The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-20
THE NEGRO.
ChampiOned by Son Of Virginia.
An Ex-Conre ierate Demands Edu-
cation for the Black Man.
A Pamphlet That is Creating a
widespread Sensation.
How Prosperity May be Bought
and Paid For.
Mixed Schools Wantad-An Utterance
Full of Serious Import to the
Southern People-Three AL
ternatives Presented.

Richmond (va) corespondencooi the New York
Herald
The all-absorbing trace problem" is
treated in such a clear, striking and logical
manner by Mr. Louis II. Blair in an essay
entitled "The Prosperity of the South De-
pendent on the Elevation of the Negro"
that will endeavor to give mere resume
: OF the scope and gist of the paper.
/ will premise by saying that Mr.. Blair
is a Virginian by lineage, nativity. resi-
dence and interests. lie is one of Rich
mond's very wealthicst men, II most sue
cessiul merchant and an active Democrat
IN full sympathy with Jcflersonan prin-
ciples, so that II can be seen his views are
not tinged with the prejudices of an OUT
slider, and that his welfare Is bound up
with the measures he so boldly advances.
lie has been in constant contact with the
business OF the South, and his opinions
are the result Of thorough experience
win the active pursuits and interests OF
q business life. Mr.. Blair, | might add
further served in the Confederate army
III the field I'LL the close OF the war. lie
90 endured all the dangers and priyations Of
the camp and the field. and faced bullets
III, ~. y.
never during that period, like many 9th
ers, enjoyed any OF the pleasures or the
protection Of the bomb proofs anywhere.
The key OF the essay IS strictly economic,
its tone is calm and scdate, and il is calcu-
lated to make deep impression upon the
public at this particular juncture.
how PROSPERITY cas- HAD.
The chief point Of Mr.. Bair's argument
Is that prosperity must be bought and
paid for. ana the price TO be paid by the
people OF the South is primarily and prn-
cpally the elevation OF the people 10 the
point OF making them intelligent. hopeful
and scli-respccting citizens. In addition
10 about 100000 negro citizens who gen.
orally are sunk in ignorance, degradation
aud poverty, there are millions OF white
people who can neither read nor write.
AMI who are not materially above the ne.
gro in intelligence and wealth. The task
before the South is 10 elevate this enor-
nous mass OF ignorant aud debased citi-
zens, which, unless elevated. will forever
blast the most earnest and vigorous Efforts
10 Improvement
Tho question, SIS the South prosper.
ousi' is rendered necessary, says Mr..
. Bialr, because from so many ianciiul and
irresponsible sources is the increasing
wealth OF the South pro,laimod>that many
not IN position to know believe that the
south Is enjoying great era Of prosperity.
Alter showing from official sources that
the South IS not only very poor collect.
ively-as a section but individually as 10
its citizens, Mr.. Blair proceeds 10 point
out In necessary detail what measures are
best calculated 10 elevate the people. prin.
cipally the negroes because they are 80
much IN ncedyOi improycmcnt-and Incl.
dcntally the whites also.
lie says "Ihe general Ignorance Il In.
tcnsiiicd by the great Ignorance OF all the
blacks and OF the whites nearest them in
social and financial condition. The g,n-
cral disregard OF human life Is intensified
by the slight manner la which negro's
HE n held, and the whites, thinking the
ncgro's lie OF little sanciity, naturally re-
gard all life as Of little value, and. there
fore, freely take each others life. Thcgcn.
eral lack OF economy and scli-lcnial il rem.
dered still greater by the careless wastclul
and negligent manner in which a negro.
upon whom W. aro mainly dependent Tor
our labor, usually does his work.
IGNORANCE SURE INCUnrs.
''lf the blacks are 10 b. lett 10 groye In
their present degraded condition pros
pcriy would be- In default because iho
100000 Of negroes would prove an in.
cubus upon the whites who would be- In
imminent danger Of impoycushmcnt by
the thicving Of such multitulcs, whose
highest ambition would be- Ia live Without
work NJ the expense Of those who were re-
sponsible Tor their degsalaiion. Let cdu-
cation be generally disseminated among
. the whites. as in some Of the other States.
let human lie be- projected. a. IN really
I..H
denial prevail. as la the New England
States, aud the elevation Of tho negro
would follow ~ q matter oi course. or.
rather. Il would 20 along With the clrya.
ton Of the whites themselves, and his
degradation, ~ race, would b. matter
OF history"
Mr.. Blair then goes on 10 show that the
South ought 10 be the richest section OF
the United States, but that, although the
production Of bread, tobacco, cotton, rice,
sugar and naval stores has boon going on
uninterrupted ior twenty ycam her people
are not rich. Ihcy-uro very poor. Their
homes aru not supplied With many Of the
most essential comforts, their plantations
are poorly furnished with stock and inn
plcmcnis, their cribs and unokohuuaa are
mostly empty; their funccs have difap.
pcnrcd aud ulcir dwellings and farm build.
ing nrc not only indifferent but they pre-
sent q general appearance Of neglect, aud
too often Of dilspdaiion. The want OF
accumulated capital Is Cxliemc. and for ut
least six months OF thr year money Instead
Of being a reality is rather a thing of mem
DRY aud Of hope, or OF the past and the
future, with tie grcllcr part Of the people.
GEORGIA. - AN iLlrHfRATioS,
lie then takes the great state Of Georgia,
which Is held up as d model II progress
gnd prosperity sud giving her Comptroller
Genera 10 authority, In bis annual report
for the year ending September 30, 1850,
shows The following condition Of wealth;
Aacsscd value oi personal property stEiiu.g5 70
Assessed value trf capita ndllur -
D cont lnrfUasr ifum lssl I'd .....a.. ~ ~
AisI.aali value pof Caplia. white ....a... ~ a.
49, - value tef capita. uCrfuos aa. 90
, Assersci vqlrc whites hous"hnid aud
kirhgn iyfniiuip .....a..,......Y. .......t y u
Alflfacd value whites planta ion aud
mechanical tools ..a.., ............... a.
A. I'D value whites i've ru,t 40
kinla ...s.s....,...t - d
Aisttsei value nugfuos live stock, oil
hiuds tsiis it...s.....l.illt W
Asscttcd value ncgfoeH' plantation
and mechanical tools ..,....a............ -
Aucsssd yaiuo nUHwcs household
and tliehrn fnflliufr s.....s.a..... ...... 0