The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-06
THE NEGRo's OPPORTUNITY.
He Must Prove Himself Willing to
Work, or Lose Out.

1t is doubtless unjust to lay uI
against the negro as his peculiar sin the
fact that the Southern cotton planter
is loud in his demands for more and
more efficient labor The Kansas
wheat farmer, the New York dairyman,
and the Massachusetts housekeeler
issue the same call. When the Off
cials of this State declare that $500
labcrers are needed in its fields, and
from every section of the country
come complaints that efficient labor can
not be found, it is not surprising that
the negro does not take to the cotton
fields with desired enthusiasm.
Nevertheless, when almost every
Southern paper contains accounts OF
European trips to secure white agri-
cultural labor, and tells ct the salts
factory work of Italians at cotton rails
ing, and the prospect of large immigrs-
ton from Southern Europe, it be-
hooves the friends and leaders of the
colored people 60 give attention to
their prospects. In vain is agitation
to right social and political wrongs
for people who forget to perserve for
themselves place to work and to win
for themselves the prosperity which
will enable them to enjoy their rights.
The negro has the first bid to do the
work of the cotton field. If be will do
it efficiently he can have that privilege
forever. To him it will be the basis OF
civilization and the door of opportuni-
81. It will be what school teaching
was to the ambitious young New Eng
lander of fifty years ago, what house
work is to the green immigrant girl.
who very likely in few years has q
comfortable home Of her own. But if
be sacrifices this fortress be surrenders
his future There is no other ready
resource for the bulk of the colored
people. and if they desert the work
which their white neighbors will
encourage them to do and help them
to become prosperous in doing, they
will forfeit measure of sympathy and
protection which is of the greatest
Importance.
The South is no longer satisfied
with the abuse of its fields. It is
awake to the demands of successful
agriculture and to the dangers OF
foreign competition IN cotton growing.
It is determined to maintain its su-
premacy and to secure efficient labor.
A dispatch reports that the largest
planter in the Mississippi delta is now
on his way Europe. saying that he is
convinced, after long experience, that
the people of the south mast cease
relying on negro labor for cultivating
cotton. OF course, the substitution
of millions of whites for millious OF
negroes on the plantations is matter
of years. and could never be carried
out to anything like completion. But
every substitution of this kind means
the loss of opportunity to some ne
groes, not merely to earn a living in
the cotton fields, but to establish
themselves on a firm foundation.
Every negro leader, every farm con-
ference and every school should exert
the utmost iuhuenc to arouse the col
ored people to do this work and do it
we'll. Though the great mass Of the
negroes may be too old to acquire new
habits, yet if on every plantation
few men can be placed who will show
the energy aud faithfulness attributed
to the incoming Italians, they can
preserve this domain to their race
New York Tribune.