Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-16
THE NEGRO IN THE SOUTH
Continued from the First page.l

cutiOn, were far from liberal to others.
You may think the ruling whites of
the south are not doing right as you
see it but l can tell you they are the
soul of honor and are doing what they
believe to be right.
The southern people are glad the
cOlOred people are free and the cOlOred
people are glad to be as free as they
are and they both understand each
other, while outside parties do not.
The people from the north, who are
living here year after year, have not
the patience and consideration for
them that the southern man has
shown. This is plain to be seen by
remarks [ hear almost daily.
1 think the race problem will solve
itself if let alone by outsiders. 1t
depends entirely upon two things.
First. If The colored people are
increasing faster than the whites.
Second. If they are becoming
educated.
If they are running out. as one here
claimed, account Of their gross i'm
morality, then they are doomed to the
fate of the American Indian. The
tendency of the educated cOlored man
is to crowd into the cities and there
they occupy as little room as possible,
which is neither conducive to good
health or morals. Yet, as the poor
white man said, there are lots Of
whites that are no better.
On this point of increase of the
cOlOred people / have tried in vain to
get some definite reliable information
as it is vital question. AS to intelli-
gence and progress there is no question
in regard to improvement. [ see them
come to the post office, get letters,
open and read them. [ see them
writing postal cards and directing
letters, and they claim that except
the older ones the most of the others
can read and write.
Personally, | have seen no evidence
of their morality except petty stealing
and lying. The colored population of
the present generation is as far as |
can observe, purely African. When,
by intelligence, they are fitted for
higher positions they will be called to
fill them.
There is a state normal school here
for whites and in Tallahassee a good
normal school for the colored teachers.
This place, like Orlando, is strictly
prohibition. [ have not seen a
drunken man in this state and | have
heard no profanit though OK teams
are numerous. In one case [ saw ten
oxen drawing one logging wagon and
heard no swearing
This is the coun y seat of Walton
county. The Jail contains only one
person that is resi- lent of this county
and he is white man. This county
contains only One-Sayenth blacks,
while some counties east of us have
three blacks to one white and others
two to one. This | have from official
sources.
Feb. s, '99: Thermometer went
down to 20 degrees above
zero last night, drop of So degrees,
in about 20 hours. 1t comes like the
snap of whip and stings while it
lasts. Today the sun has shown bright
all day. [ think some kinds of fruit
must be injured but it makes little
difference, for the San Jose scale has
nearly killed all the fruit trees. We
are all we'll and our southern papers
give no cases of la grippe in this sec
tion of the country or this state. 1t
seems to be a northern disease or if
here it is in very light form.
have just this afternoon examined
some pear blossoms that were not fully
out, they were white enough to show
across the street yet last nights frost
did not seem to injure them. 1t seems
very strange.
Feb 10, '99: The ground was covered
with snow here this morning and still
showing at s d. m. At a. m. [ saw
large snow balls being rolled up in the
streets and darby boy making sno W
balls. At L o'clock it is all gone.
A. c. BENNETT.