The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-07-27

be accepted as In every respect SUD
stant:ally and approximately cor
rect. We quote from Mr.. Parker:
"Per cent increase in population
living in places of over $500 inhab-
itants, and in country districts, re-
spectively, from 1891 to 1900, and
from 1900 to 1910, in nine cotton
States:
Places over $500 in 1890
Increase Increase.
1890 to 1900. 1900 to 1910.
White. PTS 1855
Negro. .23.3 3O.o
Country districts in 1880
Increase Increase.
1890 to 1900 1900 to 1910.
White. .1S.7 l7.S
Negro. .17.5 S.3
In commenting on these figures
Mr.. Parker said:
'It will be noted that the white
population in communities Of over e.
500 in population increased in per-
centag,s between 1900 and 1910, 46.6
per cent as against 27.6 per cent In
aS90 to 1900. During such period,
the negro population in these COM
munities increased 3O.5 per cent, as
against an increase Of the preceding
period Of 1873 per cent. On the
other hand, the white population in
creased in the country districts, 1900
to 1910, almost identically the per
cent as from 1890 to 1900; whereas
the negro population shows a much
lower percentage of increase, as the
increase in the country districts In
the later period is only S.2 per cent.
as against IT'S per cent in the ear
Ner period" *
In commenting on the above fig
ures the Progressive Farmer, Of Ra-
leigh, N. c., says they indicate un-
mistakably that the whole South is
growing whittier. If we recall that
the, country places in 1890 embraced
over go per cent of the population Of
these nine states, and that the small
negro rural increase Of 8.5 per cent
applies to about four times as large
a body of population as the negro's
larger urban increase of sos per
cent, another fact becomes apparent:
The white population of the whole
South is increasing almost exactly
twice as fast as the negro population
more than twice as fast.
And we are frank to say that we
heartily rejoice that this is true. We
have no I'll will to the negro. We
certainly have no desire to keep him
poor. Even from q selfish standpoint
we realize that the best interests Of
the whole South demand that he be
made more intelligent, efficient, and
But at best the process will be
slow; and the proportion Of negroes
to whites in the South has been too
large even for the negro's own good.
The best interest OF everybody will
be helped by a greater relative in
crease in the white population. The
coming Of good settlers from other
sections should be encouraged, and
the hope should be that the tides
of migration and immigration will
ultimately eaualize matters until the
proportion of negroes in no Southern
State will exceed 20 per cent. Then
will it be easier to develop thickly
settled white communities.
Prosperous small white farmers,
owning their own homes, and enjoy
ing all modern comforts-good
roads, good schools, rural telephones,
water works, trolley lines, etc., etc.,
things it is often hard to get where
a large part Of the population con-
sists Of negro tenants-will develop
in the South the most splendid type
of modern rural civilization, and a
kindlier feeling for the negro him
self will develop as his influence be-
comes less oppressive and his num-
5ers better distributed through the
whole country.
The Soutehrn white farmer has
sense enough to see that with intel
ligent scientific farming he has far
better chances for making money and
for enjoying life working as his own
boss on his own Ind than he would
have as somebody's hireling In some
city factory or shop. Consequently;
he IS going to stay on the farm; and
for every negro who goes to town
We may count on getting in the end
some thrifty white settler from some
other section.
Being very much interested in
these figures we sent them to the
Director of the Census for confirma-
tion as to their correctness, and also
to ascertain what mine cotton
States" are referred to. From him
we learn that the nine States in
-cluded in this preliminary estimate
given Mr.. Price were: North Caro-
line, South Carolina, Georgia, Flor
ida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas,
Louisiana, and Tennessee. The ques-
tion Of Saving the Rural South to
the White Race" seems to be solv-
ING ifea17 Il