The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-22
AS VIEWED BY PETERS
An African Explorer Takes a Snap
Shot at the United States.
He Doesn't Like Chicago and Thinks
American Negroes Are Insolent
and Unbearable Persons.

NEW YORK, Oct. 21-Dr. Carl Peters.
imperial commissioner of German East
Africa, talked to a reporter last night 1.-THE
American people," he said, looking intently
at the tips of his finger nails. You are not
yet nation. You are mixture of differ
ent peoples. The cities" he continued. lift
ing his eyes. New York is pretty. The
hotels are comfort itself Boston is an old
English town. Chicago"
What of Chicago?' interposed the re-
porter
Chicago" he said, with the air of a cor
poral reprimanding awkward squad sis
not yet a city. 1t is American-how do
you say an American upshoot. The build
ings are too tall. The people there are
children. When one man has tall build
ing his neighbor wants one higher 1t is
good place for halt of two days, but no
longer
What do you think of the fair?" asked
the reporter.
1.-The exhibition is interesting" he said.
1.-The buildings have a grand effect, but
they are a sham and they are falling to
pieces. 1 was a commissioner to the eth
nology congress. 1 did not lose much time
there"
The reporter asked why. DR.. Peters re-
Taxed the strain OF his body little ana
prefer to read the papers from which they
are read. 1 do not like to see pots L
prefer to see the natives who make them
or carry them on their heads 10 springs
and fountains. L saw human beings at the
Midway Playson, or, as they call IL there,
'Playsons, and only pots at the congress.
"a telegram from Berlin said that you
regarded America as between Africa and
Europe in civilization" the reporter e said;
II did not mean" he replied, lifting his
hand at present saber, that the Americans
were less civilized than the Europeans.
Your barbarians are Europeans. 1t was
a letter to a friend. l may have miSled
him by my phrase, which hurried.
meant that there were parts or America
which were wilderness and others which
were like Europe. But your negroes
What Of our negroes?' asked the re-
porter . .,o could
this country make such blunder as TO
grant citizenship to them? L suppose that
having granted THIS citizenship. you can
not take it back. You may make an edu-
to pass examination. What a terrible mis-
take for so intelligent country to have
made"
The reporter asked why, meekly.
Because" he said. advancing in three
steps to the reporters chair and placing
his right hand over his left hand at parade
rest, "the negro is of an inferior race, and
the American negro Is a very low Congo
negro. 1 do not think he can ever be
otherwise
The reporter asked what was the Doc
tors scientific opinion,
Il do not mean,' he replied, that he
cannot become intellectual L know ethno-
logically that he is morally inferior He
will always lie and steal; he will always
lack conscience" Here his Imperial Males
tvs commissioner to East Africa became
enthusiastic. Il know in Africa" he con-
tinued. " tribes that are naughty, tribes
that are martial. They are far above the
negro tribes that are here, and yet they
are thieves and liars.
Possibly" the reporter suggested, your
European invasions would not be resented
by them otherwise"
''They are a thousand to one of u.s." he
replied. II saw only one negro in Africa
who approached fairness in sentiment He
was the king Of tribe. He was intelli-
gent, and 1 might have counted on his
word. But the rest"
perhaps you are judging the American
negro by his African ancestors" the re-
porter insinuated.
There is evolution" he replied with
his feet and arms at attention, his little
finger touching the seam of his blue-striped
trousers. Il have seen the negroes here.
They are ignorant. insolent and unbear-
able l have travelled. but 1 have never
seen sleeping-car porters insolent as
those who have served me here"