St. Landry democrat., 1890-02-01
The Race Problem.
BOTH SIDES OF THE QUESTION PRESENTED
IN INTERVIEWS.

IN INTERVIEWS.
A special to the Sun from Washington
SAYS: Anent the race problem, Senator
Butler, author of the emigration bill, said
81 think it will be for the best interest OF
both races if large number of negroes
should move into the Northern States and
Western Territories, thus relieving the
Southern States of the too great prepon-
derance of that race. believe this would
be the best solution of the race question.
If not. am willing to adopt any other. Ii
will or, ought to silence the accusations
brought against the Southern people that
they treat the negro barshlY or unJustly,
because it will show that we are willing
to transfer the responsibility of their treat
ment to those who make the charges. 1t
will improve the prospects of the South
socially, industrially and morally, and also
help the negro by throwing him more on
his own resources. There are no trans
portation facilities to move enough ne
eroes in ten years, if they avail themselves
of the provisions of this bill, to be seriously
felt or realized. Besides, if they go away,
white people will come, and they will not
come until some of the negroes go. This
large mass of negroes, especially in our
State, is standing menace to every inter
est, and something will have to be done to
remove it. But the political aspects of
the question give me the least concern.
Whoever thinks that settling the political
status of the negro is settlement of the
race question takes very superficial view
of it. This is the least of the evils of our
situation. | have been debating in my
mind for the past ten years some plans
upon which we could be relieved and have
been encouraging every movement of ne
| groes from the State. This occurred to
me as the most feasible, humane and prac-
teal, as there Is nothing coercive or COM
pulsory about it. If the negroes avail
themselves OF it they can acquire homes
under the land laws on the public lands
and thereby get an even start in life
Senator Hampton was asked his opinion
of the bill introdu :ed by Senator Butler in
reference to the emigration of the negroes
| from the South s'I haye not yet read the
BILL" he replied, "but | am earnestly in
favor of any measure looking to that end
which shall deal justly aud generously
with the negroes regard it as impor-
tant for the best interests of both races
that they should be permanently sepa-
rated, leaving each to work ont his own
destiny. Of course, l do not contemplate
the removal of the negroes against their
| will, nor should | be willing to see them
| leave the country empty handed. The
| government certainly should deal with
| these people generously and benevolently,
and think that it should assist all the
negroes who desire to leave the country.
Should any large number of negroes wish
to establish q colony on some foreign soil,
the government should furnish transports.
ton and make donation to each emigrsnt
so as to give him tine means of support for
time in his new home. Of course should
any migration of negroes on a general
scale occur, years would elapse before any
serious diminution of labor would affect
the material interests of the South, but
the question involved in this matter is too
comprehensive to be treated fully in an
interview. l can merely say that | shall
support any measure which would, under
proper limitation, secure the final and ab-
solute separation of the white and colored
people"
Senator Morgan of Alabama, refe ring
to his Congo resolution, says: "The re-
gion of Central Africa on the watershed of
the Congo river is not sufficiently known to
our people, even to the extent Of tne linn
tied explorations of travellers. It's pro
ductive capacity is sufficient, within an
1000 of people who now occupy that
region. The government and it's plan are
provided for aud supported, in the agree
ments of the Berlin conference, by all the
great European powers. | regard that
agreement as the wise and enduring basis
of African civilization, and | wish the ed
ucated Africans in our country to become
an active power in that great work. They
have little place here for their labors ex-
cept in politics and the pulpit and | would
be glad to give them encouragement if
they have any commercial enterprise, to
engage in trade with the people of the free
State of Congo. hope and believe that
with such inducements, they will soon
realize the wealth and power due to their
education and abilities in a country where
their presence will be welcomed, and
among their own kindred. This is a brief
outline of my opinion in the resolution |
introduced in the senate"
Elk Senator Bruce, of Mississippi, said ::
There are two methods which, if adopted |
would settle the whole race question. |
These are, national education and dis
tribution of the colored population of the |
South throughout the Western States. At |
present there is large surplus of colored |
labor in the South. 1t is good labor, and |
labor that is adapted to that section of the |
country but the supply exceeds the de-
mand and the result is that wages are |
necessarily low and that great poverty ex- /
lists. One reason for this condition is the |
fact that labor in most of the Southern |
States is not diversified. The only impor-
tant industry is that of tilling the soil,
and that is being overdone at present. l !
therefore believe that the only way to
better the condition of the negroes is to
remove the surplus to some of the Wes-
tern States. The West wants the labor
the South wants to get rid of it.
Lewis e. Douglass, son of Frederick
Douglass, said: 81 believe that the only
way to settle the race question is to edu-
cate the negroes in the South and then
give them all the rights that any other
citizens have. All this talk of deportation
is nonsense. The negro has got as much
right here as any one else has. He has
been made citizen by the constitution of
the country, and no one can base his citi-
zenship on any frmer foundation. But
the negroes have been treated badly and
are being treated badly still. The same
prejudice, hatred or whatever it is that
causes the outrages in connection with
politics operates against the colored men
In other matters in the South. The condi-
ton of things is changing in the South
Instances of oppression that occurred with
startling frequency several years ago are
now no longer heard of. The South is
keeping pace with the times, and with the
wealth, intelligence and gem
eral prosperity of the section the hatred of
the negro is relaxing With proper edu-
cational facilities in the South the race
4