Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-22
Col. BIanron Duncan's Letter.

Col. Blanton Duncan, OF Huntington,
Miss, has written a rather remarkable
letter to United States Senator Daniel, Of
Virginia, on 1.-The Future OF the Negro
Race" The fact that the letter has at.
tracted very little attention is pretty good
evidence that there are not many people
who have much sympathy with the views
expressed in it. The following extract
will show its character:
The Southern negro race twenty years
ago was scarcely more fitted for selt-gOv-
| ernment than were the kangaroos OF Aus
/ "a ana "a un0 uvuiAOu~ Of Gant-s.l .AFtGOa.
In two decades there mas been no progress
mentally, morally, or otherwise. TO-DAY
they are mass OF paupers not one in a
| hundred rising above the common herd
and, II left to themselves for ten years,
a>su eddy would retrOgrade to the status
OF their savage ancestors. 1t has taken
nearly ten generations of attritiOn with
the white race TO make the Northern negro
~hat he ls-immeasurably ahead OF his
Southern brother. The same results OF
progress could not happen with these
masses IN jOOyears, If ever. The negroes,
with rare exceptions, will sell soul and
body for WHISKY. They care nothing tor
no, or, virtue. or religion. Honesty in
contracts is almost unknown. Today is
the limit OF their vision; tomorrow NAV
take care Of itself.
so long IS the millions of negroes re-
main WITHIN our borders political EQUALS,
the door is closed To all hope Of while i'm
mgr alton. AS the evil grows there will
come white exodus. leaving the tairest
and most productive portion of the CONT
nent to become another Africa. By
restriction OF the franchise, reducing the
political strength Of the Southern States
the greatest disturbing element OF our lu-
ture might be removed. There is secret
organization among the negroes, so or
ganized that no one member can cog
nize another except by given signs, aud
Yet work In perfect harmony as body.
Col. Duncan's views are extreme, but
there is some truth in them. The negro
has all the vices which belong to igno-
rance, and these vices will continue as
long as be remains on his present low
plane Of intelligence. Unless the negroes
condition undergoes great improvement
it is probable that be will become more
immoral aud shiftess and less reliable,
less ambitious and less trustworthy than
be is at present.
II is pretty certain that the negro is in
the south to stay, and there Is no doubt
that 10 mis- present condition be is great
barrier 70 immigration, and hence, to the
South's prosperity.
The wise thing to do, therefore, is TO
make him. II possible, less Objectionable.
That can be done only by improving him
morally and mentally. He should not be
educated above his station, but he should
be educated 10 IL. II he is TO be the
peasant Of the South he should be edu.
Gated to understand that his happiness
and welfare depend upon his being honest,
thrifty ana reliable. There may be those
VINO DOUBT that he can be educated to
that point, but doubt should not prevent
a trial. Col. Duncan expects TOO much
in too short time. II the average negro
reaches the PORT OF the average good
white citizen a half century hence, he
will have made quite rapid advancement