The sun., 1901-05-09
The Change in southern Sentiment.

The Change In southern Sentiment.
We print in another column Of this page
some striking expressions OF opinion con-
cerning the negro question and the attitude
OF the South toward great questions OF
national policy which have been made re-
Gently by Southern newspapers They
indicate suggestive and hopeful broad
ening OF view. from which the South and
the whole Union will get profit; for II 10
very narrow spirit which considers them
only as affecting the selfish interests OF
political party They are rather to be
looked at as proofs that the South Is re-
turning to the discussion OF national ques-
tions on their merits purely. and that Judg-
ment upon national politics is now to
be formed independently of a peculiarly
Southern bias Of prejudice.
The reference Of the Telegraph Of Macon.
in Georgia, to The impending Crisis
OF Mr. HINTON Rowan HELPER as a serious
and thoughtful book Is Of much sgnif-
canoe That book. by the son OF a North
Carolina slave owner. was published in
1857, or at the time when the agitation over
the question Of slavery was most violent
1t was one of the most important contri-
buttons to the controversy then raging,
and when II was commended TO public
attention as an anti-slavery argument,
by the extraordinary method Of a circular
signed by two-thirds Of the Republican
members OF the contemporary Congress,
including JonN SHERMAN and GAIrsHA
A. GROW, Republican candidates for
Speaker, JoHN B. CLARK, a representative
from Missouri Introduced a resolution
denouncing the" doctrines and sentiments
OF the book as lnsurrectonary and hostile
10 the domestic peace and tranquility OF
the country" and declaring that TO mem
Der Of this House who has udorscd and
recommended it was III to be Speaker Of
tins House"
Looked at now by this southern news
paper. a generation after the destruction
OF slavery, Mr. HELPERS argument that
slavery was injurious TO the South, morally
and economically, appears serious and
p thoughtful and as such is regarded favor
{ ably by II. Mr. HELPER advocated eman-
l cipation and the deportation Of the negroes
; to Africa, and still after the lapse Of forty
I four years he adheres TO that opinion.
t The predictions he made in 1857" says
, the Georgia paper have been abundanlly
t borne out by later events, and he can see
t now. as 50 many thoughtful observers see,
that the extinction of slavery was only the
7 beginning OF the work necessary 10 bring
r complete industrial freedom and q full
measure Of prosperity and material devel-
r opment to the South The only way 10 q
complete solution. in h1S Judgment or
deportation to Africa" commands the
approval Of the Macon paper, on the ground
that tho negro free is scarcely less an
obstacle in the way Of desirable immigra-
ton than was the slave" and, besides. It
holds that the argument IN favor Of the
( separation of the races on moral grounds
, il not lcss strong but stronger"
Such a tone and method Of discussing
' the negro question are altogether hopeful as
e. Indicative of a saner treatment Of the sub
q Iect than 1t has received hitherto either
\ al the South or the North Calm consIdera-
- ton succeeds hot passion. The moral and
. the economical side Of the question IA re-
garsed and put into the first place OF i'm
portance. where It belongs and whore II
can be discussed reasonably and without
ranCor.
o Practically. Mr.. HELPERS solution by
y deportation seems to us impossible. Ger
= tainy until there has come a complete
r revolution in the Southern industrial situa
Il tion. Il recalls the Know Nothing attemp
d to drive foreign immigrants from this
n country, IN which they were bound TO re-
= main and increase because their labor was
:. necessary Al present the development O
n the South Is dependent chiefly II not almOs
" wholly. on negro labor and tho deporta
l. ton Of the millions Of negroes or any con
! siderable part Of them would seem TO b.
Y OF the nature Of catastrophe. If th'
: change comes IL must come obviously. by
W slow approaches and not until suhCrn
ii white immigration reaches the South L
{, make imposs bic successful industrial com
petition with It by the negroes
y II seems to Ms. however that II is reason
j. able 10 expect that the new and wonderful
"a development through which the South
passing will eventually create deman,
d Tor labor that will attract thithor wh't
l. immigration in n volume 50 great that In
10 relative nlmtfCal importance we UPkfOe
Sc now have in the total population viii b
pr DESTROYED and tho race and color question
,r will lose the disturbing prominence il ha
Pc had hitherto The climate Of the Sout
or offers peculiar inducements to the immgra
y tion which Is now coming in largest voum
= 10 this country; for il l. conspicuon5ly frol
southern or the more southern Europe
le and when the South also invites such laho
pr by tho increasing diversity Of lis indus
~ tries il Is likely to be- turned 20 Souther
ne ports, provided that there Is a welcome fc
n the foreign accession Hitherto the Soui
al has received almost no increase OF popr
~ lation from that source VIII II want
" hereafter
We do not undertake To ohT moro tha
lc a merely tentative suggestion. Practical!
al the settlement Of the negro question vi
N. come in the process Of the operation
H. natural laws and tho laws governing indm
ed trial development. II ia notable here thi
" Bishop TURNER. representing the negroe
on aCrces with Mr.. HELPER and the Mace
q, Telegraph in looking upon their deport'
ia ton 10 Africa 1s the only possible settl