The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-15
Emlgrntlon of the Negroer.

somebody who does know to teach them.
-s-p-e
Emigration OF the Negroes.
Bishop Henry NJ Turner gave publicity
to a lengthy letter a day or two ago In
which he says some pretty severe things
to those clergymen Of his race who have
sought 10 belittle him end his efforts in
behalf of the emigration of negroes to
Africa. The bishop is wen known in this
city, where he began his religious, and
to some extent, his political career. He
is one of the few negro leaders who have
succeeded in Maintaining their position Of
advisers of the people of their race.
Although his reply to his criticisms
caiumniators rather, since those who APP
pose his views deal in caiumny rather than
criticisms long, there is not a paragraph
in il that is not worthy Of the thoughtful
consideration of both whites and negroes.
He Is firmly convinced that there Is no
future for the negro la this country, and
that the negros only chance of becoming
something more than a newer OF wood and
the drawer of water is TO migrate to At
RIGA. There the opportunity is open TO him
Of developing whatever powers he pos
sesses and reaching whatever position he
desires.
In reply to those who assert that the
negroes who have emigrated to Liberia
have endured untold hardships, many of
them becoming victims not only of the
terrible fevers of the country, but also of
starvation, he points out that the early
settlers of this country, especially those
of New England endured great sufferings.
They had to contend not only with an in
hospitable climate, but also with hostile
natives of the fercest character. They had
to fight for every foot of land they occu-
pied. The em1grants to Liberia have no
such hardships to contend with Liberia
is country already fairly well settled and
emigrants are not only welcomed but are
given land
The bishop holds the opinion that Libe-
ria offers the negroes of this country an
opportunity for improving their condition
in every respect such as no other race on
similar plane of civilization has ever
| had. Every race that has reached
a high plane of civilization has
suffered. and struggled with adverse cir
cumstances. The negroes of this country
cannot reasonably expect to build UP
nation in Africa that would command
the respect of the world without passing
through trials and fluctuations, but they
would have 10 endure very little In com
parison with what the pioneers of this
country endured.
Have the negroes of this country the
qualities of pioneers? Is it possible for
them to be the builders OF a nation? Bish-
op Turner evidently thinks so, or he
would not SO persistently urge them to
emigrate to Africa. There are reasons,
however, for thinking he is mistaken
Only a few of those who have gone to Ii
IBERIA have won financial Independence
there. The most of them have either sue
cumbed to the climate drifted back TO
their old homes or have sunk into worse
intellectual and material condition than
| that from which they attempted to es-
cape.
From this we infer that the negroes are
not nation building race and that Bishop
/ Turner win never see a great black repub-
! lie in Africa as the result of the efforts
/ of the negroes of this country. The negro
loves his ease. He would rather have what
/ he can get in this country than to pros
poet for something better in Africa, and
here he will stay. What his future win
be no one can foretell with any degree of
certainty. 1t is certain thar mis- advance
meat will be slow, because he will have 10
struggle for all he gets with a race much
superior in every respect. This is a white
mans country and white men viii not
share their supremacy with any other
race.
We have no doubt that the south would
be far better off without the negroes A
wholly white population would make
wealth faster. The negroes are here, how
ever, and they are here to stay, They
make good laborers and they will continue
to be the burden bearers for long time
to come, unless they are crowded out by
the fierce competition of white bread win
ners. We have no objection to Bishop
Turner's emigration scheme, but there are
no indications hat il will solve the race
! in