The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-02
WHAT HE SAW In THE SOUTH.
DR.. Reuben Jeffery's Views as to the People Of
the South and the Race Question.

DR.. Reuben Jeffrey and wife are stopping
for a few days with G. G.. Howe. at Oakland
Flats, on North Delaware street. They
have just returned from Atlanta. Ca.
whittier the Doctor went for his health,
and where for five months he supplied the
pulpit of the First Baptist Church of that
city. Both the Doctor and his wife are
enthusiastic regarding the hospitality of
the people of Georgia, not only in At
1anta, but other places in that State.
ATLANTA is a wonderful city" said the
Doctor to q Journal reporter last night. 1T
is the Chicago of the South, with a popula-
ton of 5000 and as active and energetic
business men as can be found anywhere.
There are six institutions there for the
education of colored people, large institu-
tions, chiefly church schools. The State,
however, provides for the education of the
negro in the common schools, and a GER
tain per cent. of the taxes goes for
that purpose. The white people of Allan
ia; and % Of Georgia : gySss generally esT ny e meet Northern sp1
frankness. There exists much affection
and confidence between the old slaves and
their former masters. Toward the colored
people as a rule the relations of the whites
are kindly and pleasant. COlored people
are colored people and the white people
there understand them perhaps better than
we do"
as there any danger of trouble with the
two races?"
"As the younger generations are coming
up and they become educated in a feeling
of independence and self assertion, trouble
may come. or 1T may not; 1T Is all owing to
the way the matter Is handled. 1t is q
problem that nobody can solve or predict
what the issue may be. There is a deter
mination on the part of the South not to
allow the supremacy of the negroes, and
because they are creatures. that can
eaislly ,b be fe manipulate pr noIitica 6y sun ps1Isi.
cy and social equality is. always
present. There are negroes in Atlanta who
are getting along well, making money, and
so all over Georgia. In Atlanta there is a
worth S150,OOO. He has put up some OF the
best houses in the city, and does his work
honestly and well. The negroes themselves
are more disposed to trade with white peo-
pie than with those of their own color.
They draw the line on each other,
education and better clothes they
become exclusive. The negro women. as
they are seen upon the streets, are neatly
dressed. The men are. some of them.
keep. their persons from exposure. In the
North such exposure would not be toler-
ated. But the people of the South
are patient and WOODWORKING, and
90 nOb appear 10 care much aDOuI
it. The administration of, justice
is more lenient to colored thar TO white
| offenders. But many are sent to the chain
gang. wen some that are mere children,
twelve or fourteen years old"
"Are the liquor laws enforced?"
"Yes; no minor is allowed inside a bar
room. Sunday closing is rigidly enforced.
as is closing at II o'clock at night. A man
may be arrested for drunkenness on the
street, even though not violent. For a Sec
ond offense he is fined and reprimanded,
and for q third offense sent to the chain
gang, q disgrace from which a man never
ecOveTs.
Are the people there broad in their
views?"
"As a whole they cannot be regarded as
broad; they are provincial, and rather
proud of it. They do not know much out
side of their own State. and do not care to
know. They are proud of Georgia and of
her resources. and have the greatest
confidence in her final supremacy in man
ufactures and other industries"
The Doctor will leave on Thursday morn
ing for Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Jeffrey will
probably remain a week or SO longer. The
Doctor. who went South an invalid, de-
clares his health to be fully re-established.