Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-01-16
oEoRclA.s RACE RIOTS.
Nature Itself Has Set Up . Barrier h
tween Whites and Blacks.

tween Whites and Blacks.
There is probably nothing worse
about the little unpleasantness reported
from two or three counties in Georgia
than more or less natural outcome Of
the holiday customs which have long
prevailed among the Southern negroes.
Even in the old slavery days almost the
entire black population was allowed
some days of absolute idleness at the
Christmas season. With emancipation
better facilities for getting whisky
have come, and drink breeds quarrel
someness and stimulates murderouS in
clinationS, as matter of course, in a
race SO excitable. Under such con-
ditions the riot at Jesup was easily
raised. A drunken negro was sent to
the lookup; a mob of drunken negroes
attempted to release him; half a dozen
officers and citizens were killed or fatal
ly wounded; the blacks of the surround
ing region. half or wholly drunk, were
wrought to frenzy, and the white peo-
pie were forced to arm in self-defense.
Disturbances in other parts of the State
were doubtless provoked in the same
way.
These things are deplorab1e, certain
ly, but are they not inevita BILE when two
RACES dIS OCCupS lHS lHO SdLnS
region, entitled to equal rights, and
forced by uncomfortable circumstances
into constant contact that must excite
almost constant hostility? If the blacks
were insignificant in numbers their ul-
innate absorption by an unnatural and
repulsive ''bleaching process" into the
mass of the population might possibly
be expected, but they breed too rapidly
TO- Al,o% ha Nf he 1av los
the two races equal, and prescribes that
they shall live together peacefully and
without friction. The facts of nature
indicate that the laws prescription is
nonSenSica1.
In order to avoid present collisions
and future calamities beyond calcula-
ton the policy of restoring the colored
race to it's old home in Africa ought to
be favored by intelligent men of both
races. The colored leaders who think
that the spread of their people through
the North and West might solve the
problem are short-sighted. The North
and West are in no need of and can not
be expected to welcome such immi-
grants in large numbers. There is hard
lv a colored colony of score or two fam
lilies in any part of either section, in
town OR community, that is not consid-
cred more or less of nuisance. Few if
any such colonies can be found the eX-
istence of which has not the effect of
greatly depreciating the value of prop
erty in their vicinity. Nature has set
up a barrier between the two races
| which is apparently impossible. There
is a whole continent waiting the infusion
of such civilization as our cOlored people
could give. They might work out a
grand destiny in that cradle of their
race. No such destiny is or ever can be
open before them here.-Chicago Globe.
EXCELLENT ADVICE.
The Common-Sense Views of a Negro Who
Understands the Race Problem.
A letter written by John T. Shufton,
| of Orlando, Fla, which has been extern
sively published, has attracted attention
by its extremely temperate treatment
| of the race question in the South. The
writer is a colored man who has OBJ
tanned collegiate education by his own
| efforts, and who is much respected for
| his merit and good sense. He thinks
that the negro is subjected to no disad-
yantages in the South that any other
! people would not be subjected to who
| keep themselves poor and dependent
upon more progressive and thrifty
race. Even their disadvantages, he
Gays, are more imaginary than real.
Every avenue Of employment is open to
| them, and they have the same chance to
become prosperous and happy through
| industry and economy that their white
eeighbors have.
| Equally to the purpose is what Mr..
| Shufton has to say of the conduct of
| fanatical leaders, pretended preachers
| and politicians of the North who are
| trying to bring on a war of races in the
| South. He regards them as the worst
enemies of the Southern negro. and
| begs them to desist from their ''diabolic-
| al attempt to invite defenseless people
to attempt their own destruction"
After speaking of the efforts of mis-
| guided members of his race to force
| themselves into positions of social
| equality, which it is hopeless for them
| to seek, he sums up his views of what is
best for the negro in these words:
LET the colored man turn from all Of his
| imaginary social happiness Of mingling with
another race Of people, who show in every con-
| ceivable way that they do not wish his COM
pany and get to work in earnest in acquiring
the more permanent and substantial things Of
life, and the great problem is at once solved
The cOlored people want new teachers down
here-teachers and leaders who will point out
and instruct them in the way Of peace, prosper
ity and happiness: teachers who will disabuse
| their minds OF this political vanity, farce and
| humbug that are fast leading them blindfolded
| into indolent shiftlessness the result Of
| which is now being manifested by every Grim
inal courts record"
There can be no question that the
| Southern negroes would be vastly bet
ter off if they would follow the leader
| ship of such men as the writer of this
letter. He apprehends clearly enough
the only effectual means of elevating
| his race to a sure position of respect
ability and usefulness. His advice is
less f1attering than that of self-seeking
| demagogues, but it is far more salutary.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
THE COMMITTEES.
| Eney Were Made Up to Please Wall Street
and the East.
The first glance at the list of commit
tod NV