The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-09-07
WHAT is THE.MkTTER
WITH THE SOUTH z
A Marietta Citizen Discuss
es Negro Deportation.

! The Atlanta Constitution of August
2Sth, last, contained an editorial on the
negro problem in the South, in which
it disapproves of their deportation,
saying among other things in oppose
ton TO the scheme, that, "At the same
time it must be clear to all that the
destiny of the negroes must be worked
out here"
! This proposition to us is not so clear,
nor do we believe it to be so with the
vast majority of the white people,
north and south, who come in daily
contact with the negro and who watch
and ponder upon thescourse of events
Without entering into discussion as
to the character, capabilities, and fit
!. ness for citizenship of this race, MS
evinced by their conduct, we simply
observe that our sertion of the republic
is not keeping pace with other parts. of
the union in material progress and
prosperity. To prove this statement it
is only necessary to compare the typi-
cal cities Of the south with those of the
north, as without question, the munic-
ipal corporations of this section are far
more prosperous than the rural dis
tricts. Atlanta ismore than an aver
age southern city, yet we believe it is
far from being seat of prosperity as
measured by northern standards. The
census Of 1900 will show it to contain
about 100000 Inhabitants, of whom not
more than So 600 or so 600 will be white,
which class is the only real effective
force for the creation Of wealth. 1t
will then be in the same category with
such small and comparatively unim-
pOrtant places as Youngstown, o.,
Lancaster, Pa, Springfield, o., Elmira,
IN. Y, Quincy, ILL.,, ETC., OF which cities
many southern people have not even
lever heard.
Atlanta it is true, is considerable
commercial center or shopping town."
which condition it enjoys at the ex-
pense of the surrounding towns and it
has some manufacturing interests, the
most of which are however small,
dourishing today and tomorrow not. in
existence. We believe that there is
more money in the hands of the people
generally, which is the true test of
prosperity, in any of the above named
4 .as+ :<,c - s:,1 A. e..
results from the large payrolls, the eff
| fects Of great industrial concerns, which
those places enjoy.
/ That the agricultural classes are not
happy and contented, the results OF
favorable conditions, is evident from
the fact that thousands in this state
are leaving their farms, the majority
of them not locating in the towns and
cities of Georgia, but immigratlng to
the west. We presume that in the
course of the last twelve months hun
dred or more white persons and few il
any negroes, have boarded the cars at
Marietta to seek new homes beyond
the Mississippi river We then repeat
the question asked at the head of this
article, "What is the matter with the
South ?" Our reply is, we believe that
the negro is what is the matter. Let us
institute comparison between Geor-
gia and Texas and endeavor to learn O
lesson from the facts presented to US
By the census of 1890 Texas had pop
ulation of 2,235, 1923, of whom 489, 58s
were colored. Georgia had popula.
ton, by the same census, of 1887 1853
of this number 858,998, or nearly one.
half, being colored. From the most
accurate data at hand Texas is now .es.
timated to have population Of $500,
600, nearly all Of the increase being
white, while Georgia's totol population
is said to be 100000 What is the
} reason OF the enormous increase of pop.
ulation of Texas over that of Georgia
, state, thus guaranteeing security to ru-
, raj jewellers. Travelling over the state
, three years ago we were struck with
, the fewness of the negroes we saw. In
many places there are none at all
they being required to "moye on" as
soon as they make their appearance.
Secondly, because in Texas country
people have the same advantages as to
public or free schools as are enjoyed
by the towns. Thirdly, because of the
productiveness Of the soil
Because the first and second Texas
conditions are wanting in Georgia, peo-
pie leave the farms SO long as there
is danger in insulation, there never can
be agricultural prosperity; so long as
there is non-taxpaying class among
us, nearly one half OF the whole, 50
long there will never be an efficient
state system Of public schools. In re-