Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-18
Prof. Whlte,s Paper.

In the very able and interesting paper
which Prof. II. c. Wuite, OF the Univer-
skou9f Georgia, read at the recent Agri-
cultural Convention at Columbus, on the
Importance Of Inviting immigrants to the
South, is calculated TO excite discussion
from which only good can come. He has
reached the conclusion, apparently, that
the south has not a great deal to hope for
from ahe negroes. They do not appear to
| posseSs the qualities necessary to make
I good farmers. or even good farm labOrers
/ Th4y are neither thrifty, economical, nor
reliable. AS race they appear TO be
without ambition, or desire to accu mu-
late property. The planters who have be-
come accustomed to them get along very
well with them, and manv would not ex-
change them for white laborers.
The position which presents ITSELF how
ever, is not whether the planters get along
with negro laborers but whether it would
not be better for the South from every
point OF view, TO have the land cultivated
by white men. Prot. White thinks it
would, and there is every reason to be-
lieve that he is right. There is little evil
dence OF prosperity where negro labor is
depended upon. New land is not being
brought under cultivation and the plan
tatiOns and farms do not, as a rule, indi-
cate that their owners are prosDering.
The negro laborers do so little for the
wages they receive that they keep their
employ ers poor. Tue farmers have hard
struggle TO make living, and do not have
tn l,Cf
farms or extend their farming operations,
There is, therefore, little evidence any
where Of prosperity.
As tenant the negro is not any more
desirable than he is as a hired laborer.
He takes no pride in improving bis sur
roundings, and does not seem TO care to
Increase the productive capacity OF his
farm. Those who rent land to negro ten
ants get little from it, and they are pretty
certain to get less each succeeding year.
The appearance of the country and its
cond tfon is very fferent where the soil
10 cultivated by white laborers from what
1t is where the soil is cultivated by black
laborers. 1t is 80 different that it lie the
subject of very general comment. The
difference is not due 10 anything in the
soil or climate, but to the superiority Of
white TO negro laborers.
Pref. Whites idea is that the farmers
Of the South must give more attention to
intensive farming-that is, they must
DEFEND more upon their own labor, Gull
tiVate fewer acres, and bring up their
farms to high state of cultivation. The
result will be that they will make more
money with less worry and work, and
will have much more comfortable and
attractive surroundings.
Another thing that should not be over
looked in the effort to push forward the
dev Top nent of the agricultural re-
urces of the South, and that is that
fverv possible influence must be used to
Adsee Nogthern farmers 10 seek homes in
she foptbern aae4 Nklf6 barge delega-
tIouAf lariasl lfo|A <lbio sislted this State
Actresses 40 ~ he vie of seeing what
the tspect for SECURING homes is. The
oftener such delegations come South from
t le Northern States the better it will be
for the South, because they Will be sure
to open the way for the kind of immi-
grants the South wants.