The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-08-24
NINE TO ONE.

The New Orleans Times Democrat publishes very IN
teresng editorial the preponderance of negroes ant
whites in the different parts of Mississippi 1t sets fortl
that the last census shows that the state contains larger
negro majority than did in 1890 but claims that this
true only of part of the namely the Yazoo Delta
to which negroes have ocked from all parts of the South
until the population according the last census shows
total in the thirteen counties composing it, of 264
blacks to 81 955 whites, five to for the entire va.
zoo country In the FIVE counties bordering the Msss
sipp river the disparity is much greater, in Washington
and lssaquena counties the negroes being nine to
white Washington shows greater of negro pop
uation than any county in the Union the proportion be-
inc 5,v02 whites to A, 2l4 blacks.
This is rather appalling for the Yazoo Delta and the
Times Democrat, apparently not being in the mood to
comfort this section goes demonstrate, by
statistics that the of the state is growing winter
this portion grows acker The writer calmly concludes
This tendency likely to continues indeed all the ndi
cations point the probability of the concentration of
much of the negro population of Mississippi in its low
RIPARIAN lands
There grain of comfort to be found in this prospect
black as it looks. If has been very well demonstrated
that the white canpot work in the cotton fields in the
summer time At least they will not do The hills of
Mississippi and other portions of the South much
less tropical in character than this lowland They
habited by white people accustomed to do their own
work. anil contened to make living their far ms
Unless the lands of the Delta could be divided into little
tracts Of hundred and sixty two or three hundred
acres, and thcky settled by working white farmers
they by negroes the white people, unaided. |
could not give the land proper cultivation.
The lands of the Delta owned principally in large /
tracts by wealthy men, comparatively few of whom live
upon their plantations which managed for them by
energetic white men, the of the of old
times. He controls the army of negroes who people the
place like military officer If he is of sense JUS
tice courage and humanity his forces doce obedl
ent and contented Under the present prevailing condi
tons, the negro necessity to the Delta and his pres
in overwhelming numbers is not to be regard
ed calamity. 1t is not likely that the conditions will
change. The great andhoders will not be willing
to dispose of property which is remuneratiye to
them in bulk The negroes themselves not acquis-
tive. They to be becoming less and less !
The principal problem presented to the Delta by their
influx in such numbers would to be the general adop
ton of modus vivend which would insure their wise
and firm control under white directon the maintenance
Of their rights and liberties their protection from spoa
ion Of their earnings by the INSCRIPTIONS and their
Ientmen Under such goyerance there need be nothing
fear for white social and political prominence in the
Delta though the of negro population has
reached in Of its countless the amazing proportion
If nine to one. 3sH