Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-16
The SOUTHERN PRoRLEM.
Slavery Maintained Despite the Emancf
patton Proclamation.


Slavery Maintained Despite the Emanci- |
patton Proclamation.
The Tribune recently advanced the
opinion that the best solution of the |
race problem in the South would be in |
providing an opportunity for the migra-
ton of the redundant blacks from the |
eongested districts, and suggested that |
as Hayti would afford the right kind of |
n outlet it might be the part of wis |
iom for the United States to secure a |
protectorate over that island for the |
purpose stated. Three Southern Sem |
Rtors-Butler of South Carolina, Call Of /!
| Florida and Gibson of Louisiana-also |
suggested migration as remedy. But |
strangely enough, this cure for the race
trouble is not received with favor by
Southern journals. They do not deny
that it is feasible or contend that any
great difficulties would stand in the way
Of reducing the excess of black popula-
| ton in that manner, in the cotton
States, so that the whites would feel
everywhere in a secure majority, and
have no longer any pretended necessity
to nullify the right to suffrage to
escape NEGRO rule" 1t is not denied
that in the manner proposed the cotton
South could be relieved of its surplus
blacks, but it is clear enough that
while the whites of the cotton States
would be glad to get rid of negro voters
they are not prepared to surrender any
negro labor or have it made dearer by
diminishing the supply.
The Little Rock (Ark.) Gazette, pub
lished near the Congressional district
where John NJ. Clayton was murdered
because he dared attempt to investigate
the Democratic election frauds by which
his defeat had been accomplished, has
the temerity to say that the Southern
negro lean vote and only in rare in
stances does his ballot fail to count
If so what grounds have the Southern
whites for complaint and what possible
reason is there for the existence of
race problem?" If the negroes are
free to vote and their ballots are fairly
counted they certainly have no occasion
to complain, and as the whites have
entire possession of all the Southern
States and govern them at will what do
they mean by expressing fears OF
NEGRO domination" when no such state
of affairs exists now? According to the
Gazette the negroes vote in the cotton
States and their ballots are counted,
md vet there is universal white rule
and supremacy even where the blacks
are in great majority. The claim Of
the Gazette is a transparent falsehood,
refuted not only by the election returns
of Arkansas, but by the frank admis-
sion of other Southern papers as we'll as
by the general cotton-State alleged fear
of NEGRO rule"
The Nashville American has at least
sore candor than the Little Rock Ga
sette. The American says that ''the ne
gro in the South, and especially in the
cotton States, is a curse because he IS
armed with the ballot" But how can
he be a curse or an infection to the
whites if, as the Gazette claims, he votes
and has his ballot honestly counted and
the whites nevertheless have complete
! rule? The American does not pretend
that the negroes now have or will be
permitted to exercise in the future the
power that belongs to free and fair
[ ballot, but SAYS succinctly: "The negro
is fit for labor-he is not and never will
be fit for rule" As a voter he is sup
| pressed or tricked by fraud in every 10
cality where his ballot might endangel
white Democratic rule, but his labor Is
wanted nevertheless by the men who de
/ fraud him at the polls, and for that rea
| son they will not favor plans for his mi
5 grafton to Hayti or other countries
D where he might improve his condition
Pronouncing the negro IAN evil and
good, necessity and curse" the Amer
5 lean says ''he is almost indis
| pensable because his is the only
3 labor the Southern States have eve
| known"-as the lazy whites will no
? work when they can possibly avoid it
4 Performing nearly all the work and pro
l ducing nearly all the wealth gained an
| nually in the South the black man is t.
2 be denied any representation in thu
1 making of the laws in Congress or else
: where or in the administration of jus
Y tice, and permitted only to toll on sucl
I terms as an idle and tyrannicll govern
!. ing class may prescribe. Such stat
n of affairs amounts practically to SLAYER!
T in one of it's worst forms. When South
ern whites show themselves unwilling
:, to cure possible political evil of which
4 they complain by removing surplus
A blacks, but insist on retaining them 81
. as to have a plentiful supply Of cheal
!. labor, they show that negro slavery il
q effect though not in name is what the!
I have at heart; and in order that the.
Q may ''enjoy without working" they pro
!. pose that the negroes shall work with
). out enjoying" and to secure that en'
: the laws and the constitution of tn
q United States are to be nullified. Thi
. is the only deduction that can be draw
from the Nashville American-the Dem
o ocratic organ OF Tennessee.-Chicag
\. Tribune.