Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-13
THE sAMDO STATE.

John Temple Graves, of Georgia, VINO
IS distinguished both as a writer ana
an orator. suggests as solution OF the
raoe problem that the negroes be gath
cred together in one state. and that no
where else under our government SHAH
they have the right Of suffrage.
Not having seen his first letter upon
this subject we do not know whether ne
nronoses 10 establish that State In this
country or in one of our new possess
slons. But either way 1t seems to US
that the scheme is impractical
There is no territory here where the
white man has not gained footing all
ready, and from which he could be
driven. But even If the government
could exercise the despotic power Of put
ting the white man out, he would go
back there when he found 1t to his adj
have invaded the lands set apart for the
Indians.
As To transporting the negroes beyond
seas with, or without, their consent, 1t
is "a hopelessly visionary project. II all
other obstacles were removed 1t would
cost hundreds OF millions OF dollars and
take many years time 10 do IT. And
then certain colored persons surely
would set up the claim that they were
whites. not negroes What is more, In
them, legally speaking, and thus we
should have left upon our hands some
hundreds of thousands Of persons of
mixed blood; persons whose presence
would be no more desirable than that OF
so many blacks.
Oh. no. the colonization scheme will not
do. The problem must be settled here
az home. True, we may hope that as
time passes some of the negroes viii
remove TO the North and West aud that
white immigrants will take their places;
but, at best, that process Will be a slow
one.
AZ this time we are not fortified with
statistics upon the subject, but we feel
sure 1ftI III lillN SUI Va Ni"it''NA ~
South has not been the gamer in mum
bers." However, 1t is not an exchange
where man is to be reckoned against
man. We could afford to lose In num-
beers 70 gain I'm material.
1t is our belief. however, that each
year sees more and more negroes be-
coming residents in the North and West.
Some Of these drift back home in the
course Of time but plenty Of others do
not. Either through choice. or necessity,
they stay where the labor agents have
taken them.
1t is TO be hoped that those who will
have charge of the next census will take
particular pains to ascertain what has
been the movement of our colored popu-
lation in the respect mentioned. But
we can see for ourselves that practi-
cally speaking, the bulk of the negro
population clings TO its southern habitat.
There have been migratons from the
country to the cities and towns but the
South is still the home of the negro.
What is more, it is the best home his
race ever has known. What in Gods
providence may be in store for him in
the future we know not, but never yet
has the black man had In his own land,
or in any other land, such advantages
as the Southern States of America have
afforded him.
And yet there is a shadow threatening
his future. At first it was but little
speck. Its appearance was sudden and
surprising. No man expected 1t. There
was nothing in the so-called dark days
Of slavery" which warned us of its com
ing. 1t is a cloud of his own creation.
and which he might dispel If he would,
but which he seems strangely Indifferent
TO. God grant that he may take warn
ing before 1t assumes the fury of tor
nado and sweeps away everything in its
path.