Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1889-01-19
PERTINENT TO THE RACE
QUESTION.


of the negro population in the South,
as respects its increase or decrease,
and the ratio thereof would be inter-
esting matter in the discussion Of the
race problem. It is our opinion from
local observation that the local ratio OF
increase is far behind that of the
whites. The monthly tables Of NOR
talitv in Waco for the past few years,
would, we think, show that the NOR
tality among the blacks Is at least
double that Of the whites, which, if
true, would require double the number
of births to make the rate Of increase
even, which Is out Of the question.
The birth rate among. the blacks may
possibly be greater than among the
whites but locally observed, without
statistical data. that is doubtful.
There arc several things which mill
tate, perhaps providentially, against
the increase Of the colored population.
The first is excessive venery, and the
second, excessive immortality. Both
retard reproduction, especially the lat
ter. The new crops of manageable
young females are decimated fearful
ly by the demands for illicit purposes,
and lead to course of life which de-
stroys the child bearing element. Both
Of these causes operate all over the
South to check reproduction. In ad-
dition to the retardation Of childbear.
ing is the excessive infant mortality
among the population. It is beyond
all precedent and arises from causes
which readily suggest themselves,
loose, carless habits, igno rance Of
and neglect Of hygiene, aternal
instinct below the average, and
a low estimate of the value of human
life. Taking Into consideration those
causes which retard child bearing and
increase infant mortality and both are
we think easily established and 1t
might be inferred that the negro popu-
lation is on the way to extinction.
But on the other hand must be taken
into account the wonderful physique
of the colored people which gives capa-
bility of a fecundity which surpasses
all examples of fruitfullness except
perhaps in case Of one single people.
Physically the black race has every
quality for flooding the continent with
population. The robust vigor Of the
women, the virility of the men and
the amorousness Of both are elements
more menacing than armies. If the
colored element were educated, moral
and thrifty this race question despite
the disparity Of numbers would be set
tied in few decades, the white race
being swamped by the numerical in
crease of the black. There seems
therefore to be between this reproduc-
tive capacity aud the causes mentioned
which check its operation, making a
sort Of adjustment or reciprocal inter-
check, which it may be we'll for those
inclined to think the negro to be
alarmingly on the increase to consider.
1t is the opinion of the writer, fairly
we'll acquainted with the subject To-
cally, that the ratio OF the increase of
the negro race in this state is far be-
low that Of the whites and that the
race question would solve itself in time,
The black race eventually disappear
ing. In the absence of reliable statis-
tics all calculations of this character
are but sort of rational guess work,
but in the absorbing interest Of the
subject even speculation has species
Of interest