conclusions. Our Charleston con-
temporary declares that the increase noted in
the colored population from 1870 to 1880 is
really the increase Of the same between 1860
and 1880, so that the per cent. Of increase for
the twenty years stands but 48 for the col
ored to 81 for the white. Those persons who
had taken alarm can now take
long breath. The News and Courier
goes still further, and shows that the
per cent of mortality is greater among the
blacks than among the whites, so that addi-
tional comfort is given those who were need
lessly alarmed Without intending to discour-
age the News and Courier and it's friends, we
might remark that this unfavorable showing
will probably disappear as the intelligence and
creature comforts Of the blacks are increased.
That the blacks are makngprogress in wealth
and intelligence we believe will be conceded
and it is quite probable that in time they will
''hold their own" in per cent. of increase.
There is no occasion for alarm, however.