The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-23
The Negro q Failure.

chair OF Chemistry and Agricultural
Science at the University, of Georgia,
has been among Augustus most appre-
ciated guests the past week.
He had just returned from the meet
ing of State farmers in Columbus,
where his striking address upon the
subject of improving labor in the South,
has developed much comment in new
and improved direction.
The Chronicle sought out Prof.
White while in Augusta, not only on
account of his genial and engaging
manners. but for his bold and practi-
cal ideas. Prof. White is a man who
adorns any sphere in life and who
leaves the impress Of scholar and
practical worker upon everything he
| touches.
The Chronicle asked the Professor
about his address in Columbus, in
which he showed up the negro as
| failure rs n skilled labo,er and declar-
| ed the unfitncss of the class for peas
antry.
AS the Chronicle has already noticed,
Prof. White, on the labor question said
that the great necessity Of Georgia
was peasantry. What he means by
n peasantry is intelligent and scientific
laborers,, such as France, England and
even down. trodden Ireland have.
lie had nothing to suy against the
negro. but it Was well known fact
that he is incapable of receiving scien-
tific instruction. In discussing this
subject he knew he was laying himself
open to criticism, but the labor question
is the most important to the Georgia
| farmer.
NO PEAsANTKY HERE.
"Well,'' said Professor White, took
this ground:
"Hcre we have State of fine climate
with soil naturally good and sus-
ceptible of greater improvement, but
the country is absolutely without u
peasantry. The people who occupy the
rank OF peasants are an ignorant, shift
less class, seemingly not desirous of
self-advancement
"There is among them low state of
morality and little disposition to acquire
property nor are they susceptible of
that training which enables them
to work our land to the best advan-
| tagc."
sour country cannot be improved
without good labor, educated labor and
skilled labor. In thinking over this
whole matter have mace bold to in
quire whother or not the lack Of a saw.
ing, middle class is not the weak point
in our Southern system, and whether or
not the labor difficulty is not at the bot
tom of all.our trouble 2"
!'What is your solution, Professor
your formula ?'
THE REMEDY.
"This Of course leads us to hunt for
the remedy. contended:
1st. We must live Independently of
this class Of labor by cultivating, our
selves small acres. This leads to intcn-
sive farming.
"a. This Of course means scientific
farming. We must educate the rising
generation Of whites so that they may
understand scientific agriculture. Our
State scientific and agricultural schools
must be built up and fostered. The
same is true Of the mechanic arts, and
this is where our technilogical schools
must come in, to raise up young me-
chanics and train Southern labor"
IMMIGRATION.
''This system Of thoroughly cultivat-
ing small farms will leave a large
amount Of unoccupied and uncultivated
land-larger than now remains. Now,
to make country prosperous and to in
crease our present population, and in
order that this prosperity may come be-
fore the negro succeeds in ruling or
running this country, we must work for
immigration. That is our only hope"
"What is your specific plan ?''
81 think the State, the railroads and
associations Of individuals, should unite
in advancing the interests Of the State in
the North and West and in Europe,
where thousands Of immigrants and
thousands Of settlers are seeking homes