Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-31
The Negro in the North.

WHITING q series or interesting nldSd-
zine articles regarding the negro
proiem in the South, has now taken up
the problem of the negro in the North,
and has a valuable article on this
subject in the American magazine FOR
February. Mr. Baker brings out many
| interesting facts and has little trouble
| in demonstrating that the negro is
national rather than a sectional prob
lem. Within the past quarter century
there has been great migration of
colored people from the South to the
cities Of the North. The movement Of
| course began since the Civil War, but
for the first 10 or 20 years is was
nothing as compared with the latter
part Of the period that has elapsed
since that struggle. In 1880. for in
stance. Chicago had only 64S0 colored
people, while now it has $4,000, an
| increase Of 800 per cent. There are
over 10000 negroes in New York where
there were only 10000 in 1890. In
Washington there are now no fewer
than 100000 negroes, a greater number
than were ever before gathered in any
community in any part of the world SO
| far as we know.
| This increase in the number Of
negroes in the cities of the North-for
there are relatively few in the small
/ cities and the country sectionS-is
| brought about by migration from the
South, for the birth rate of negroes in
| the North does not keep pace with the
death rate. Consumption and the
| diseases of vice ravage the northern
, negroes to such an extent that the
colored population. in northern cities
would show an annual falling off were
it not for the newcomers from the
South. These newcomers, oppressed
by the limitations in the South, look
upon the North as the promised land,
but what do they find when they get
here? Mr.. Bakers answer is. They
find the squalid alley home and the
bed of disease" Used to fresh air and
sunshine. they cannot stand the
northern climate. AS to the attitude
of the North toward the negro popula-
ton, Mr. Baker after investigation in
various cities East and West comes 10
the conclusion that the human nature
Of the white people in the North is not
much different from the human nature
Of the southern whites. Here are his
conclusions along this line:
One Of the first things that struck
me when ! began studying race con-
ditions in the North was the position
Of the better class of white people with
regard to the negro. In the South
every white man and woman has 4
vigorous and vital opinion on the race
question. You have only to apply the
match, the explosion is sure to follow.
1t is not so in the North. 4 few Of the
older people still preserve something
of the war times sentiment for the
negro, but the people one ordinarily
meets don't know anything about the
negor, don't discuss him and don't care
about him. In Indianapolis. and in
deed in other cities, the only whit"
people I could find who We're much in
tereSted in the negroes We're a few
politicians. mostly Of the lower sort,
the charity workers and the police. |
But that, Of course. is equally true OF
the Russion Jews or the Italians. One
Of the first white men with whom /
talked Cat Indianapolis said to me
with some Impotence:
There are too many negroes up
here; they hurt the city
Another told me of the increasing
presence Of negroes in the parks, on
the streets and in the streetcars. lie
said:
Il suppose sooner or later We shall
have to adopt some Of the restrictions
OF the South
He said it without heat. but as u
sort of tentative conclusion He
hadn't fully made up his mind.
In Boston, Of all places. l expected to
find much Of the old sentiment. II
does exist among som" of the older
men and women. but was surprised
at the general attitude which I en-
countered. 1t was one of hesitation
and withdrawal Summed up, I think
the feeling Of the better class Of people
in Boston (and elsewhere in Northern
citieS) might be thus stated:
We have helped the negro to liberty:
we have helped tn educate him; we
have encouraged him to stand on mis-
own feet. Now let's see what he can
do for himself. After all. hc must
survive or perish by his own efforts.
In short. they have cast the bantling
on the rocks
Accompanying this change of atti-
tUdc. this hesitation and withdrawal
Of the better class Of white men. one
finds crude sporadic outbreaks on the
part of the rougher element of white
men-who have merely different way
of expressing themselves.
In fact, the more I see of conditions
North and South the more | see that
human nature north of Mason and
Dixon's line is not different from
human nature south of the line
DiFerppt depraes nf rairdira II &c