The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-26
SOME GOOD ONES.

SOME GOOD ONES.
 We frequently hear mention of the "oId-time negro" and we very often see them. but like the old veterans of the great war they are rapidly pass ing from among men. The younger generation Is different, and when the present race of ante-war negroes have gone we shall see no more like them. That reminds us of what Florida man. MT. A. H. stegall. says of them. This is the way he views it:
 while it IS true that there are some vicious negroes-as rue tnsy e1,e tics--could gradual emancipation nave been adopted all would have been well and the South would today pave the best system of labor on the con5inens needs, and even as It IS we VIII rue the day when we exchange them tor any others--in sight-on our farms. The Italians. will not compare Mish ing. NO machine has yet been invera- ted that can compare with a good me- gro woman, As house servants they suit us better than any yet tried, ana in dozen other ways they suit us, and that is enough.
 It will be noticed that he takes a very favorable view of the negroes as a class; much more so than do most of us who are most familiar with them and their ways. And yet when all things are considered we should not be surprised at the results that followed emancipation. Turned loose to depend on themselves and to as- sume all the responsibility of citkzen- ship without any preparation 1t is not to be wondered at that they made sad mess of it. And to make matters infinitely worse they were literally thrust into politics when they had no more fitness for 1t than child of ten years. All things considered 1t should not be surprising if some of them are bad. Rather is 1t a wonder that all are not. There are yet some of the good ones left among us, fortunately but many of the old negroes are fol- lowing the example of the younger and becoming thoroughly unreiiable.
 It Is unfortunate that so many of the leaders and teachers of the new generation make the mistake of trying to instil into their minds the belief that Sthere is something better for them than honest labor, and especial lv labor on the farms. This is why they abandon the farms and flock to the towns and cities, and this is why all the towns are cursed with an over plus of idle, absolute negroes, most of them of the younger generation. and nearly all of them useless, if not vic- ious. The Kansas negro who makes a strong appeal to his race to get back to the farms and own homes of their own is an infinitely better teacher than are those who are teach Ing the youths of the race that they should be above working for the white people Such teaching is wrons in theory and hurtful in practice. The idea is being instilled into the minds of many of the young negroes both male and female. that if they can graduate at some colored institute and get diploma or certificate. they are not to work for living, but will ! find some easy situation open for | them. It Is a vicious heresy, and highly injurious to those who are | thus taught. There are not enough easy places for one-half the whites who are looking for them, and in ths South the whites will continue to hold large majority of the positions which do not require manual labor. Cali il fitness. race prejudice, heredity, hab- it or what we will, it is a fact.
 To their credit be It said. there ar' some negro leaders and teachers wht take different course. They in, struct their pupils and followers tt understand and appreciate both thu necessity and dignity of labor, ant also teach them that the farm offerl them the surest and best place fol Independence. If all the younger gen. eration could be thus taught. ana would heed and acton that teaching the good negroes" would not be ltmi
 ted to the few old ex-slaves who ar, yet with us