The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-24
THE BOOMER AND THE NEGRO

The suggestion thrown out by President
Ingalls,, OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road Company. in his recent speech before
the American Railway Master Mechanics
Association, in session at Fortress Monroe,
that the solution of the race problem in Nir-
ginia was 10 be looked for in the influences
that were being employed by the boomer to
develop the diversified resources of the
State, is undoubtedly based upon a broad
foundation Of truth. The suggestion has
often been advanced before in connection
with the Southern States as whole, but
its application is more apt and practical in
relation to such State as Virginia, whose
negro population is much smaller than its
white, but yet sufficiently large to
.jeopardize every important interest in the
principal elections, because holding the
balance Of power.
Not only is the white population Of this
Commonwealth growing rapidly in size in
the course of nature, but il is receiving very
large additions through the agency OF i'm
migration, and these additions must in
crease enormously in volume with every
successive decade, until the disproportion
between the white and black populations
will be so great that the chief reasons for
uneasiness on account Of the presence of
the negro in the community will vanish.
This immigration will be attracted to the
State by the persistent efforts Of the "boom-
err to advertise abroad, in the most eXter-
sive way, the innumerable advantages in
the point of climate, soil and general re-
sources possessed by Virginia; 80, as Presi-
dent Ingalls, said, the "boomer' will be the
principal agent In settling the yexatious
race problem that has so long oyershadowed
our different interests.
This race problem, however, will not be
completely settled unless those who seek
our State either with view TO permanent
settlement in our midst, or to make invest
ments, shall identify themselves thoroughly
with the whites. Fortunately, as might
have been anticipated, this is the inclina-
ton Of the great body Of immigrants who
have come 10 Virginia, whatever political
opinions they may have previously enter
tanned. All who have owned property have
very naturally been strongly inclined to
unite with our native property holders in
supporting a general line Of policy in
political affairs, which experience and
good sense both suggest as being wisest
and most expedient. II the disposition
Of these immigrants was to act exclusively
with the Republican party, ali the difficult
ties and dangers of the negro problem
would be very much increased, instead Of
being lessened-no matter how much wealth
. they might bring into the State. The his
tory OF the defeat Of Malone at the Noyem-
Der election by such an overwhelming ma
jority, showed most plainly how entirely
identified, especially in great emergencies,
are our adopted citizens with that party or
ganization upon whose continued prosperity
depends the welfare Of this State and its In
habitants. The population which we have
secured from other States recognizes the
force OF this truth, and II may be predicted
that the same population will never cease TO
recognize IL, no matter how large II may
grow In the course OF time.