Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-21
Views of Bishop Turner, an Enthusiast
on Subject.
AFRICA THE NATURAL Home OF Race
Perpetual EnsIavement of Those
Who Remain Here.
WHITES REIGN SUP REM E

Bishop Henry NJ turner VI Oeoi Sid, WIZ
is one of the best-known and most highly
educated negro ministers in the United
States. was in Washington a few days this
week, and gave The Evening Star the fol-
lowing interview touching the emigration
of negroes to Africa, in which movement
the bishop is the recognized head, and
with which he has been identified for a
number of years. Bishop Turner is an en-
thusiast on the emigration question, and
does not hesitate TO say that ii is only a
question of determination or emigration
for the negro He has given the question
years of study and has been censured and
abused by both the white and colored
races, but this has not caused him to de-
part one iota from his beliefs and purposes
regarding African emigration.
Replying TO a question, Bishop Turner
said:
Some of you gentlemen of the press
have seen fit to give me an occasional
roasting, but i am pleased to say that IN
most instances the press has been ready to
give my followers and myself justice We
have done nothing in this matter except in
an open and straightforward manner, and
We have kept no one in the dark about
anything connected with the movement. 1t
has been our aim TO give it the widest pub
lcity possible, and l am even willing that
i should be caricatured and lambasted by
IL
way in spreading the truths of our mission
and our work.
The Negroes Natural Home.
II think the future of the negro race lies
in Africa. his natural home, and the rich
est country on earth. Africa is the negro's
fatherland. and the sooner he goes there
the better for him. This movement is far
reaching and will change the entire his
tory of our race 1t has simply come down
TO determination or emigration for the
Negro Any intelligent man who has given
the matter consideration realizes that.
Why is il so? Simply from the fact that
statistics show that the negro race is dying
out Ii is not growing healthier. weather.
happier, wiser, or anything else which goes
TO make life worth living.
God Almighty. in His infinite goodness
and wisdom, made Africa for the negro
ana the negro for Africa l believe this
just as much as i do that the sun shines
II l had s9,Wooo. L would invest every
cent in ships. and would see that every
negro who wished to go to Africa got
there.
Now. some Of my people want to know
why 1 dc not go to Africa and stay there
heneve L am needed here. but the very
moment 1 can get fifty thousand or one
hundred thousand negroes to go with me
am on like a quarter-horse and / will
piished.''
% you not think that white and colored
people get along very easily in this conn
try! he was asked.
Whites VIII Always Reign.
yes. but the negro race can never be
more than hewers of wood and rawers of
water mere The giant race-the white
race-Wiii always reign supreme in Amer
lea John Temple Graves, a gentleman for
whom 1 have the highest regard. said in
one OF MS speeches that the negro would
never be allowed to control in this conn
Iry, eVeis where he has a majority Mr.
graves also said that the price of the ne
gro peace was his subordination
rms being true. how can the negro ever
nope TO attain here the full stature of a
citizen or man? Intelligent negroes well
know that MIR. Graves has not uttered
these truths from personal prejudice. for
ne mas plead the negro'S cause as but few
men in the south have
Ana what does the great statesman Sem
ator Morgan of Alabama saw? He SAYS the
negro VIII never receive social RECOGNITION
mere, and that the negro had better be a
save tnan free man without social recog-
try" A. ''''' 'oun-
HAS the African emigration movement
negro race?" "
No. indeed but, on the contrary lot
or ignorant negroes have opposed ii from
It's very inception. They pirate about the
sickness Of Africa and many other things of
tlitS are III uSnSe ignorance. The
thoughtful and intelligent of the white race
lhdorse the emigration policy, and 1T will
YET prove success and of untold blessings
to the negro race
May he Re-EnsIaved
There is some chance. too, of the negro
being re-enslaved If he prefers to stay here
Some people are unkind enough to say that
this kind of talk comes from a disordered
brain. but that kind of stun does not annov
me In the least
Africa Is one of the very richest coun-
tries on earth. and with a line of steamers
OWNED and controlled by negroes. plyinp
between that great country and the United
states, the negro would soon grow rich and
prosperous by selling to the whites of this
country minerals. precious ores gems ivory
and thousand things which are found in
abundance in that rich land and which
would fetch good prices here / believe thai
the press of this country would be doing
frcalculable benefit to humanity nv giving
this African emigration policy careful study
and then giving the facts as wide publicity
as possible"
rs the movement growing satisfac-
toriy?''
"Of course. with others I am naturally
somewhat impatient. but / can saw that
everything presents an encouraging look
The movement is one of vast magnituda
and cannot be carried through in n hurry
1t will be n glorious day when the first
steamers sail for that land. which will he
one of peace and plenty and which was in
tended as the home for the negro race