Omaha daily bee., 1886-08-09
The NEGROES AT The SOUTH.
The Changed Conditions ofth White
and Black Races Since the
War - Educational An

vancement.
Philadelphia Times: Bishop Henry NJ
Turner, OF Atlanta Ga, who has been
attending the meeting OF the bishops OF
the African M. (. church in the city, is a
man of commanding figure and strong
cast OF countenance. HIS features are
Caucasian and his skin is OF olive hue,
far removed from the pure Ethiopian.
He was clearly the strong leader in the
late meeting Of the bishops Of his branch
of the church. He was the first colored
chaplain IN the army, receiving his com
mission in 1868 "a hen mustered out OF
the volunteer service he entered the reg
ular army as chaplain and was detailed
to operate IN the Freedman bureau in
the souGh. Resigning the chaplaincy IL
1867, he devoted his time 10 religion and
politics. He was the principal figure In
the organization of the republican party
in Georgia. A member of the Georgia
constitutional convention in 1867, he was
twice afterwards elected 10 The legisla-
ture of thar state. Throughout his polit-
ical career he elung 10 the itinerant min
istry. In 1876 ne WAS chosen head Of the
book concern and stationed in this city
until 1880, when be again went south as
his hop of Kentucky and Tennessee, with
his residence in Atlanta. As Legislator,
Office holder, minister. publisher and
b ishop he has had q WIDE and varied ex-
perie nee.
a TALK ABOUT THI SOUTH
Bishop Turner said recently. 'tSince
the abolition OF slavery the south has
made remarkable progress especially SO
III It's industrial condition. Before the
emancipation of the slaves the whites
were almost wholly dependent upon the
negro traffic for their maintenance.
There was little else doing. The rich
white man owned slaves, and with them
worked his cotton plantation or gathered
his rice. Below him WAS the slave dealer
who bought and sold blacks as means
OF livelihood. The poorest and meanest
whites We're the most cruel and merclless
slaye-drivers The traffic IN blacks was
more than cotton or rice growing, or any
other thing the business Of the south be
fore the war. Ii may then be easily seen
what an enormous change the freedom
OF the blacks and the prohibition OF
slave trading wrought. Now everybody
1ausi depend on his own efforts. Work
entirely left 10 negro slaves before the
war, under the conditions now prevail
ing, has 10 Oe done by white men where
they are too poor TO hire help. To-day
those who do not labor have lands which
are cultivated by colored people. What
was once considened menial and degrad-
ing has assumed another and . higher
aspect 10 the white population. You can
readily perceive thai This healthier and
nobleT VleT OF label is well calculated 10
work Hasl lmpr0Temeni IN the Industrial
lone OF the sOuLhern states, and now,
twenty years af4r the CLOSE OF the war,
ihe improvement Is everywhere hppar-
rent.
THE GROWTH or THE COUNTRY.
Since the war the south has grown
with npreeedentedr rspldHy, but IN moth
lng as IN lts manufacturing and mining
industries. TINS A. largely due, however,
10 lhe assistance given by northern cap
i1illsts, men Hlths money, who have
moved south paVly IN search OF 9 mare
GENIAL Climate and partly seeking good
Investment Ion tneir wealth. These men
recognize the possibilities Of the south IN
the way OF manufacturing and mining
They are the men who set the example
IN the manufacturing and mechanical
business, and THEY find ready lInltatDrs.
And What magnificent fields they have
awaiting them The iron ore fields q
northern Alabama are simply astOnish-
ing IN Their extent and richness. NO ad-
e9uaie conception can be entertained Ot
the vast deposits Of ore IN that country
by any one not familiar with 1t. lis coal
beds are extensive II is not anthracite
coal. but sott oily substance, like hit
luminous coal That land ougin 10 have
been OF orld-Wide reputation lOng ago
because OF lis lnetsi and mineral resOIu-
ees- bui IL day viii come. The time u
mol lar distant when birmingham Ala
VAL riRai the Firtsburg OF the north. Al
lAnin. too, AZ iast beeomiRg a nanutae-
iorlng center, and % are Chattanooga