Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-01-24
NEGRO MIGRATION.

DaInd anu IeOISld Ids ColflilSeu
me that the boil weevil conditions
have been exaggerated greatly. The
migration of the negro to the North
is doing more harm to the Southern
white farmer and the South at large
than the boil weevil can ever do.
This state of affairs is caused by
negro leaders of that type who ex-
cite the laboring class of negroes +"
that pitch where they see no other
means of adjusting matters than
by leaving the farms.
That this is the worst thing they
can do is indisputable, > for they
are causing quite loss to the white
land owners who have befriende
them and protected them ever since
freedom. They turned at once t.
the Southern white man for start
in life, and now that he has for
these many years given them the
means of a livelihood, at the time
when in turn he depended upon the
negro labor, they migrate to the
North. / fear my people have no
idea of the meaning of the word
gratitude"
The negro, as mass, has no
business in the North. His place
is in the South, on the farm. He
was born and reared in the South,
and is adapted to its climate, and
not that of the North. Note the
numbers who go North yearly and
contract tuberculosis, return South
penniless, and prove burden to the
community.
am glad to note that this unres.
and discomfort has not to such an
extent reached South Carolina: and
hope never to see that day when
the people of whom I form a part
can be so unappreciative.
I deeply regret the passing of the
old black nanny and her teachings
Let your minds revert to the days OF
the war when the father and son
left home. With whom did they
leave their mothers, wives and Sis
ters? With the old black slave, be-
cause they knew he could be trust
ed. They had no idea that ole
"Jim" would migrate or desert his
post.
With all of the present day in
telligence, the features of gratitude
and stability have been omitted, anc
this accounts for the differences ano
impatience which arise.
AS people, we must learn pa
tience, call things come to him who
waits" We must learn also tina:
nowhere, be it North, South, East
or West, can we find all things jus'
as we would desire them.
My advice to my people is, sta!
where you are making yourselve:
honest, industrious and trustworthy
men, and whatever your hands fnc
to do, do it right. No man can ex
pect more than right of you.
Were l seeking a motto for yor
1 could find no better words thar
these, "Stay on the farm boys"
! You cannot change conditions b!
. fussing, fuming, fighting, or running
But you can bring about congenia
relations by patience and forbear
ance. In the old slave days there
were no negro problems. For the
negro knew his place. and stayed
there.
4 Methinks 1 had rather trust The
advice of some of the old ex-slave:
in regard to the so-called problems
than to abide by the advice of some
of our so-called negro leaders. Note
the word some, l say some for they
are only in the minority; the ma
jority of our leaders are sane anc
are discouraging this unfortunate
movement among the laborinG
classes.
This old Southland, with its broac
fertile acres, offers home and
living for yourself and children
Why go to northern cline to try
it? Just to be called "Mister?"
Perhaps yours will share the lo'
of the old darky who, selling out
went North to get honor and glory
and amass riches. All went we'll a.
long as the coins which his littls
farm brought jingled in his pockets
but one day found them empty ane
penniless. Without work. and hun
cry, the old man went from mansion
to mansion, always ringing the front
door hell flor was he not i'm thf