The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-04-14
Negro EmIrrat;on 70 Canada.

the influx into the Canadian northwest
of q few hundreds of American me-
groes seems irrational, inasmuch as a
negro emigration OF formidable
character is apparently so completely
out of the question. The incident is
mainly interesting. from our point of
view, on account of its revelation of
Canadian sentiment, The Toronto
Mail and Empire has taken alarm at
once. Canadians, 1t says fare a
lliberty-loving. tolerant aud sympa-
thetic people THE colored people
Of the United States have the good
wishes OF Canadians in their present
day aspirations toward a higher STAN
dard of living and for larger sphere
OF usefulness" But Canada wants no
negro question. She wants no race
riots" If the influx should continue
lii is clear from the attitude of the
Toronto paper that the Canadian gov
eminent would be subjected TO a
strong pressure 10 put up the mo adj
mittance" sign for all persons of
color or of African stock.
II Canada would take million ne
groes and lei them settle on her
virgin prairie lands ii might be good
thing. Ii is easy to under the Ca
madam attitude of apprehension, for
our neighbors have watched the
American struggle along the color
line for many years, and they have
had the worst phases OF that struggle
especially called TO their attention
Doubtless they exaggerate the possible
difficulties that would be encountered
in their own country in dealing with
a race question OF this character, for
in the far northwest the problem
might be attacked from an entirely
new basis. The Canadians could show
us how TO do things. This is said
utterly without mockery or Jest; IL
is seriously meant While Canadians
and Americans are racially and So
cially homogeneous. they have some
what different background OF history,
and their political institutions present
variations that might have an appre-
ciable effect in the working out Of
this question OF color. Surely. from
our own point Of view, the Canadian
methods and the Canadian results
would be extremely interesting and
doubtless instructive No great civil
war was fought in their country on
account Of the negro; they have had
no reconstruction period to embitter
the later relations between the races:
they have no constitution Ike ours
and states rights do not bother them
at all. In Jamaica the British are
said TO have been exceedingly sue
cessful in dealing with the negro along
certain lines. Assaults by negroes on
white women In that island are I'M
heard Of Not long ago a man wrote
book showing how beautifully these
little matters are worked out there;
and II occurs 70 us that the Canadians
might also make an important contri-
button 10 the ultimate solution OF the
negro problem,
The Canadians have no problems 10
speak Of Why should they not be
generous and helpful. and aid in the
solution Of the most serious one ex-
isting on the North American conti-
nentg Their ancestors. the British
and the French of the 18th and 18th
centuries. helped powerfully In briRg-
ing the African blacks TO the new
world. II Was under British rule that
the negro slave system was estab-
Iished In our southern states In it's
beginnings slavery In America was a
triumph OF British craftsmanship.
Canada now needs settlers; she Is
very eager for them, 70 mech so that
her agents scour our country for I'M
migrants The inducements offered
In the posters, folders and ADVERTISE
menfs scattered throughout our vest
ern states are very tempting. and II
they catch Up few thousands Or
American negro farmers with energy
and money enough 70 make the long
journey 10 Winnipeg. Why Il Il neces-
sary 10 turn them back We may al
least express the hope that the Ca
nadlans viii not assume a hostile at
iitude toward this particular phase Of
the white mans burden" knocking az
their own door.
Il Is very possible however. that
IN case the eedus 10 Canada should
assume large proportions the south
Itself would seriously object on ac-
count Of the impairment OF the i'm
pairment Of its labor supply. When
ever the question OF negro emigra-
ton 70 Liberia. or any hegira from
out 0 fthe south on a great scale has
been considered. this aspect Of the
situation has been forced upon one.
The south would not let It's negroes
20 because their labor is al the
foundation of the southern cotton
crop and. II general. of the southern
Industrial system. II the Canadian
government should begin a cam
paign 70 induce hundreds Of thOus.
ands Of negroes 20 settle in the Ca
madam northwest. our government
might have 70 make diplomatic rep
RESERVATIONS 20 the British ambassa-
dor ad the ministers IT Ottowa IN
order 70 secure assurances satisfac-
tory 70 our southern senators that
Canada was not trying 20 ruin
southern industry and agriculture.
For this reason, II for no other.
the most spprehcnsiye Canadian
may be entirely 81 ease concerning
Afhn hIark tpritf which haa h,ao ~