The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-03-27
DECLINE OF THE ooLoKED RACE.

When the census of 1880 was taken and
figures were published showing an increase
in the colored population of the Southern
States in excess of the increase among the
whites apprehensions were expressed that
the negro would eventually outnumber the
white man in the southern portion of the
country to such an extent that the cotton
States would eventually become black
States. This impression was pronounced
to be unfoundel by persons who were fam
liar with the South; it was stated by Albion
\. Tourgee, among others, that the figures
of the censuses of 1870 and 1880, regarding
the cOlored population. were unreliable,
and that their reported rapid increase was
imaginary Mr.. Robert P. Porter now cor
Toborates these views.
BE says that SO far IRON increasing more
rapidly than the whites the negroes are de-
clining relatively in numbers. He states
that in 1880 there were in the South six per-
sons of color to ten white persons, whereas
now there are but four. He adds that since
the war the numbers Of the negroes in many
States have both relatively and absolutely
declined, though in Arkansas and MssiS-
Sippi, which have been recipients of negro
immigration from the border States, they
have increased. lie figures the present
cOored population Of tie Southern States
at about 7, 100000, as against g, 5S0,0l0 in the
census o; 1880.
Some of the sOundeSt ethnOl0giStS in the
country predicted that the abolition of
slavery would be followed by a decline in
the annual increase in the cOOred p0pula-
ton. Under slavery the owners interest
Induced bin to carefully nurse them, hence
the mortality from disease was compare
lively small. Through the care bestowed
by the planters on the development Of the
race the negro struggled successfully
against the normal effect of a country which
was not intended for his occupation and a
climate which differed from the climate un-
der which his race had grown. When
slavery was abolished and the negro was left
to his OWn tutelage the law of meridian began
to apply. The race. freed from restraints
imposed by an owners care, suffered more
largely than il had done from the ravages
of disease. In parts of the cotton area it
has been observed for several years that the
supply of labor has been diminishing in
stead Of increasing, and the planters have
been moved by self-interest TO resist projects
OF emigration with violence.
1t looks as if the Southern negroes would,
in course Of time, follow the example OF
the Indians, and fade away. In the British
West Indies, where emancipation went into
effect over half a century ago, and the slave
trade has been stopped for an equal period,
a pure negro is rarely seen. He is replaced
by a half-breed mulatto, mestzo or oc-
toTuon These half-breeis are sometimes
highly intelligent and vigorous; but, like
all crossed races, they do not thrive. The
descendants OF the eX-slayeS in Jamaica and
Barbados are gradually falling off in num-
beers, and by and by they will be too few to
till the sugar plantations.
Of all the races in the world, that branch
of the Aryan race to which we bel0ngi is
the only one which thrjyes in all climates
and in all meridans. Descendants of
Europeans have populated regions as far
apart as Quebec and Australia, Manitoba
and the pampas of Argentine. They are
not checked to much extent in their increase
by extremes OF climate nor varieties of soil.
They are like the old Goths, who, as
children, inhaled the icy breath of the
Baltic, and as men, raised great families on
the border of the Pc and the RhOne. Like
them, the immigrants who for three cen
turtles have been crossing the Atlantic have
made themselves at home wherever they
| have landed, ana the race seems to improve
| instead of deteriOrating, by transplanta-
| ton.
But it seems to have been decreed that
| the normal home OF the negro is in the
| Dark Continent, and that, though he may
| be decanted into other regions, he will not
take root there, but, after a few genera
! TONS he Will share the fate of most eXotics,
| and anguish and die. None Of those who
read these lines will live to see a striking
| shrinkage In the negro race in the United
| States; sHch transactions are slow; they
| take centuries for their accomplishment.
| But enough is revealed by the census to
make it clear that the fears of the cotton
| States becoming wholly or mainly black
were ungrounded, and that matter Of more
real concern is the prospect of a serious
| diminution in the labor on which Southern
| prosperity rests.