Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-17
THE RACE PROBLEM.
A Spirited Discussion in the Senate.


MR. MORGAN, OF ALABAMA, AND MR. BLAIR, OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE DE-
BATE-THEIR VIEWS As TO THE FUTURE OF THE
NEGRO.
The monotony of the tariff debate in the
Senate was broken yesterday afternoon by
Messrs. Morgan and Blair. Senator Morgan
was replying to Senator Hawley, who had
touched on land values, and the Albanian
called attention to the fact that il costs about
$1,000 Of somebody's money to raise boy
from the date Of his birth until he
is eighteen, nineteen, or twenty years Of
age. Such an expenditure was tax
upon the community. In many of the northern
states, through immigration laws and public
enterprise for which the states we're to be
commended) the laborer drawn from
foreign lands already raised. The thousand
dollars which had been invested in the raising
of each of these men was expended by COM
munity across the water When the man ar
rived he was ready to go to work, having cost
the community to which he had come nothing
at all The land upon which he Is employed.
continued Mr.. Morgan. lis of course. very
much more valuable than land would be in
a country where il costs a thousand dollars to
raise the laborer, and when you get him raised
he Is of no account at all.
Mr.. MORGAN ON THE YOUNG NEGROES OF THE
SOUTH.
snow, take the young negroes of the south,
and they are the most unpromising; yes, the
most God-forsaken set of people in respect of
industry and of hopes and prospects of ever
performing anything that requires labor, found
anywhere outside of Algiers or Morocco, or the
great desert of Sahara. 1t costs us down there
full thousand dollars TO raise q negro child
a boy-from his birth to eighteen years of age
not f,i Ind tha linz tba 9TH "A
predations that the poor creature perpetrates,
1t seems from natural drift; am afraid it is
that"
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE PRICE OF NORTHERN
AND SOUTHERN LANDS.
The fact that the south was thus taxed while
many states of the north imported labor was,
the Senator argued, the reason why northern
lands brought higher prices than those which
were equally valuable, but which were located
in the south.
Sir" continued Mr. Morgan, 'if could by
decree Of law or of Providence expel from
the state of Alabama this day every negro in
IL and have a barrier erected that he could
never return the lands in Alabama would rush
up to prices greater than they are in Wisconsin,
and the people would rush into that
country with more eagerness than they are
trying now to get into Oklahoma"
After descanting upon the beauty and fertil-
ity of Alabama and disclaiming any RESPONSE
bility $50 far the present generation was
concerned) for the presence of the negro in
the south. Mr.. Morgan said. I'VE have a sub
stratum of laboring population in the south
upon which you cannot builda real, substantial
prosperous industry. either in manufacturing
or in agriculture. That is our misfortune.
God knows / regret it. Icannot help it. That
accounts for the figures which the honorable
senator from Connecticut has Just laid before
the Senate"
MR.. BLAIR ASKED Mr.. MORGAN
if the Senate was to understand that it would
be for the interest of the southern white people
to have the negroes emigrate from the south
ern states in a body
Mr.. Morgan disclaimed the advocacy of any
such movement; at least not Immediately.
Mr.. Blair-I should be glad TO have the Sena-
tor justify his statement upon that point.
IN FAVOR OF SCATTERING THE NEGROES IN
NORTHERN STATES.
Mr.. Morgan-But was always in favor of
that proposition brought in by the former
Senator from Minnesota. Mr. Window, which
looked to the scattering of the negroes of the
south out into the northern states. wish the
Senator from New Hampshire had in bis state
a 100000 that / could furnish him from
Alabama. l wish he had 100000 of them. |
should be very glad indeed TO give them up
Mr.. Blair-f the Senator will permit me
upon that very point, will state that had the
honor TO serve upon the committee which in
yestigated that subject. and thought it was
resented IN the Senate at that time were ex-
ceedingly incensed at the supposed object of
that investigation. TO encourage the exodus of
the cOlOred people from those states. For one
thought that they had right to be. and that
il was against the interest of both the white
and the colored population that there should
be any such dispersion of the colored
people of the south throughout the
country at large any further than
dlscontented surplus might do that, perhaps.
to la.F Of h g+o1 1.
Personally always encouraged their remain
lining there. and many time / have written
letters 10 cOlored men to that effect who have
asked me through their correspondence upon
that subject. In letters have written to them
j have stated that thought the thing for them
TO do was to remain III the southern states, at
home; that the southern white man was really
their best friend. If have been laboring I'M
der a mistake, if the southern white people
feel that II Is better that the colored popula-
ton should gradually seek homes elsewhere
should be glad TO know il. and will give such
advice as | may be called upon to give in
another direction.
WILLING THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE SHALL HAVE THE
CoLoRED PEOPLE.
Mr.. Morgan-I was asked by the Senator from
New Hampshire whether was of the opinion
that il would be for the benefit OF the people
of the southern country that the negro should
dlsperse into other states. / answered it by
stating that was always in favor of the propo-
ton advanced by Senator Window for the dis
perslon of the negroes. l believe it would be
godsend to the people of the south if that could
be done. do not know that the Senator from
New Hampshire has made any great effort to
draw negroes into his state. | wish he would
start among the many societies that he seems
TO be propagatlng. society for the introduc-
ton of negroes from Alabama into New Hamp-
shire. and would do my best to promote his
society, TO get subscribers TO it, and TO get ne
grOes 10 migrate. He can have all the benefit
OF them that he thinks he wants.
MR.. BLAIR's REToRT
Mr.. Bair-I will say to the Senator that
would think 1t quite as much for the interest
OF my state TO organize such a society and to
have II efficient to secure the immigration of
the colored people of Alabama to our state as
the white men.
Mr.. MOrgan-As the white men of Alabama
i understand that The Senator from New
Hampshire may spare himself all of his inyec-
tive against the people of Alabama for very
fortunately for Us. II either goes below our
feet or over our heads. Ii makes no impress
sion upon US. The senator can wear himself
out with such illusions if he chooses 10 do il.
without producing even ruffie upon our skirts
or any sort of excitement to the people of
Alabama
MIR. Blair-f the Senator will permit me
GETTING WARN
MIR. Morgan (hOtly)-I decline to yield fur
ther.
Mr.. Blair with an extraordinarily pale face
aud With lTv.-s 81