Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-09
STANLEY ON THE RACE QUESTION.
He Believes that Africa Il the El
Dorado Of the Colored People.

Stanley believes inland Africa Ii capa-
BILE Of sustaining large population and
urges that steps be taken TO colonize it He
| says il the subject were taken hold Of in
| earncst-if speakers in all the large cities
plead with the masses to take the subject to
heart, and rich men subscribed few millions
to start the movement on safe and we'll con-
sidered lines-we should be sure TO see revived
by 1895 one Of those wonderful migrstions Of
humanity which peopled all Asia, Europe,
Africa and America.
In recent letter Mr.. Stanley says: "There
u space enough in one section Of the Upper
Congo basin to locate double the number of
the negroes of the United States without dis
turbiug . single tribe of the aborigines now
inhabiting it refer to the immense Upper
Congo forest country, $50 900 square miles in
extent, which Is three times larger than the
Argentine Republic and one and half times
larger than the entire German empire, en-
bracing 224, 900. 200 acres Of outrageous forest
land, wherein every unit Of the 1000, 600 ne
groes might become the owner Of nearly a
quarter square mile Of land. Five acres Of
this. planted with bananas and plantains,
would furnish every soul with sufficient sub
sistence--fOod and wine. The remaining "a
acres OF bis estate would furnish him with tim
Der, rubber. gums, dye-stuffs for sale. There
are one hundred and fifty days of rain through
"
few hundred yards. In days journey we
have crossed as many thirty-two streams
The climate il healthy and equable, owing to
the imPervious forest which protects the land
from chilly winds and draughts Allmy white
officers passed through the wide area safely.
Eight iiavigable rivers course through it. Hills
and ridges diversity the scenery and give mag
nificent prospects. To those negroes in tile
south accustomed to Arkansas, Mississippi and
Louisiana 1t would be a reminder OF their own
plantations without the swamps and depressn Q
influence OF cypress forests. Anything and
everything might be grown in it, from the
oranges, guavas, sugar cane and cotton of sub
tropical lands to the wheat of California and
rice Of South Carolina. If the emigration was
prudently conceived and carried out, the glow
ing accounts sent home by the first settler
would soon dissipate all fear and reluctance on
the part Of the Others
But it is all a dream. The American capital
lists, like other leaders Of men, are more en-
gagged in decorating their wives with diamonds
than in busying themselves with national oues-
tions OF such import as removing the barrier
between the north and the south The sopen
sore" Of America-the race question--will ever
remain an incurable tester. While we are all
convinced that the Nessus shirt which clings
to the republic has maddened her, and NAV
madden her again, it is quite certain that the
small effort needed to free themselves forever
from it will never be made Meantime the
railway toward the favored land will be con-
structed, steamers will be hoated on the waters
Of the Congo, and the forest-land will be closed
to such emigration by the first come, first
served"