Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-01-19
THE NEGRO IS SOUHH'S
ONLY SALVATION
DR.. Chamberlain Pays His Respects
to the Sjouth--WnrnS Others

While confined in tho Hcnrico Jail,
awaiting trial on tie charge Of MUIR
dcring his brother in Goochland, no
took occasion to write the editor of
the Stratford. Ia, Courier, in which
he warned his fcllow-Iowans against
the South almost as fervcntly as
Dives would have had his brethren
in the earth warned when he walked
up in mo Mans Land"
DR. Chamberlain regretted the day
he came South, 10 told the editor
and asked him to sound note OF
warning His letter was printed on
q copy Of tho Des Moines Register,
which reached Richmond today, and
is as follows
81 promised you when / saw you
last to let you know what discoveries
I had made along tho line Of agrleul-
ture here. After study Of every phase
of conditions here l find that on tho
majority Of farms the only things
necessary arc under drainage to
cause the rainfall to pass through the
ground instead Of flowing or from inc
surface and plenty Of manure-such
as stable manure and clover.
"rhere was grown on my place,
which is an old WORKOUT farm, corn,
onions, potatoes, beans, peas, toma-
toes, as nice as I ever grew III iowa.
But this was not done without plenty
OF manure. Lime seems beneficial to
the soil for tho clovers.
"But the great need, the pressing
need OF the country is civilization OF
the people, especially in the rural al"
tricts.
ROADS BAD.
"In the county Of Goochland ] have
seen but twelve miles OF road that
has the appearance Of ever having
been worked further than to put some
sort of bridges across the streams and
gulleys and there are not one-fourth
enough of even these.
"But, Mr.. 1Gnterprlsiug Northerner,
pray do not make the mistake that
have done, OF coming down here to
improve the conditions here. The
people here are moro or less indolent
and shiftless, resourccless and eX-
tremely jealous, and envious of tho
Northern people, call them d
Yankees and lay to take foul advan-
tages, OF them whilo they work. Many
have tried and cannot find the man
who has been able to stay and pros
per among them. They arc a people
who make little Of improvement. The
county seat OF this county, Goochland.
ahas about fifty inhabitants and the
county was organized when Lafay-
cite was on earth. The courthouse
consists of two rooms, one with n
board floor, the other Is paved with
brick, and no seats in it worthy Of
being called q seat
KISS BIBLE.
I'm tho courts when the oath is
taken they still kiss tho Bible. Each
person taking an oath is required to
do this. Syphilitics kiss it and the
young blooming maiden, If sho need
to take OATH must kiss where he did
and take her chance Of that loath-
some disease.
"And justice-justice here is farce.
Once In prison you must expect al
ways to he q prisoner unless per
chance you are of such a nature they
can make no use OF you. The sheriff
whips prisoners here If they displease
him or II he happens to be drunk and
feels like working out his gall on
some one.
at has not been my lot while here
to have that attempted with me. IF
1t were attempted the editor can
guess what would happen.
"The Negro has practically no
rights here. But he is here and the
only salvation for this part Is to let
him take the country as they breed
very rapidly and are more thrifty
than the whites Of the old breed and
in another fifty years will crowd
them out. Then the Negro will como
to his own rights, but not until then
II will say again. do not make the
mistake of investing in the South
You will rue it If you do.
"They advertise to get you here
and once your money is invested you
are sure to De done unless you are
fortunate enough to shift your bur-
den on other shoulders.
/. "Other papers please copy.
"a. ". CHAMBERLAIN, M. D."