The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
AFRICAN PROJECT.
DIR THoRNE's PL6NS FOR FOUND
4 NEGRO COLONH.
NE PROPOSE. to Establish I Worth OF the
zambcsi in Central Africa for the Brnent
OF Negroes In tho United states and the
west lie una Had.


west lndies-EneournEement lie uas HAD.
'"Thc black people Of the West Indies arc vir-
tually where slavery left them sixty years ago"
This statement wls made by nr. j. Albert
Thorne. who is at present the guest OF Dr. w.
II. McKenley Of West Thirty.third street. He
Is a conl-black man. OF medium build and
sharply cat features, with a forehead inclined to
recCde u bit. He spoke with n decidedly Brit
ish accent. but the rupidity and vehemence OF
his articulation were entirely African. Dr..
Thornc was born in Barbadoes in 1850. -After II
long course Of study in he Moravian schools
and under private instructors in the West In
dies he travelled and lectured extensively in
the United States. and then proceeded to Great
Britain, where he entered the Edinburgh Uni
vcrsity. graduating in 1893 with the degree of
VI. B. He has resided in England for the last
thirteen years, having an office in London, main
ly for the purpose OF developing a determination
he had reached to COLOMBO Central Africa north
otthc Zambesi River with descendant nj the AZ.
rican race residing in the West Indies and the
United states. His enterprise will be open to
all pfSclc WHO desire to take advantage of 1t,
upon certain conditions.
81 have had the subject III mind for at least
seven years" said DR.. Thorne. after extern
sive travel in the West Indies and the United
States, and observing the condition OF my peo-
Pile in those countries: I became convinced that
the best means OF amcliorating the condition Of
the people was to assist eligible members Of the
race to return and settle. under suitable condi-
tious. in the land OF their forrfathers.'
why we're you convinced of this!" asked
THE SUN reporter.
~ was convinced of it." SAID DR.. Thornc, che
cause I found that they were exposed to the
same racial disadvantages which appeared to
prevent them from making any satisfactory
progress in competition with the Europcan ele-
ment OF those countries. I do not mean to say
that [ did not find individuals among the people
occupying fairly good positions. but as to the
great mass Of African negroes in the West
Indies and the United States. they certainly
were not represented in any reasonable proper
ton in commercial or political pursuits"
How do you account for this backwardness
Of your racer
IT think that it Is due, in the main. TO the pol
icy Of the white race in respect 10 the black
race. This policy. as | have carefully studied
il. /, one which has tended in both countries to
keep the black race in "a condition ~ subsection.
80 that the avenues tn all material development
and Advancement that ARE fully open to the
white man have been diligently closed against
US. Even when We have prepared ourselves
for the higher professions the difficulty is not
overcome. because. unless we have the good
fortune to settle III "A country where the de
sccndants of Africa'ar in the asccudan"y. there
is practically nothing for us tn do"
How can you reconcile this position with
the fact that descendant Of Africa are largely
in the majority in all the West Indian Islands,
Although in the West Indies, notably in Bar
BADGES, the descendants OF Africa largely out
number the descendants of Europe. ucverthc-
less there are other difficulties. chiefly ri a ma
tcrial nature, with which we have 10 contend.
The masses OF the black people are poor. Per
hats you arc aware OF the fact that in all the
West Indian Islands the sugar cane has for Il
considerable time been the main dependence OF
the people. This industry for various reasons.
has 50 declined that ii is no longer able to n
ford any adequate support for the people; con
sequcntly there has been u disastrous falling off
in all other pursuits dependent upon It. The
black people OF the West Indian Islands are,
therefore. virtually where slavery eft them
sixty years ago; not because they have not
Iabored hard or because thew have heen.aCkinG
in thrift. but because they hav. not been al
lowed to have the opportunity nj filing such posi-
lions as would enable them to accumulate
wealth. ~ the Europeans haze done. These
Euroreans own, with few exceptions. all the
vested and accumulated wealth of the Islands.
They carry out the Sa'nr policy Of repression
toward the black race which. a. You may have
. Oh~1'rN Cl, Il the VoIISS " Nv 'la'' IdNtT NutI-
ever they come into contact with races other
than their own in any r'4souabi" proportion.
There arr .ome exceptions 10 this. | know. but
| am speaking of the rule,
do You think that the African negro in the
United states has been 4 tt!.Nrg!
rully. Il think he has been y mary eliOu- sue.
cess. and am all The more conN inred OF this
when | visit some OF The institutions which he
church organizations and Institutions NJ learn
ing. some ri which, | mink. are, perfect. and
would certainly do credit to a civilization much
older than his. But i'll the industrial. cumiuer-
rial, political. and social affairs Ut life tn not
think that the African in the United states
ha. done a. well a. he has done IN the West
Indies, ami II | gauge iii" situation Alright. |
see no prospect whatever NJ his ever being abe
to advance much in these vital directions bc-
yond the point he has reached. Walking
thruugf this large city, for example, with all Of
it, vast wealth ana enormous activity. | feel
almost out of my element when | see not q. lin
gle member OF my race represented in any ut the
Sr"at enterprises as = c"ntr"l!lnE htctor, and
yet | understand yOu have >pm" 10000 in 'hl-
city. The same condition Or thing. | am told.
obtains in most Of he large r~tiIcsot the country. %
How does the social feeling OF European :
compare with hat OF Americans toward the
Atr;ran!r
said Dr. Thorne. zone which cannot help feel,
ing goes to the very root Of the whole matter.
In England there is but little prcludi"" OF a
social character against a man ut African de-
scent. For example, he receives "A welcome in
the best society. and is allowed 10 81 in and
ont freely among the people without being made
to feel that his complexion IL different from
theirs: but in the other relations OF life 1 10
not think there j. any difference between Great
Britain and the United states in its attitude
toward u a. "A r;re. In commercial. industrial,
and professional lines there is not only no open,
Ing for III in Great Britain, but the prejudice
also IN some Instances i distinctly marked
In the lower positions Of life the same spirit ri
o-trtci,m prevails. | am personally hcquaint
ed with many Africans in London who are lit
orally starving for lack of employment, moi
because there j. not employment 10 be had
but siIupi5 on account nj their complexion
whereas Italians, Germans. swiss, and Other
foreigners Of the same social standing can nj
way. ind plenty to do. Now. when it is ~
mcm,bcrCd that our men are called upon Il
fight the Queens battles, and that we are a.
si-ting in every possible way TO uphold the in
tcgrity of the British Empire, IL will be -utli
GENTLY patent, even TO the most unObservant
that Great Britain ought to discharge h"
moral obligations toward US before giving ar
tnnllun to foreigners, and thar she ought Il
aI.nw ~ every reasonable opportunlty IT earn
Ing "A livelihood, even within her borders.
My answer, therefore, is that in the vita
relations OF lie there IL practically no differ
cnCr between tn, condition of the African IL
Great Brits in and in the tnitri States, bu
when considered from n social standpoint
there is certainly no comparison. For wherrr