Evening star., 1896-01-21
Meeting of the American Coloniza-
tion Society.
LIGHTING Up THE DARK CONTINENT
Secretary Wilson'S interesting An
nual Report.
THE OFFICERS ELECTED

The American Colonization Society Is In
lnnuaI session this afternoon in the Coloni-
tation building, 45O Pennsylvania avenue
northwest. The meeting was preceded by
meeting of the board of directors, which
was called to order promptly at noon by the
president, Bishop Henry C. Potter of New
York. who then requested Rev. Byron Sun
feriand to lead in prayer. Mr.. Reginald
Fendan Rev. DR.. G. W. Sampson and Mr..
3. W. S. Hall were appointed committee
10 pass on the credentials of delegates from
sister societies. Mr.. ]. Ormond Wilson, the
Decretary of the society, was elected secre-
tary of the meeting
The committee on credentials reported as
follows:
Delegates appointed for the year 1906
Maryland Colonization Society, Mr.. G. w.
B. Hail. Rev. julius c. Grammar, DID,; Mr..
Edward T. Jones and Mr.. George Forbes.
Pennsylvania Colonization Society, Mr.. Ar
thur Burton, Mr.. John Welsh Dulles and
|. Ar. Gilbert Emley. Massachusetts, Coloni-
ration Society, Rev. Daniel d. Addison.
The following directors were in attend
ance at the meeting:
Executive committee-Rev. Byron Sunder-
land, DID,; Rev. The mas G. Addison, d. !;
Mr.. Reginald Fendan, DIR. William w. Cod
ding, Rev. A j. Huntington, DID,; Judge
Charles c. Mott and Mr.. ]. Ormond Wilson
Life directors-The Right Rev. Henry C.
Potter. DID,, of New York, and Rev. George
W. Sampson, DID,, of New York.
On the recommendation of the committee
Rev. G. w: Sampson, D. D., Isaac 7.
Smith and Mr.. George A. Phmpton were
received as a committee to represent the
New York State Society, and invited, as
visitors, 10 take seats with the board.
The chairman announced the appointment
of the following standing committees:
Education and foreign relationship. God
ding. MIR. Forbes and Mr.. Emley.
Accounts and finance-Mr. Hall, DR.. Add
son and Mr.. Wilson.
Auxiliary societies and agencies-Dr
Sampson, Mr.. Dulles and DR.. Sunderland.
Emigration-Mr- Burton, DR.. Grammar
and Prof. Huntington
Credentials-Mr. Fendall, DR.. Sampson
and Mr.. Hall.
a Review of the Work.
The annual report of the operations of
the society was submitted by the secretary,
Mr.. ]. Ormond Wilson, and was an in
teresting exhibit. According to it, the So
ciety has assisted four emigrants to Libe-
ria during the past year, and has definite
Information Of PIT emigrants who have
gone from this country to Liberia during
the past year and wholly paid their own
way. Others have probably gone who have
not been noticed.
Seventy-four years ago the American Col
onization Society sent out it's first party Of
coloniStS. Each year since 1t has sent out
emigrants to Liberia Those reported for
the past year make a total Of 1925, ex-
elusive of 5,722 recaptured Africans, which
United States to settle in Liberia. or a
total Of 22,15O persons whom 1t has as
sisted in finding homes in Liberia.
1.-The future of Liberia" says the report,
"depends, first, upon the education which
she gives to her youth, and, second upon
the character of the immigrants which she
receives, largely from the United States.
This society is profoundly interested in
both, and is endeayoring to aid along both
lines
"The more intelligent class of negroes now
1fcrro inc frarr bf3 frryf TO iha-io
and largely paying their own way, have
had thirty years of freedom, with all the
benehcent training and experience in self
reliance and necesSitated industry which
these years have brought to them; they are
better qualified for the settlement of new
country than were a large majority of
rect from an environment of slavery, and
We may reasonably expect this improve
ment in the character Of emigrants to be
continued in the future.
England, France, Germany, Portugal,
Italy and Spain are engaged in a fierce
scramble for the last square foot of Africa,
not so much for the sake of enlarged do
main and increased political power as for
the unmeasured wealth which all parts of
that great continent holds out to them.
While in the not distant future this will
consist largely in it's immense forests OF
the most useful and valuable woods, just
now the rapid increase in the output OF
gold is especially attracting the attention
frOBreSS.
'"The steamboats, now plying on the great
lakes and all the navigable rivers Of Africa
are numbered by hundreds. and the rail-
roads already in operation, under construc-
tion and projected Indicate Enthusiastically
how rapidly the rich resources of that con-
tinent are to be developed and appro-
priated by intelligent and progressive en-
teESSrise; aSra;.,,n, ,,u o.ou. 80 .u-.,
and TRANSFORMATION all DartS of the
great continent have been well commenced
and are rapidly progressing. Already more
Egyptian line, running up the Nile toward
the south as far as Nubia, and the South
African lines, running toward the north
beyond Pretoria, are destined to meet and
be united, and it may safely be predicted
that within the next generation the Amer
lean tourist will be able to take his palatial
car at Alexandra, in Egypt, in the north
temperate zone, be carried up the Nile to
its source, among the great lakes of the
central plateau, by the grand Victoria
falls of the Zambesi; Johannesburg, hav-
ing the largest and richest gold mines In
the world; Kimberly, with it's matchless
diamond fields. and, after delightful ter
days journey of more than five thousand
miles through the entire length and very
heart of the old continent of Africa, be
landed at Cape Town. in the south tenn
perate zone.
'Seventy-nine years have come and gone
since little company of fifty patriots and
philanthropists met in this capital city and
organized the American Colonization So
ciety. The simple clause of their charter
the colonization, with their own consent
in Africa, Of the free people of color resid-
ing in the United States included a four
fold purpose: First, to do away with slav.
cry in the United States; second, to aid ir
putting an end to the foreign slave trade
third, to establish a place Of refuge fol
slaves recaptured on the high seas else
where, after the foreign slave trade had
been declared piracy, and fourth, to es
tablish an Independent negro nationality IL
Africa, which, in the language of the con
stitution of Liberia, should provide g
home for the dispersed and oppressed
children of Africa, and regenerate and en-.
tighten that benighted continent
The first three of these grand purposes
were already realized when slavery in the
United States was abolished. and it were
an easy task to show the important part
which the society had in the accomplish
ment of each.
Liberia.
The execution Of the fourth purpose
was well commenced In the establishment
OF the independent republic of Liberia
which still holds out a promise Of the ulti
mate achievement of IA bopaicopf y,,1rDo~<