s, frugal, saving, diligent in labor, and laborious
in study, there is another law that will quietly and peaceably,
without a social or political shock, restore him to his normal
relations in politics. He will be able to build his governments on a
solid foundation, with the tempered mortar of experience and
knowledge. This is inevitable. The Negro will return to politics in
the South when he is qualified to govern; will return to stay. He will
be respected, courted and protected then. Then as a tax-payer, as well
as a tax-gatherer, reading his own ballot, and choosing his own
candidates, he will be equal to all the exigencies of American
citizenship.

FOOTNOTES:

[133] Cincinnati Commercial, Aug. 1, 1878.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE EXODUS--CAUSE AND EFFECT.

THE NEGROES OF THE SOUTH DELIGHT IN THEIR HOME SO LONG AS IT IS
POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO REMAIN.--THE POLICY OF ABRIDGING THEIR
RIGHTS DESTRUCTIVE TO THEIR USEFULNESS AS MEMBERS OF
SOCIETY.--POLITICAL INTIMIDATION, MURDER, AND OUTRAGE DISTURB THE
NEGROES.--THE PLANTATION CREDIT SYSTEM THE CRIME OF THE
CENTURY.--THE EXODUS NOT INSPIRED BY POLITICIANS, BUT THE NATURAL
OUTCOME OF THE BARBAROUS TREATMENT BESTOWED UPON THE NEGROES BY
THE WHITES.--THE UNPRECEDENTED SUFFERINGS OF 60,000 NEGROES
FLEEING FROM SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC OPPRESSION.--THEIR PATIENT,
CHRISTIAN ENDURANCE.--THEIR INDUSTRY, MORALS, AND FRUGALITY.--THE
CORRESPONDENT OF THE "CHICAGO INTER-OCEAN" SENDS INFORMATION TO
SENATOR VOORHEES RESPECTING THE REFUGEES IN KANSAS.--THE POSITION
OF GOV. ST. JOHN AND THE FAITHFUL LABORS OF MRS. COMSTOCK.--THE
RESULTS OF THE EXODUS BENEFICENT.--THE SOUTH MUST TREAT THE NEGRO
BETTER OR LOSE HIS LABOR.

The exodus of the Negroes from Southern States forms one of the most
interesting pages of the almost romantic history of the race. It
required more than ordinary causes to drive the Negro from his home in
the sunny South to a different climate and strange country. It was no
caprice of his nature, nor even a nomadic feeling. During the entire
period of the existence of the Republican governments at the South the
Negroes remained there in a state of blissful contentment. And even
after the fall of those governments they continued in a state of quiet
industry. But there followed the decline of those governments a policy
as hurtful to the South as it was cruel to the Negroes.

During the early ye