The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-04
STEADILY LESS

The United States furnlSn lren. EranCi
A.. Walker with an interesting topic in
the Forum. In all matters statistical
the general is a recognized expert. In
this special instance it is not only his
figures that are worthy of notice. The
deductions he draws from them are
clear and convincing and are decidedly
at variance with general popular belief.
For example, he asserts that, contrary
to a very common assumption, the
colored element in III population is a
steadily decreasing factor, even in the
states where it has Its strongest hold.
That is a statement that will take a
good many people by surprise. But, it
the critics figures are correct, and we
see no reason to doubt their reliability
Investigation Of facts will convince
the most sceptical of the truth Of what
he says.
In 1900, the year Of the first census,
there was in this country a colored
population Of 757,2O9. In other
words the slave element formed 1913 per
cent. Of the entire population. The
slave trade was abolished in the year
1900, and two years afterwards the cen
sus showed a total of 1877, SOB, or only
IS per cent. Of the whole. That rate has
never since been approached, and the
figure is constantly tending downward.
In 1850 the enumeration had reduced 1t
to less than 16 per cent; in 1860, a little
more than Ia per cent; in 1850, slightly
over IS; and the last reckoning reduces
it still further to a little less than II. 1t
may be urged that the colored race has
not been recruited by the aid of immi-
grafton, and that this TACT alone is sui
ficient to account for the diminution of
ratio. But, as actual matter Of fact,
statistics show that the rate of increase
among the negroes themselves has
fallen off, and is failing to keep pace
with the fecundity of the whites. Be-
tween 1910 and 1920 the rate of increase
was $3.50 per cent. The decade from
1870 to 1880 returned 22.O7, and within
the last ten years the rate had fallen to
1879 per cent. Within the same period,
the entire population showed an average
growth of 24.S6.
In slavery days the location Of the
colored population was entirely Deepen
dent upon the residence of its owners
and the occupation they followed. The
natural home of the negro is, of course,
in a tropical climate, and his preference
IS decidedly in favor of lowlying lands
rather than high. But these were
points on which it was not customary
to consult a bondman. For example,
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Ken
lucky, Tennessee Missouri and
several others were slave states.
Not, however, that any consider
able portion of their surface was pecu-
liarly fitted for negro labor or negro life,
but because in these states the peculiar
institution" was an %appendage of social
dignity, if it did not prove to be OF
economic profit. The cotton states
formed a natural and effective contrast
In Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas
and others, both climate and soil were
much more suitable for the existence O
the negro race and the profitable en-
ployment Of its labor.
General Walker deftly handles his
census figures to prove how the distri
button of the colored race, left to it's owr
volition, has steadily tended to correct
the old enforced displacement. Within
the last ten years, the increase in The
cotton states reached the figure Of j!
per cent. In the others, on the contrary
even when the District of Columbia il
included, the increase was only 81 pc:
cent. Even one and the same state will
show the influence of congenial sur
roundings. In the low cotton lands in
crease Is distinctly general; in tn
mountainous regions, diminution in
variably results. For example, Georgi;
ten years ago showed that 4S.43 pc
cent of the colored population throv'
upon land less than 800 feet above tn,
sea level. In 1890, the ratio had riser
to 51.87.
With these climatic and industrial
limitations in view, it would seem ctea
that the colored race is subject to i'm
p~ortant restrictions in the matter O
growth. The writer himself believe
that the tendency will lncrease,elnd tina
the colored population will be more an
more drained off from the higher an
colder lands into the low, hot region
l bordering on the Gulf of Mexico.
Everywhere in large cities, in the mort
and in the high country, the rate c
mortality among tho colored populatio
stands very high, much higher than tina
Of tho whites. In New Orleans, fc
n example, the returns Of last year gave
death rate per 1000 of 2J.5 per cent. fc
whites and 36 for the colored inhab
tants; 22.G3 and 3G.39 were the figure
: for Baltimore during the same pnrio'
In ST. LOUIS, 1919 and 3.78. Ia fac
but for a very high birth rate, tho CO
ored race in the United States won,
practically be at a standstill. In I
part of the country are the negro
gaining upon the whites. On the co
trary, they are steadily retrograding
y numbers and becoming Il dminishir
factor in the population.
"
r German American Teachers.
NJ V.t,o M, r-- 49,