The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-15
THE NEGRo's OPPORTUNITY.
He Must Prove Himself Willing to
Work, or Lose Out.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
! It is doubtless unjust to lay up
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
dairvman. and the Massachusetts
housekeeper issue the same call.
When the officials Of this state de-
clare that 5000 laborers are needed
in its fields, and from every section
III tie country come complaints that
efficient labor cannot be found. it is
not surprising that the negro does not
take to the cotton fields with desired
,'nlh1s asm.
Nevertheless, when almost every
southern paper contains accounts OF
European trips to secure white agrl-
cultural labor, and tells Of the satls-
factory work Of Italians at cotton
raising, and the prospect OF large I'M
migration from Southern Europe, 1t
behoves the friends and leaders OF
the colored people to give attention
to their prospects. In vain is ag1ta-
ton to right social and political
wrongs for a people who forget to
preserve for themselves place to
work and to win for themselves the
prosperity which will enable them to
eniov their rights. The negro has
the first bid to do the work Of the
cotton fields. II he will do it eff
cientlv he can have that privilege
forever. To him it will be the basis
OF civilization and the door OF oppor-
tunity. 1t will be what school teach
ing was to the ambitious young New
Englander of fifty years ago. what
housework is to the gree lmn1i-
grant girl, who is very likely in few
years has a comfortable home OF her
own. But if he sacrifices this fortress
he surrenders his future. There is
no other ready resource for the bulk
of the colored people, and if they de-
sert the work which their white
neighbors will encourage them to do
and help them to become prosperous
in doing. they will forfeit a measure
OF sympathy and protection which IS
OF the greatest importance.
The south is no longer satisfied
with the abuse OF its fields. 1t is
awake to the demands Of successful
agriculture and 10 the dangers OF
foreign competition in cotton grow
ing. 1t is determined to maintain its
supremacy and to secure ettlcent
labor. \ dispatch reports that the
largest planter in the Mississippi DEL
ia is now on his way TO Europe. say
ing that he is convinced, after long
experience that the people OF the
south must cease relying on negro
labor for cultivating cotton. Vi
course, the substitute II millions OF
whites for millions Of negroes on
the plantations is a matter OF years,
and could never be carried out to
ANYTHING like completion. But every
substitution of this kind means loss
ni opportunity to some negroes, not
merely to earn living in the cotton
fields. but to establish themselves
on a firm foundation. Every negro
leader. every farm conference, and
every school should exert the utmost
influence to arouse the colored people
to do this work and to do 1t well.
Though the great mass Of the negroes
NAV be too old to acquire new habits.
vet il on every plantation few men
can be placed who will show the en-
ergv and faithfulness attributed to
the incoming Italians, they can pre-
serve this domain to their race.