The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-15
NEGRoEs GOING NORTH. The Leavenworth Times indulges in this

The negro population of the United states ia migrating northward. From their homes amid the cotton blossoms and the magnolias they are seeking homes in the northern cities. If the pre- sent movement is long maintained the negro will cease to be associated w,th the sunny South and Dixie land. Wasn- inrton. the capitol of the nation, accord Ing to the census of 1890, had the oasunc- ton of sheltering the largest negro popu- lation of any city in the United states although at that time 1t ranked hour- teenth among all cities In size.
 Were it not for feeling of sympathy and real kindness towards the negroes themselves we could find 1t in our hearts to wish that the predictions of The Times might be to a certain extent verined' Such a result would relieve the South of A congestion of colored population, and at the same time 1t would teach some of our Northern friends that the negro at close quarters is not exactly what he is at long range, ana the coh- tact and association with the colored people in considerable numbers would be an object lesson which is badly needed by certain people North of Mason and Dixon's line. A feeling of kindness for the brother in black would prevent us from rejoicing at anything like an exodus from the Southern to the Northern States, because we know that his condi- ton will be made very much worse by crowding into any Northern community. That has been shown so plainly, and in so many different places up there that it need not be argued.
 According to the census report it Is true that Washington has the largest negro population, in the aggregate, Of any city in the Union. though the pro- portion of negroes to whites is not as great as in most Southern cities. The large number of colored people in Wash ington is not hard to account for. It is almost as much Southern as North ern city, and the negro naturally feels more at home there than he would farther north. Then the fact that there are at all times so many Southern white men and their families there that the negroes are naturally attracted to that city. Added to this is the further fact that a large per cent of them think there Is something for them at the national capital All these causes combine to make Washington seem a sort of Mecca to the negro.
 It is a little singular to note. in this connection. that the largest aggregate addition to the colored population of any city, North or South, from 1890 to 1900, was in Philadelphia, the total addition in ten years being 2s.242. while that of Washington only increased a little over half that number. Why they should thus flock to Philadelphia we cannot say. un- less they believe all the stories about that being the laziest city in the Union, which would appeal with irresistible power to the average darkey. If they have gotten the idea into their heads that Philadelphia Is a region where people are constitutionally and habitually op- posed to exertion we cannot wonder at their going there. How they will fare is a question for the future to decide.
 But the increase in the colored popula- ton of the North is not a matter of ap- prehension down here, as we have no fear that there will be any great lack of them in any portion of the South.