New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-08
COLORED MIGRATIOM

The story of colored colonization in Kansas
and more recently in Montana, probably has
little more foundation than the tales OF Baron
Munchausen. But it ought to be true ana 10
would be well for the colored people, ana wen
for the new States, if it were true. Inc SUM-
Gent reason for disbelieving it is the OBVIOUS
fact that no one has an adequate motive lor
presenting a migrating colored fellow-cl'izen
a farm, or a mule, or any other property U,
value The Republican party has no luhu
from which any such expense could be paul
and no officer empowered to make any sucn
contract on its behalf IL has believed WIN
abundant reason, that every one OF the coming
States has a strong and trustworthy hepuoh'""
majority. Past elections prove beyond douoV
that the majority of residents in each OF tnese
Territories, and particularly in Montana were
Republicans in political belief, though divided
in their nersonal preferences, and to that per-
sonal controversy alone was due the Demo-
cratic plurality in the Constitutional Coh'en-
lion Of Montana. But neither OF the two ne
publican factions could count upon the support
Of migrating colored persons, and therefore
neither would have any sufficient motive lor
giving money or property to colored lhiiiii-
| grants.
1t is safe to say that the story as to Kansas
was equally unfounded. Colored migrauoh
did not become possible, negro suffrage was
not assured, until some time after Kansas hdu
become Republican State beyond all question:
| The railroads in Kansas, as III some oOher
| Western States, have expended some money
and given some land to induce foreigners 10
! immi crate and to settle along their INES anu
IL has been to them a profitable investment
Many thousand farms have been purchased by
immigrants in Kansas in Iowa and in MIN
nesota because the current of immigration was
first turned thither by special inducements TO
settlers. But there was no such effort hfiue
10 invite coored immigration, partly because
of the vague impression that Immigrants Oh
that race would be found shiftless ana I'M
profitable.
But the record Of every Southern State proves
that this prevalent impression has been unjust.
In spite Of the greatest obstacles the colOred
people have saved money and acquired prop
erty in the Southern States TO an extent which
! few realize. When the census of 1890 is COM
pleted, if it's enterprSing superintendent makes
any effort to ascertain the nativity or race OF
farm owners, it will be found that the proper
ton Of Southern farms owned by cQlored peo-
Die has remarkably increased within the last
ten yeaiS No other class of immigrants would
be Of more permanent value to the new States
of the West, for every thrifty settler OF that
class would have behind him in South
ern States multitude more, ready and eager
TO seek homes in the Far West. The cOlOred
people are deprived Of many rights in most
portions Of the South, and are always at the
mercy of any drunken mob which may get the
notion that an attempt by negroes to defend
themselves is a "negro instruction" Only
last week several c0lored people were MUIR
dered in Mississippi for no other discover
able reason than that they had joined Farmers
Alliances and asked higher wages.
Millions Of cOored citizens at the South are
anxious TO secure homes and to obtain more
independent lives. Millions of acres in West
ein States and Territories wait for the labor
of the settler. Something ought to be done
to bring the surplus labor of the South to the
surplus land of the West Though there prob
ably has not been any organized movement to
that end, it would be a blessing to the West
atd a blessing to the South if half million
colored people could be transplanted TO West
en homes Their departure would make the
remaining labor so necessary at the South that
political and civil rights would be more readily
conceded in many localities in order to retain
it. The half million colOred people, once estab-
lished on farms in Western States and Terri
tories, would vie with immigrants of any other
race in thrift and industry, would contribute
twice as much to the National wealth they
now do, and would have freedom to cast Re-
publican votes where those votes would be
| counted.