The colored American., 1899-12-16

There ere three strong reasons for a
Nero exhibit at the Paris Exposition
next wear. The first reason is a gener-
81 one and is found in the peculiar at
utrde in which Europeis now situated.
The ..Fashoda Incident" and the
pr4.aut B1er war are only the outCrop
nfnas of a tremendous European in
ve-f7n in Africa. This Ozark Cont
naulu Is no longer dark, as the most
gigantic efforts OF capital are being
directed toward opening up the contl-
neut for the Overplus population OF
Europe The millions of native Airl-
cans IN the continent, who must in
some way be assimiIsted into the body
polite, viii more ard more force upon
the statesmen OF Europe and Afrlca,
the s4Ihe negro propiem Wnlcn thls
country has struggled with for three
centuries. Whatever faults may be
charged to the people OF tie United
States. the people of African descent IN
this country are civilized, Chris slsnized
pos-eszors OF vast educational privileges
sud owners Of, perhaps, a half billion
of dollars worth of property. They
are engaged in every Industry and pur-
SUIT common 10 white Americans, and
universally y accredited with rapid prog
Tess. America can therefore furnish
Europe with such evidences of the
Negror- value as a lsboIer, producer,
aua s. citizen, that the statecTsft OF the
Ola World VIII be wiser in me shaping
of Its African policies.
a second reason for the exhibit lies
In lno fscs that much criticism Of the
United States Is INDUCED N abroad on
the ground that this country has as
sum d 10 annex new territory largely
populated with daTK races when, II Is
charged, this nation proscIioes in
every possible way the ten millions of
such people IN Its own borders. This
exhibit can show other nations the
other eide to the story, and can furnish
evideLces Of marvellous progress of the
"nIared people, as an offset TO the
charges Of prescription. While the
United States must plead guilty to
hofuole iynchiugs occasionally, and
many forms Of prejudice, we can more
lhau balance these faults with the rap-
III development IN education and in
uusiry OF ten millions of ex.sIayes.
Nho, Ia the space of 35 years have
pi0daced an item ol thirty thousand
'satheTs, to say nothing of hundred
O'Aet occupations requiring training,
lle ugh, OF the c0lored peopIe 10
nave ocessiona. opportunities to show
III a'5unc'lye way The evidences of
''i7'i p'ostess furnishes The third reas-
o- 'o' sucl an exhibit. The average
american citizen never stops to con-
s.o5f INA, Practically every cotton fab
Ilhe wears Is pIoducl OF Negro labor
so Tar as the Faa material is concerned
~ scattered Is the Negro and so varied
I,e 'Dod=lFy JnaU 1t Is only by such ex.
-.1I'S that the Negro can prove his
-'1' 10 The body polite. Many south
VI "Ai'e pc0ple who have lived al,
'-'s'I -.'e7 IN regions thickly poprIstad
1l'I -Nsgfoss, Wsre amazed at the Ne. |
stO exhibits al Atlanta and Na.bviIIe
EN- g'' 5Apo7itiOns have opened up sew
bsTs la'toFies "a for Negro labor, and |
nsn,. rs allied a strong sentiment In |
tive p'f'> tavoring HIM ss an opera |
ed bv rora-. ~ u'Ss ago was appoint
prsns,s =. l'sloner General Peck to
ingiy ho-.- Negro Exhibit. An exceed.
goyernrnaI ,,n,.Iea space was set aside m the
this feslnas rn' exhibit 10 sociology for
The space seems rid,or.