The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-09-06
African Colonization.

On last Sunday evening at Trinity
Church Lecture Room, Rev. J. II. Wilson,
agent for the American Colonization So
ciety, delivered an interesting and instruc-
| tive address on the subject of Africa and
its Resources. After showing the origin
of the Colonization Society, in 1916, and
its success in planting the Republic OF III
IBERIA on the Western coast OF Africa, he
gave graphic and interesting description
of the dark continent. Africa contains
an extent of territory three times as large
as that of Europe, as large as the United
States and it's Territories, leaving out
| Alaska, with resources i'll natural wealth.
and its lakes and rivers unparalleled III the
world. The diamond fields have been the
source of immensesprolit to the English.
and iron ores, some Of them yielding "a
per cent. of metallic iron, have not their
| equal on the globe ; the soil IS as rich ana
productive as the delta of the Nile, ana
capable of the highest and most profitable
cultivation. and all the vast country, with
its wonderful capabilities for development
and the enlargement of the theatre OF
commerce is occupied by only 2,Ooo, 600 ma
tives, ignorant and superstitlous, and M
capable. in their present state of civiliza-
ton, to avail Of the marvellous advantages
| the country offers.
Africa is not only an inviting field for
moral and intellectual development. That
continent has history, although not lit
erature. unless itisrescued from the hero
glyphics other shafts and pyramids. which
show degree of attainments mart and
civilization not represented by the present
population. But that the natives are
capable of comparatively high state OF
is sufficiently exemplified in
the successful establishment of the Re-
lpublic of liberia. With butt handful OF
lcolonists from America, the Republic was
formed over half century ago, and now
| it has progressed to million strong. with
their institutions modelled after those OF
America, and the schools and churches.
sieing with those Of more advanced COM
munities. hepopulation of the Repub-
lie is mostly natives converted to chris
tianity through the agencies set on foot
! ly the American Colonization Society,"
The wealth, the intelligence, the general
prosperity of the Republic show how
much the African is underestimated and
what advancement he is capable OF in the
arts, in science, in letters and all the higher
attachments of civilization. What thesfu-
ture of this country of undeveloped wealth
and natural attractions is to be, cannot be
foretold. The discoveries of Livingstone
and Stanley and the representatives OF the
French and German and italian Govern
ments, seem TO be opening the way for
| Christian activities and moral forces,
which may lift that benighted country out
of it's darkness and superstition, and make
it the theatre of other Republics than Ii
IBERIA, governed and ruled in the interest
of humanity and christian civilization by
people of their own race, invited from this
country to this great missionary field that
lies before them, needing their energies
and efforts to consummate a destiny, now
hidden in mystery. but shaping in the
councils of Him who rules the Universe.
The receding tide that carries from the
West the descendants Of the high priests
and the prophets to re-possess the Holy
Land, may direct the footsteps OF the
American African, raised under christian
dispensaton, to rescue his own country
from barbarism, and make it the seat OF
the virtues and attachments that pertain
to enlightened christian nations. Certain
| ly Africa is an inviting field for the mis-
! sionary, both white and black-full OF
promise and hope, and inspiring the most
ardent ambition of the American African
to join in the great work of aiding that
! benighted country.
Rev. J. III. Wilson is earnestly engaged
| in this important mission, and we sincere
| ly hope his health may be preserved, that
he may more generally disseminate the
large fund of information he has gathered
| by his patient research, bearing on this
important and vital subject.