The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-12-03
THE NEGRO'S DESTINY.
Relative Decrease OF Our Colored
Population.
strikin. Fncts Developed by the Last
Census Something About the Fu-
ture Distribution OF the
Race.

Hasty organizations concerning the
future numerical strength of the negro
in this country, based on his proper
tionate high birth rate, and the mislead-
ing reports of the census OF 1910, have
done more than anything else to render
the negro problem question of politi-
cal manipulation. Only two years ago
the presiding officer Of political con-
vention stated that at no distant future
the colored population would reach 5o,-.
100000. Statements such as this are
regarded with different degrees of salts
faction, and If true the negro would
himself soon overrun this continent.
The crudity of statements such as
this, which can be used so disastrously
for political purposes, is shown by Gen.
Francis A. Walker in the Forum, in an
article slsetching the future of the negro,
based on the statistics Of the race back
to 1908, when the slave trade was abol-
ished. At that time, or from the census
Of 1910, the negro numbered 700, 200, or
10 per cent. of the entire population.
In the recent census he is but 11.0 of
the entire population, or, while. the
white population has increased 16 fold,
the negro has increased but 10 fold.
Taking the statistics by 10 and 20 year
periods since 1910. Gen. Walker shows
that the increase by per cent has de-
clined steadily, and asserts that in all
probability this steady reduction in the
negro's relative Importance in the pop.
ulation will never be reversed.
In confirmation he examines in detail
the respective birth and death rates in
% southern counties of equal popula-
tenth census, and finds that per 1000
births of those born and dying, the
rate for whites was 1901 against 140. 8
blacks. The proportion of death rates
between blacks and whites in the lar ge
cities is greater against the blacks. In
New Orleans the death rate for whites
was 1857, blacks SO. In st. Louis,
whites 1919, blacks 1878. The results
show that the negro race is maintain
ing its slight rate of increase only by
means of very high birth rate over a
very high death rate.
Another fact worth noting is the
future geographical distribution OF the
negro, now that he can move freely
from place to place. AS u slave, the
tropically bred negro was forced to fol.
low the interests Of his northern bred
master, often into regions where he
lived only at sacrifice of vitality.
Comparing between 1SS0-9o the rates OF
increase in Delaware, Maryland, Vir-
ginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee
and North Carolina with tho cotton
growing states, it is found to be 10 pc,
cent. in the latter against per cent. in
the former. The Inference is that in
those parts Of the country where the
negro is not an economic necessity,
the black population will become more
and more reduced by the entrance Of a
vigorous white element. Industrial
considerations at the same time will
draw him to his more natural habitat,
the Gulf states, where the white man
cannot take his place. Whatever
| growth may be expected from the col
| ored race will take place there, and ii
is not probable that race SO limited in
its range will ever reach to one-third
even Of SO, 600, 900.
To recapitulate, the negro in 1890 wa:
| one-fifth the population; in 1s40, but
| one-sixth; in 1860, one-seventh; in 1890
less than one-eighth. Industrial reasons
and natural tendencies are draining hin
of toward the low lands Of the gulf OF
Mexico, and there his greatest rate of in
| crease will be felt, which in the nature
Of things will be constantly decreasing
in its relation to the total population.
Facts such as these indicate that the
negro problem will become less and
less rather than moro and more a po
litical problem, and that the solution
may reasonably be left to the opera
tion of physiological and economic laws