The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-21
rHN NEGRO QUESTION,

esting aud critical views upon the
futureof his race, Said he;
$50 much has been said concerning
the negro problem lately that most poo,
Pile have doubtless commenced to think
1t about time TO spare the public on this
subject, and certainly should not pre-
sumo to lift my feeble voice after so
much has been said concerning the des.
tiny oil the negro, but for the TACT that a
very prominent Colored divine has late
ly written and published an article in
which he strongly recommends emigra-
ton to Africa, and declares it to be the
only proper solution Of the negro prob
lem,
Bishop II. NJ. Turner, OF the A. NJ,
d. church, one Of the most prominent
colored men in this country, agrees
with ex-senator John ]. Ingalls,, that
the Colored citizens OF tho United States
should emigrate to Africa, and that the
government OF this country should APP
proprlate money to enable them to 20
there, In regard to the attitude OF ex'
Senator Ingalla toward the negro, We
have been unable TO conclude whether
he is our best friend or our most bitter
enemy, We have reached the conclu'
sion, however, that he Ia an utter
stranger TO stability, and for consist
ency no seems to manifest most con-
temptuous disregard,
In the early part Of 1890, bill was
introduced in tho United States senate,
by Senator Butler, OF South Carolina,
appropriating 100000 for tho purpose
OF defraying the expenses OF transport
tation OF as many Afro'Amertcan cttt-
zens as might desire to emigrate to
Africa.
sit was my privilege and pleasure to
listen to Mr.. ingalls,, who was then
United States senator, speak for two
hours against this bill. During the
course OF his argument he ridiculed, in
his most sarcastic and Ironical manner,
the idea OF negro emigration. That
was only three years ago. lie then
scoffed at the idea OF negro emigration
and now he advises tho government to
derort the negro, but he was senator
then. 1t 10 probably difference be.
tween the ins and outs. 1t is about as
oasy to define Mr.. ingalls, attitude to
the negro as 1t is to follow the wander
ings OF conaet through the boundIeSs
realms OF space.
II think We may ask three questions
in disposinG OF tho proposition OF
Bishop Turner. First, Does the negro
desire to emigrate to African Second,
II he should desire to emigrate to
Africa, would it be advisable for him to
do so? Third, Has the government the
power or authority under the constitu'
ton to appropriate money to transport
him?
I'm regard to the first question.
When Abraham Lincoln emancipated
100000 slaves about thirty years ago
their condition was about as abject,
their misery as great, their degradation
as complete rs any people that ever
walked the face of tho earth. Set al
liberty with nothing but their two
hands, very few OF them knew their
alphabet and none Of them was edu'
Gated, the universal cry went up, What
will the negro dor He has passed
through many vicissitudes during the
thirty years OF his freedom. BY edu'
eating himself, acquiring wealth, adopt
ing the principles OF morality, following
the precepts OF Christianity, and rear
ing his offspring in the fear OF God aud
in the love of everything good and holy
he is working out his own destiny, and
ali he asks is to be lot alone.
"The Anglo-Saxon may dislike 1t, but
he is forced to admit that no other race
OF people, in so short time, and under
similar CircumstanCes, has accom-
plished so much.
Disseminated against perpetuaily
his advancement contested ut every
stop, ridiculed, misrepresented and Wilt
fed, denied admission to the various
trades unions OF the country, mobbed
and lynched in the most cruel and In
human manner, yet by patience, perse
verance and long suffering he is rising
above it all.
ave are, indeed, remarkable peo
pie, the very type Of industry aud thrift
whose hearts are brave, whose bodies
are accustomed to toll and hardships
whose minds are keen, intelligent and
inspired with Above Of progress, and yot
can no more stop the progress OF thu
negro than you can stop the revolving
earth. America is essentially the homt
of the Afro-American the bodies OF oul
ancestors are buried here; it is the lane
| that gave us birth; 1t is the theater o
all Of our achievements, and these are
some OF the reasons why we do not de
sire to leave this country.
SHOULD the negro desire to emigratt
| to Africa IL would not be advisable fol
him to do so for the reason that thu
American negro can no more endur,
tho climate of Africa than eau the aver
age white man. A stroner argument Ii
this direction could hardly BIO advocated
than that. OF all the ministers sent a
representatives Of this country to tn
republic OF Liberia only two have re
turned alive aud one Of them resigned
nfter having remained there scarcely
year.
"The Congress OF the United State
could not appropriate money for negf
emigration to Africa, because that |
class legislation and therefore uncon
stitutional. All appropriations by tn
federal government must DO for tn
whole body OF the people and not 10
any particular Clhs5. ~ 10 uuv' 10
alleged by Bishop Turner in his recen
article, that tho negro is constantly be
ing denied civil, political and aocia
equality with the whole people OF TIL
country. As a whole the negro does no
desire social equality.
1--WE can find companionship anon
our own people, which is sufficiently
conuenial. There Is an abundance O
intelligence, culture, refinement, dig
nifty, wealth and all OF the element
conducive to happiness right anon