result will repay the South, and consequently the whole country, many times over, for the loss of slave-property, the cost of the removal and colonization of the freedman, and for every loss occasioned by his absence? *

*MACON, GA., February 2.-The contrast between the cotton and grain belts of Georgia was never more marked than it is today. A compilation of trade statistics, which has just been made for business purposes, shows that in every town located in North Georgia important enterprises involving the expenditure of large sums of money are under way. In Cartersville, for instance, $750,000 has been invested within the last few months. Griffin shows recent investments of about $1,200,000. In Rome the scenes remind one of a Western city in the hands of boomers. Tallapoosa is also making a good display in the development of her mineral capabilities. What is true of these cities is also true of Carrollton, Newnan, Gainesville, Madison, and of all of the towns north of a line drawn from Columbus to Augusta.

South of that line stagnation reigns. But two points—Americus and Albany-show any evidence of progress. The merchants are engaged in the same old trade of dealing out provisions and guano on long time, and the principal occupation of the planters is the signing of liens against next year's crop. The same old cabins which have done duty ever since the war, grown old and leaky, will have to perform the same service for the next twenty years.

Bad as is the condition of the planter, that of the colored tenant is worse. The merchant belongs to his factor in the West or East, the planter belongs to the merchant, and the tenant belongs to all at once. When the merchant is squeezed he seeks relief by pushing the planter, who in turn tries to unload it all on the tenThe evil is in the system; the system seems to be an unavoidable part of cotton planting, and a community which depends upon that product must bow in slavery to the holder of the purse. In North Georgia a different system prevails, and just in proportion as it differs the community is successful. Small farms and

ant.

diversified industries are the rule and not the exception. There are more home owners who owe allegiance to no landlord. There is among them a spirit of marked independence instead of the helplessness which rules in South Georgia. To add to all these advantages, the mechanic arts and handicrafts are encouraged. There is not a town but prides itself upon shop or factory. The result is a home market, as well as a ready distribution of money, which goes in exchange between producer and consumer.”—Correspondence of the New York Times, Feb. 3, 1889.

XI.

WILL HE Go?

THE writer has no desire to prolong the task which he imposed on himself in discussing the problem which forms the subject of this volume, and for the discharge of which he lays claim to no especial fitness. Certain minor phases of the general question suggest themselves, however, in reflecting on the scheme that has been proposed for relief from our troubled condition, or any scheme of substantially like character, and these require to be frankly, if briefly, considered. A more careful discussion of the subjects presented will not be required unless the proposed movement shall meet with a measure of favor which is not yet assured to it.

There is the possibility, of course, that the negroes will not take kindly to any plan for their removal which may be adopted or proposed. It is well nigh inconceivable, however, that any considerable number of their race would refuse to emigrate, if the means were provided for their going and for their maintenance in the colony for a reasonable time after arriving there. If common report be true, they are restless and dissatisfied everywhere, except as to the few who have

accumulated a little property and made homes for themselves. With the inducements proposed herein to be held out to them it is highly probable that the only difficulty would be in rejecting many who would desire to be among the foremost to leave. Even without such inducements there was recently a widespread movement on foot among their leaders to promote emigration to South America, and every proposition looking to any change of residence throws the masses of the race into a fever of hopeful excitement. A few news-paragraphs concerning this movement will be pertinent here, and will give a fair idea of its extent and importance:

TOPEKA, KAN., January 27, 1888.-The movement for the colonization of colored people in South America is attracting attention all over the country, particularly in the States of Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, from which most of the colonists will be drawn. The movement has been in progress for three years, but conducted secretly, and the facts have only been given to the public within the past few days, while the organization has been assuming shape. A charter has been obtained from the Secretary of State of Kansas, under the corporate title of "The South and Central American Immigration League of the United States of America." Those identified with the league are prominent and wealthy colored men of Kansas, and a number of leading colored men of the Southern States, whose names have not yet been made public on account of the embarrassment and intimidation to which they would be subjected in the South. Among the Topeka representatives in the scheme are John M. Brown of the State auditor's office, and formerly a sheriff in Mississippi,

from which State he was driven for political reasons; S. W. Winn of the banking house of John D. Knox & Co.; the Rev. B. F. Watson, pastor of one of the colored churches in this city; William Harris, William Anderson, S. G. Watkins, J. P. Berry, Philip Pickett, William Freeman, and others well known.

The capital stock of the Association is placed at $2,000,000, of which $80,000 has already been put up or pledged to the cause. Mr. Freeman, mentioned above, is worth $70,000, and others named are well-to-do, and all say they will expend every dollar of their means for the cause. The directors of the company met here to-night and elected the following officers: President, John M. Brown: Secretary, S. W. Winn, and Treasurer, James P. Berry. There are 80,000 colored people in Kansas, about 7000 of whom reside in Topeka. They are all enthusiastic in the new movement, and while it is not intended directly to embrace the colored population North, a great many colored men announce a determination to join the march. Letters are being received by every mail from all parts of the South, making inquiry in regard to the proposed exodus, and from various localities in the North, showing that these people have laid their plans well, and propose to carry out their purpose of bringing the colored man out of the South and causing the abandonment of many a plantation. . . . . . . The association has had agents in the Southern States fomenting the scheme, and it is enthusiastically received among the oppressed colored people of that section of country.

Advices are at hand from Mississippi that much enthusiasm exists there and that the colored people are eager for the change. The first efforts will be directed against Mississippi, Lousiana and South Carolina, representatives from these States being especially urgent in behalf of their fellow-citizens. The expression of to-night's meeting was that the colored race desired to leave a land where the oppressor is in a position to rule and make half-slavery worse than the