Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-16

and was as much the common law of
Africa as freedom is the common law Of
this country. 1t existed there as it had
never existed here, and with much more
cruelty and despOtisEn. And slavery will
exist there until the negro himself solves
the question. No one was more capable or
settling the question than the Afro-Ameri-
can, said Senator Morgan, and he believed
that the man who would free Africa would
be the American negro and his descendants.
Cramped Here.
Ten years ago, said Senator Morgan, he
had introduced a resolution In the Sem
ate. which, being adopted. had opened up
the Congo Free State to the world. Now.
practically all the nations of the earth
were interested in 1t. and they had de-
ciared that education and commerce
should develop and protect the millions of
natives found there. 1t had since been
being constructed. He would say let the
negro go there, and when he did he would
do more for the country and it's people
than the white man could ever hope to
do. In America, no matter how rich and
cultured the negro might become. he would
never be given the social equality of the
white man. Tie negro could never hope
to grow to the full stature of manhood
here. for God never intended that he Shollu
outside Of his own country. In Africa,
however. he would not only become the
equal of the white man, but would exceed
him. Why, asked the Senator are the
people of the District of Columbia content
to do without suffrage, and be governed
without word to say in that government?
1t was because they found themselves IN
the presence of strange. untried element
which they were afraid to trust with the
right of suffrage.
His Plan.
Senator Morgan said that he would suS-
gest to the society that it secure a strong
act of incorporation frcm Congress, then
build ships like the tramp ships built by
Lloyds, which pay big dividends. put the
stock in the hands of negroes alone, man
them with negroes, ard then run them
from New Orleans, Charleston and New
York, direct to Liberia. He would guar
antee to secure treaties with That country
and the Congo Free State which would al
low the steamers to enter the poi rs of those
countries free, and in that way not only
an enormous traffic would be established.
but it would be the means OF transferring
the millions OF negroes here TO Africa,
where they would advance and thrive as
they could nowhere else. lie, for one,
would hate to have them go from here,
for he esteemed the negro, and the negro
was his friend. Their departure, toe, would
create a decrease in the population OF THIS
country, but in their place lie wound bri.S :
that nation here, which, since the year l1l,
had never allowed the fires On the altar
of Christianity to die cut, the prosecuted
ArmeniaDS.
Then, in conclusion, Senator Morgan pic
tured the passing Of two great prOcesSionS
across the broad Atlantic, with waving
banners and shouts of praise and Joy-the
negroes of America making their way to
their native land and the five millions OF
Armenrans making their way to freedom.
At the conclusion of Senator MOI gan
address, which was enthusiastically re-
ceived, a vote of thanks was rendered ham
by a rising vote, and the pastor of the
church. the Rev. DR.. Sunderland, Was also
remembered. The people of the District
were thanked, too, for their attendance and
interest in the society.
Afternoon Session.
At a meeting of the society held in the
afternoon Bishop Potter. the president.
presided, delegates being present from New
York. Philadelphia and Baltimore. After
much routine business had been transacted
the officers of the society were reelected,
the executive committee being as follows:
Rev. Byron Sunderland, Rev. Addison,
Judge Charles C.. Mott, Mr.. Reginald Fen
dali, Prof. Huntington, DR.. w. w. GoddinS
and Mr.. j. Ormond Wilson.