San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-05-13
sTANLEY's GREAT SCHEME.

| uldl!On Ill africa, called All Appod
| to Pharaoh In a letter to the New
York Publishing House, from which
the book issues, Stanley enters int
the question of the possibilities of the
Congo country as home for the col
ored millions of America, in case such
an exodus should take place, and
warmly advocates it. He suggests an
edition of 100000 copies of the
work distributed over the United
States systematically and this tC
be followed by speakers in all
the large cities, to plead with the
masses to take the thing to
heart and with the rich men to give q
few millions to start an enterprise
which in few years would, in Stan
ley's opinion, see revived one of those
wonderful migrations which in
former centuries peopled all Asia,
Europe, Africa and America" 1t is
the vast area of productive territory
in the Congo country and its agri-
cultural possibilities as set forth by
the great African explorer that chal-
in one section of the upper Congo
basin double the entire negro popula-
ton of the United States would be
maintained without disturbing a
single aboriginee. This section, en-
bracing 224,0OO,O acres of umbrag-
eous forest is most fertile. For every
one of the 100000 colored peo-
pie in this country this would
afford thirty-twO acres each,
which divided among the heads of
families and unmarried adults would
give each landholGer a snug farm.
Stanley affirms that five acres is
ample to subsist each individual on,
and this would leave them twenty
seven acres each for raising rub Der,
gums and dye stuff5 tor sale. He
says there are abundant streams, rain
over one-third of the days in each
year, climate healthy and tempera-
ture equable, and scenery diversified.
The land would produce everything
from oranges, guavas, sugar cane and
cotton of sub-tropical lands to the
wheat and rice of more temperate eli
mates. The great-hearted explorer
does not believe that his dream could
be realized owing to the seIfishness Of
the American men of wealth, more
ready to deck their wives with dia-
monds than to busy themselves with
national questions of such import as
removing the barrier between the
north and the south"
This Utopian dream of Mr.. Stan
ley does not consider the question OF
transportation, and fails to realize
the practical difficulties in the way
of its accomplishment. The mere
matter Of spOrtatiOn alone would
tap the resources of the carrying COM
panies for a quarter OF a century, and
no sane man can expect a complete
deportation of the colored people of
this country. 1t does not follow,
however, that the measures SO en-
Enthusiastically advocated by Stanley
would not be wise in so far
as they are practicable, and
they are practicable within reason
able limits. There is no doubt that
the successful planting of an Ameri-
cO-African colony in the Congo district
would DO a very fortunate thing for
the cOlOnists themselves, for their
brethren who remain in America
and for this country at large,
provided Stanley's presentation of
the agricultural and climatic advant-
ages of that region are verified. There
is no doubt either that out of sue
cessful issue to such an experiment
would grow increased immigrat ton
and multiplied colonies whose very
existence would be beneficial in a
three-fold way. 1t would benefit the
actual colonists, giving them social
privileges of their own creation, and
all the advantages of lords of the
soil, relieving them from the depend
ent and inferior position to which in
this country they are exposed. 1t
would benefit those who remain by
opening to them a wider field of op-
erations here, and offering to them in
the future, if so minded, a home