The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-27
The Future of the Blacks.


of the black population of this coptry puz-
zles thinking men of 10th the north and
the south. Recently a large numbsr Of
black men have been lynched IN the south
for murder and rape, aud yet the number
of these crimes is increasing. The lynch
| ings are deplored by all good men, and the
! governor Of this state issued a proclama-
| tion day or two ago, announcing that
special efforts would be made to convict aud
punish those who take the law into their
own hands.
! One reason why there Is a steady increase
! in the crimes of murder and rape is the
outcry made by editors and preachers IN the
| north when negro is lynched for either Of
the foregoing crimes. The lawless and
worthless class of blacks read what these
editors and preachers say. aud they are en-
couraged to continue their lawless course,
| believing they have the sympathy OF the
north, and, in some way, will be protected
by the northern people. The editors and
preachers who are constantly attacking the
southern people for alleged ill-treaJment Of
the blacks are Indirectly responsible for the
lynchings. If they confined themselves to
the truth there would be no reason to find
fault with them, for then it would appear
that those who are lynched are the worst
kind of criminals. They ignore the truth,
however, because they wish to appear as the
defenders Of the blacks.
1t lie certain that if in the north the pro-
portion of the black population was as great
as it is i'll the south the blacks would not be
dealt with as kindly by the northern people
as they are by the people Of the south. In
the House on Wednesday Representative
Hooker, Of Mississippi, called attention to
the killing Of black man in Henry county,
Indiana, in manner SO barbarous as to
shock the entire county. That case furnishes
an indication of what would be done by the
northern people if there was a very large
and growing criminal class of blacks in the
north that thought nothing Of numbering
white men and criminally assaulting white
women.
Recently it was asserted in the general
conference in the Methodist church in
Omaha that the southern whites were the
best friends Of the blacks. The assertion
was made by a delegate from the Methodist
church south, and was received with Kisses.
And yet it was true. Ever since the close
of the war the whites or the south have
been doing all they could to improve the
moral and material condition Of the blacks
They have given them as much for educa-
tional purposes as they have kept for them
selves. They have given them the protec-
ton of good government and have opened
to them all the avenues for earning livs
ing. Have the whites OF the north done as
muchl Is it not fact that In the north all
| the mechanical trades are closed to blacksa
And yet there are intelligent editors and
preachers in the north who pretend to be-
lieve that the blacks are better treated in
that section than IN the south. The proof
that they are not is found in the fact that
the blacks do not so north to live.
But what is to be the future Of the blacklist
| They do not seem to appreciate the help
that is being given them in the south to
better their condition. The proportion Of
idlers among them is increasing, and it is
but step from idleness to
crime The young blacks are
crowding into the cities and towns
to escape work in the fields and with the
| hope of being able to live with very little
euOTI. III ueaEly I'LL bue bOuLnern towns
now there are more blacks than can find
| employment. How they live it is impossi-
BILE to say, but from the number In the iails
and penitentiaries it is plain they do not
| live honestly.
II the way should be opened for the south
TO gradually get rid Of her black population
the great majority of the southern people
would rejoice. While they recognize that a
large portion of the blacks are good and
! worthy citizens they cannot avoid seeing
| how steadily, but surely, the number of the
idle and vicious is increasing and they know
| that in this idle and vicious class there is
| danger to themselves. to those they hold most
dear and to their homes. The blacks, although
the laborers of the southern states, are
really hindrance to the South's prosperity,
because they keep away from her thrifty
white settlers, who would make her the
richest part of the world.