The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-14
AN IlIPRACTICABLE SCHEME
That's What Ex-senator Bruce Calls the
Proposed Negro Exodus to Liberia.
Simple Minded Persons and Sharpers
Who Expect to Profit by It.

Ex-senator B. x. Bruce, of Mississippi, who
is making Indianapolis his headquarters while
filing lecture engagements, was In the city yes
terday, and Was asked by Journal reporter his
views regarding the proposed negro exodus
''Oh.n he replied, 'there is nothing in the So
called negro exodus either to South America or
to any other foreign land. The scheme origi-
mated with two classes-one composed of few
honest, simple minded men without experience
and without the remotest conception of the mag
nitude of the ventu re; the other is composed OF
sharpers who think they see in the proposed
movement an opportunity to advance their per-
sonal fortunes. Some of the latter class, l am
informed. have recently appeared in northern
communities. as agents. soliciting money to carry
forward the work. To encourage such men IS
to put a premium upon fraud. and, in the esti-
nation of the public, will do incalculable injury
to the colored people of the country
'sIn which of the South American countries is
it proposed to settle the colored people~
'Ah! there's the rub. In this they ara like
certain Southern politician. who, some years
ago, while prosecuting his canvass for Governor
OF his State pressed by his opponent to
state specifically whether. in the event of his
election Governor. he would not be q candl-
date for United States Sem .or. In reply. he
said: We'll, propose to take whack at the
whole BUSINESS These mon do not deign to
deal in particulars; they propose to take whack
at the whole continent
.Are the South American governments max
ing any effort to obtain immieration?'
D 'On that point will say that about year
ago prominent official of Venezuela informed
that while his government would welcome
immigration it desired only such would be
sslf-sus, aiming for year guarantee against
the possibility of becoming public charge"
"Do you believe that Che colored ueople will
remain permanently in this country9'
II do. In 1862 Congress appropriated 5000 GOO
for the purpose of sending such of the colored
people as came into our lines to Hayti and to
two other points The scheme failed mis-
erably. Why2 Because they would not go.
The American Colonization Society. Christian
organization, with the view Of ameorating the
condition OF the black people. have been dill
gently laboring for sixty-seven years to send
them to Liberia. but statistics show that there
only Is, 900 Americo-Liberians in Liberia to-
day. The black man is here, and be is here to
stay-fere to contribute his share to the devel-
opm ent of this country and to exercise all the
prer ogatives of American citizenship. The
present unsatisfactory state OF things cannot
long exist. The negro will VOTE and eventually
his vote will be counted.
''Wil their habitat at tho South be perma-
nenIly maintainedP
While the South will. always be the home of
. large majority of this people, great numbers
of them will be distributed throughout
broad land; in fact, there will be in every State
in the Union. and even IN every considerable
center of population representative groupS of
selfsustaining workers and self-respecting citi-
zens. We may we'll abandon, for all,
the impracticable scheme of colonization, and
devote our energies to the work of dlsclpin1ng
and informing them intellectually and morally
that they may be- armed for the battle of life at
home"