New York, Dec. 17.--Andrew Carnegie declared yesterday in a speech on
the negro question that the negroes are a blessing to America, and
that their presence in the South makes this country impregnable and
without need of a navy to defend itself.
"Suppose," said Mr. Carnegie, "Great Britain were to send her war
fleets to America. It would amount to nothing. All that the President
of the United States would have to do would be to say, 'Stop exporting
cotton.' The war would be ended in four days, for England cannot do
without our cotton.
"We don't need a navy; we are impregnable. Because we have 9,000,000
colored men anxious and willing to work we hold this strong position,
and I am interested in the negro from this material standpoint, as
well as from the more humane point of view."