The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-04
THE NEGRO PROBLEM.
According to Ex-Gov. Bullock, It Is
Solving ITSELF


From the New York Star. Tuesday.
"The negro problem in the South is
rapidly solving ITSELF" said ex-Gov. Bull
lock, of Georgia, at the Fifth Avenue, last
night. "When black man becomes
property holder he at once becomes one
of the most conservative and law demand
ing citizens OF his neighborhood. lie wants
his property protected and any kind of
crime severely punished, and the more
small land owners OF this class, or, in fact,
any other class, We get in the South, the
more rapid and permanent our material
advancement AS rule, too much edu-
cation demoralizes all kinds Of labor, be it
black or white. A good common school
education for the masses is about all that
should be expected free. The difficulty
with collegiate training is that, as a rule,
II units man for mechanical or indus
trial life. Naturally, there are many ex-
ceptions to this rule. and they are, many
times, interesting aud ludicrous. For in
stance, have colored man working for
me for 81 a week handling cotton bales.
lie is a college graduate, and, for his own
convenience, marks his cotton with Greek
characters. As rule, man with his edu-
cation would refuse 10 earn living by
labor and would want a professional life"
''In what shape is the Republican party
OF Georgia."
practically we have no such party in
Georgia. Prior to the Hayes Administra-
ton we had good, substantial organiza-
ton, but we disbanded when his idea OF
Southern Republicans was announced.
Since that time the party has been con-
trolled by Adventures who were banded
together for the purpose OF controlling the
Federal offices, and many OF the leading
white Republicans of the State have had
nothing whatever TO do with IL since 1877.
What will or can be done now in resur-
recting IL depends very much upon the
President, but ii can never be revived upon
a black basis. II there is any one thing
settled forever II is that the white people
will govern tho South, no matter which
party is in power. Ignorance cannot and
ought not to control either North or
South"
"Then the negro is great citizen2'
81 wouldn't like TO say quite that, but
he Is, 10 n great extent, our financial
power. The negro who gets property is
chary OF his expenditures, and he guards
his chickens and his crops with remarka-
bio fidelity. Then, again, he has the
double chance over the white man TO
make money. His whole family work;
his wife and children till the little patch
OF ground he owns, while he draws salary
from his richer neighbor for services rem
dered in the field. Therefore, he draws
from both ends OF the line, and the result
is accumulation and comparative comfort
to the industrious. Naturally am speak
ing Of a class, not the rule. A proyident
colored man who cannot read or write
naturally has an ambition TO have his
children educated. AS a rule, this is car
ried 10 extremes, and everything is sacri-
feed by the unlettered man that his sons
and daughters may have finished educa-
ton. The same Is true, believe, OF the
working people OF the North. The great
trouble that we experience is In teaching
the colored people that education does not
endow them with all that is required for n
successful life."
Then the Southern problem Is solving
itself2"
Certainly. Naturally Il takes many
years TO change the habits and conditions
Of great community, butt is working out
even more rapidly than any Of US expected.
Race prcjudices and war animosities are
rapidly disappearing. Few people in
Georgia permit themselves 10 indulge in
the old time utilization Of the North. This
is In great measure due TO the fact that
We have material rather than a senti-
mental lite. as before tho war. Work is a
great levcler, aud the man who has TO pro-
vide for the demands OF today on the mo-
ment soon grows 10 understand that rest
iulness and social life alone return no re-
ward. Therefore, the impulse Of the oava-
lior is giving way 10 the inspiration Of the
now condition OF affairs, and life with US Is
growing more real every day."