The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-12

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girls can 90 through the college and
graduate ss their sister d d, who is
now tasching in The Normal School OF
Texas" | could cite many similar
facts which clearly show that the
hope OF the negro is the homes Of the
neg'o. Industrial training will lead
to the more general ownership OF
land as we'll as homes. The negro
has a passion for the acquisition OF
land, which ought TO be encouraged
to the utmost. The opposition to
this movement, SO strong and general
in the South twenty years ago, ia
everywhere lessening and in some
States passing away. The il huence
Of the general ownership OF land on
INDIVIDUAL THRIFT AND NATIONAL
STRENGTH.
and prosperity, though amply illus
trated in many counties, is not yet
fully appreciated in the South. This
conservative force has long been felt
in the stability, patriotism, industry
and prosperity OF the Swiss. The
peril OF France formerly came from
the homeless myTisds in her capital
and that Capitalization that made
Paris France and France Paris. To-
day her growing stability cones from
the 100000 thrifty farmers, now in
absolute ownership Of their small
holdings, aud therefore unmoved by
the tumults OF the Partisan populace
The evictions, feared or felt, kept mp
the turmoil in Ireland. Eogland her
self is on sleeping volcano, and her
unrest will not cease while the great
mass OF her people ara landlo's The
negro who owns Homestead, how
ever humble, has given bonds to
society for good behavior. When he
carries the rewards OF honest toll to
his own house, be and his gain new
lesson Of self respect. The instinct
Of self preservation is as strong
with such a householder as with
the planter or capitalist. His farm
brings home to him the ten com
mandmests and the gospel Of seed
time and harvest Vsgabondage does
not grow on bis soil, but with his dog
he is the sworn fos OF tramps. What
are the results 10 the negro OF this
new experiment in the ownership Of
land lie q question | have often put,
both TO the negroes and their former
masters, and the answer has always
been substantially the same. All
agree that those who own their farms,
as a rule, have become better citizens,
better neighbors,
BETTER MEN EVERY WAY.
To au ote the words of leading citi-
zen Of Georgia, "The negroes who now
own 700 900 acres oil improved land in
Georgia form the best negro popnla.
ton in this State" In the cotton
States the negroes already own some
100000 acres, an area larger than
the state OF Connecticut, and are as.
pessed, according to the last Census,
for over SOL ,000, 900 worth Of taxable
property, and now for over 100000
900, mainly in land. Even this wide
domain is not 1.-THE OF what
they need, and ought to have,
and will have at an early day,
for the acquisition OF land is the
new rage with the race. But how can
they get landH The vast msjOrity are
still very poor, landless hirelIngs, aud
unskiled lab0rers--familiar with rails.
ing one or two OF the great staples OF
the South, untaught in general farm
ing, tenants at will, or till mex Christ
mas--ior their contracts last till the
next crop is in; that is, for one year
only. Hence, instead OF any feeling
OF permanency, the tenant is restless,
wasting tins in place hunting, and
often taking poor chance TO bett
his condition. The man who, regulsr-
" contracting for one year only, plans
TO move Christmas week, is in train
ing for tramp. The ownership Of
the land Ia the surest remedy for such
a demoraliEing system, or rather lack
of system. Instead Of the evils gener'
ally apprehended t,om multiplying
mall holdings, the best people in the
South now admit that here is new
element OF prosperity to the negro and
OF security to all. II will be q great
gain to he whole South,
TO THE oAuoAsIANs AS WE'LL Az To
THE AFRICANS,
when the planters generally favor and
facilitate the requirement Of land by
the negroes. The American Mission
airy Association has exerted the most
important influence in stimulating
this widespread desire for the owner
ship OF land. The students from
Hampton, Atlanta and Toogaloo,
trained In farm work as we'll as books,
have spread abroad widely new ideas
OF skilled and diversified farming.
These institutions are already recog-
niE d az important factors in develop
ing the ma eIial interests OF Virginia,
Gsorpia and Mississippi, aud hence
the popular approval OF the annual ap.
preparations for them by the Legiela-
lures OF those States.
II isa fact OF immense significance
that public sentiment in the South is
turning In favor OF its work. The In
PRODUCTION Of industrial education into
our schools aud colleges has tended to
this result. The Southern people are
the natural friends and helpers OF the
freedmen. Their hearty cooperation
would prove new inspiration
to the work. Once enlisted,
they can help on this great
work 90 no outsiders eau do.
Instead of reproaches for the
dead issues of the past, let us, for
getting those things that are behind,
pre!s forward to those better things
that are before. There is an urgent
demand for all that both the North
and the South can do. Never before,
in the history of the world, did any
nation have within itself 80 large and
promising field OF miss onary work,
the opportunity OF uplifting such a
mass Of ignorance and yet 80 acces-
sible, speasing the same language,
80 plastic, docile, receptive and i'm
pres ible. Grand as are the achieve.
ments Of the last forty years, the past
Ia but the preparation, laying the
foundation. Let us hope aud pray
for new combination OF forces. that
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