St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-17

when asked if this sorrowful news
does not lessen the force of their
zeal, answer that it rather increases it.
1t is q case of Daniel in the lions den.
but Daniel has forgotten that the days
are past when all ignorant people were
given a direct divine interference. In
1915 about forty American negroes were
taken to Sierra Leone by wealthy fell
low co1ntryman, and the next year an
American society was formed for set
Ting emancipated slaves on the African
seaboard, whence their ancestors had
been taken. After the first difficulties
were surmounted, the colony gradually
expanded, the society surrendered Its
claims, and the revolutionary year,
l84S, saw the birth of new republic on
African soil. AS now limited the terri
tory of Liberia is somewhat regular
quadrilateral stretching $50 miles along
the coast, with an average breadth OF
$50 miles. The seaboard is intersected
by numerous streams, and during the
periodical floods nearly all the low
country between the first line of hills
and the coast dunes is submerged.
There are very fertile plateaus between
the rivers. and, according to Anderson,
potatoes grow here which weigh from
eight to ten pounds. The Land OF
Liberty has not yet fulfilled
all the promises of its founders, but the
very existence of a society consisting
exclusively of the children of slaves and
freedmen in a region where the SlaverS
collected their captives is a fact of SUI
preme and significant importance. They
represent European culture in speech,
language and usages, and the benefits
of civilization are given not only to the
inhabitants of Liberia, but extend over
the large area officially protected by
them in virtue of treaties concluded
with the natives.
Mans intelligence and reason make
it possible form to live in all climates to
an old age, if he will but use them, but
people go to Africa who think that shell
ter and fire will be provided mir acu-
lousy. 1t is true that Old Sol beats
fiercely down, but there are times. even
in that country, when lucifer match
is means of grace. The fever is in
evltable, and must be provided against.
The Baptists on the Congo are doing
this successfully by sending their mis-
sionaries home when the first touch of
fever comes. Bishop William Tay-
lor, of the Methodist church, by
restless travelling, eating Quinine as
though it was food, and learning from
the Africans how to live in Africa. has
passed seven years in this work. Some
have been there twenty or thirty years,
and still have strong constitutions, but
there are returned missionaries in this
city who spent but two years and have
ineradicable marks of the awful fever.
1t seems pitiful; but, more than that.
it is wrong that one should choose
fyin vuhocn diotonOo G.
ured by knowledge and civilization, is
greater than that of the mission fields
of India and South Africa. We would
not admire man for flying in the face
of Providence" doing what he knew
would inevitably shorten his life, in
busy, money-getting America; yet,
without thought of his special ism. }"
wishing only to bear the blessing of
Christian religion to heather people,
he gives up his life on the altar of re-
IigiouS enthusiasm. At large meeting
year or two ago in New York, just be-
fore band of missionaries sailed, one
good brother prayed thus for another
who had been compelled to leave
his mission: ooh, Lord, may
Brother -- find grace to go back to
Africa; may he find his grave there" Is
there not some way to civiliZe the chill
dren of Ham other than giving up the
hope of America, her Christian young
men and women?
Does not the solution of the problem
lie chiefly with those who are fellow
countrymen? The Southern negro can
find no loftier ambition than to raise
from degradation his African brother.
Those who have the tightening of this
darkness at heart are seeing this. Ma
tives are being educated in this coun-
try and schools, as we'll as churches, lift
their spires skyward. In this, as in all
great reforms, the way to civilize is to
educate.