Evening star., 1896-01-21

largely racial characteristics have entered
intoo the history Of every nation that has
ever existed. The negro Is bound to his
race by law of Providence, and all efforts
to ignore that bond spring from selfish.
isolated individualism or ignorance, and
must end in disappointment.
"Of late we have heard much about civil
equality without social equality; but the
civil equality of two distinct races, counted
by millions in the same country without
actual or possible social equality, Ii 1t ever
come, will be an anomaly having no prece-
dent in all history, and there is abundant
evidence on every hand that one generation
of experiment in this country has produced
results far from being satisfactory to eth
er race. Civil equality in it's full reality
must have its foundations far deeper than
legal phrases in constitutions and statutes;
1t rests securely only In the hearts and
public sentiment of homogeneous people.
Possibilities for the Negro.
'In Liberia, with all it's favorable oppor-
tunities and great possibilities, handicapped
by no other dominant race, the negro has
a possibility to demonstrate to the world
that he has the capacity for that human
development which has usually come from
voluntary energy, from self-evolved organ
izations of higher and higher efficiency
from conditions which are principally the
handiwork of man himself and which has
made the peoples and governments of the
world what they are today. Can a wiser
thing be done by the foremost of the race
than to make the most Of this possibility? ?
The republic of Liberia Is now the only
portion of Africa which the negro can call
his own, where he stands erect and bows
to no other race as master. 1t Is true
that it is still little and weak, but in fta
location, climate soil and natural produc-
tions. 1T is conceded by all intelligent OBJ
servers and writer's to be the most eligible
part of the whole west coast of Africa, and
there Is unlimited room for enlarging its
borders as fast as its people and govern
ment prove themselves worthy to occupy,
develoR and rule over more territory.
Without any foreign governmental protec-
tion assistance, it has for a period of
forty-nine years maintained an Independent
government, which, on terms Of equality.
has been fully recognized and dealt with by
the other members of the family of nations,
and in all future wisely directed efforts
which the negro may make to build up a
nationality there in Africa. he will have the
hearty sympathy and support Of other races
and nations
The report and also the report of Mr..
ceiyed with applause and unanimously
adopted, and a recess was then taken in
| order to permit the society to meet.
Officers Elected.
The election of the following officers
was the first business transacted by the
society: President, Right Rev. Henry c.
Potter, DID,; vice presidents, Rev. Robert
Ryland, DID,, James R. Doolittle, Mr.. Sam
uel A. Grocer, Mr.. Robert Arlington, Rev
Bishop R. s. Foster, DID,, Mr.. Samuel K
Wilson, Rev: Samuel E. Appleton. I'D.
Rev. II. NJ. Turner, DID,, LID. Rev. VII
lam E. Schenck, DID,. Richard W. Thomp
son, Rev. Bishop H. w. Warren, DID,, Mr.
Henry Gs Marquand, Rev. George D. Board
| man, DID,, Rev. Bishop E. G. Andrews
DID,, Professor E. W. Blyden, LID, Alex
ander B. Hagner, Rev. J. Aspinwall Hodge
ID, Mr.: Arthur NJ. Burton, Rev. Leighton
| Parks. Rev. Edward w. Appleton, ID.
Rev. William A. Bartlett, DID,, Mr.. Osmur
Latrobe, ]. C. Bancroft Davis, Rt Rev
| Thos. u. Dudley, DID,, John T. Morgan
Mr.. Robert B. Davidson AMI Mr. Isaac T
Smith.
John Scott, Rev. Lucius c. Grammar
Rev. Henry Y. satterlee. Rev. Wallace
Radcliffe, Bishop James A. Handy, Judge
William H. Arnoux, Mr.. George A. Pope
Mr.. j. Cook, Mr.. Henry NJ. Stanley and DR.
Wilbur T. Paddock
Some discussion followed over a PROPOSE
tion to petition Congress to grant a ma.
tional charter to the society. Several earn
est arguments, pro and con, were made
but the matter was not disposed Of wher
The Stars report closed. The society will
continue in session until late this after
| noon.