The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-15
A Solution of the Race Problem.


The meeting of the immigration conven-
ton at Montgomery, Ala, will have good
effect throughout the south. The earnest
ness and enthusiasm which marked
the proceedings show that the southern
people will not only extend warm well
come to immigrants, but that they are pre-
pared to offer them special inducements.
The immigrants most desired are those
from the northern states. They are thrifty
and progressive, and readily fit into any
community in which they may locate
They are good farmers and mechanics, and
any neighborhood is certain to become
more prosperous which secures them as
citizens.
To get immigrants of this kind, however,
there must be good schools. They will not
seek homes where their children can not
have educational advantages 1t may be
urged that good schools will follow them.
That may be true to a certain extent, but
they may have to wait for them half gen.
Grafton or more. Public sentiment must be
educated to their way Of thinking before
tax that will support first-class schools will
command popular approval The first
thing that should be done in every southern
state, therefore, is TO provide first-class
system Of public schools.
The race problem has sort of paralyzing
effect upon the people in every southern
state. No one has yet suggested a solution
of it that is accepted. 1t is one of the rea-
sons why the people are not more willing to
provide better schools. They are not GER
tain that good schools would not increase
the difficulties of solving it.
But, after all, is it not more probable that
good schools would help rather than hinder
the solution of that problem, The schools
would bring the kind of immigrants who
would occupy and hold the land. They
would be the kind of immigrants who
would assist in keeping the white people in
the majority, and at the front, until the
black race reaches a conditional it ever
reaches it-where it will no longer be
menace to everything that is necessary to
the best civilization.
May not the intense earnestness of the
southern people in behalf of immigration
be due to feeling, as yet only partially
recognized, that immigration. perhaps, is
the SOluClOu Oh the race pFODl6ul
Foreign immigration will hardly seek the
south in such volume as it does the west
until the west ceases to offer it advantages.
The only way to get foreign immigrants to
settle in the south is to bring them in large
numbers and settle them together in COM
munities. If they are Catholics, their priest
should come with them, and there should
be enough of them to support a small
church. Schemes of this kind have
proven very successful in the west Com
panies purchased large tracts of land and
then sent agents to Europe for immigrants
to occupyit. The land was sold to the immi-
grants, who were also furnished with CAPT.
tai sufficient to build their houses and to
secure the necessary stock and farming i'm
plements. The companies made money, and
the immigrants were benefited. There are
opportunities in the south for companies of
the same kind.
The south, to secure immigration, has
done great deal in the way of holding
conventions and passing resolutions What
is needed is practical work, and it begins to
look as if work of that kind would soon be
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