The Osceola times., 1878-05-04
ANTIsTRoPE.
cLIMAX.
cATAsTRoPB.
THE NEW LIBERIA MOvEMENT.

THE NEW LIBERIA MOVEAENT.
ssme Account orshe southers Negro sn.
| txrants-Their Plsns sns Assisa.
pations.
As the day for the departure Of the
Libsrian emigrant-ship Azor draws near,
the excitement among the colored pop
ulation of the city, and in fact Of the
entire state, increases. The pier at which
the Azor is lying is crowded from morn
ing until night with men, women and
| children, and the little once of the
Exodus association, in Exchange street,
is made general rendezvous, where the
emigrants and their friends daily congre-
gate and talk over their plans. All
expenses, we are told have been paid up
in full the emigrant roll 10 nearly COM
pleted, and everything seems at last in
readiness for departure. 1t has been
held by some that the prime cause Of
the exodus movement TO Africa through
out South Carolina and most OF the
southern states is due to the political
changes that have taken place for the
last five years throughout the south, and
which eliminated in the triumph OF the
democratic party in South Carolina.
This view, while partly correct, is not
whollyso. Major NJ, r. Delany, q prom.
inent officer of the Exodus association,
and man who has in person explored
the wilds Of Africa, says. that this polit-
ical aspect was given to the movement
not 30 much by the defeat or i'll treatment
from the whites as by the apprehension
ON the part Of the blacks that they could
not live in subordinate position where
for ten years they held the reins of gov.
eminent. The colored churches did not
at the outset favor the movement, but
rather opposed it. They were afraid
that the movement would break up their
organization and lessen their support,
and they were fearful that it would bs
the means of taxing away from them
their most intelligent members and leave
the church without suitable leaders.
The movement, however, went on in
creasing daily without the aid Of the
churches, until it had attained such pro.
portions that the churches, in self.
defense, were drawn into it, and were
compelled not only to countenance it,
but to throw all their influence in Its
favor. Rev. r. II. Cain, congressman
de fdcto from the second congressional dis
trict, soon caught the .pirit. and in his
paper, the Missionary Record, kept q
standing editorial headed, "Ho for Africa
One million men wanted for Africa!"
This was for months Kept before the
public, and was scattered broadcast
throughout the southern states. Subse.
quently, every church in this city, and
many throughout the state, Joined in the
cry, and daily and nightly meetings were
held for the advancement Of the cause
1t was at this time that the political
aspect of the movement began to fade
away, and to be supplemented by the
religious phase which has now grown
into an enthusiasm very like fanaticism.
1t is claimed by those who have given
the subject the closest study, that at
least all the surplus colored population
of the southern states will eventually
emigra.e to Africa under the impulse OF
the present movement. Already large
association has been established at New
Orleans, and others will be established
in all the southern seaport cities The
number of persons who will no emigrate
is estimated at about one million men,
women and children One hundred
thousand of these are expected to go
from South Carolina. In this connec.
ton Major Delany says: The colored
people ere fast drawing To the conclusion
that the tide OF white labor is setting
southwark, and that it will not be many
years before white men will be perfsrm.
ing much OF the labor which they are
now dependent upon for their support"
Letters are pouring in from all parts OF
the country asking for advice, for
descriptions of the country, and all
papers containing accounts of the Anglo,
American explorations in Africa are
seized upon and devou ed by the colored
people with great avidity. The objective
point of the party is settlement called
Bopora, situated about sixty or seventy
miles northeast of Monrovis, the capital
Of the LibeEian republic. The party
upon their arrival at Monrovia, will be
received by the Llberian authorities and
the agent of the American emigration
society at that city II is their pur-
pose, without delay, to proceed up the
st. Paul river to Bopors, where there is
a settlement founded by Saul Hill, a
colored man from Charleston, who left
here In the Golconda in 1856. He left
it is said, with no means and a very
short supply of provisions. Being an
industrious man and capable farmer
he cleared tract of land and went to
work. Letters have been received from
him recently by the Exodus association
here, in which he states that he is the
owner of fine plantation, the annual
income from which ia not less than three
thousand dollars. He is also possessed
Of a large coffee grove OF nine thousand
trees, aud expects to increase it to fifteen
thousand trees during the next season.
The people in his settlement are doing
well, and he has acquired so much in
fiueDce among the natives that, without
being chief or au fficer Of any kind,
they call the place Saul HilPs Half
Town" The Exodus association, socr
after their organization. sent in a petit.
tiop for a grant OF land to the Liberian
congress. This petition has been granted.
Each head of family will be entitled to
a free grant Of twenty-five scres, with
the privilege of occupying as much more
as he please at fifty cents an acre. The
emigrants will leave here under the
guidanc, of George Curtis, one of the
originsiors of the movement; samuel
Gailisrd, ex-senator fiom Charleston