The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-01-14
TO CIVILIZE AFRICA.
A New Scheme in Operation for Abol.
ishinS Slavery In the Dark
Continent.

July 10 last 1 started for the interic2
of Africa, where, on the high tablelands,
500 miles from the coast, l am building
model villages. Here, in the heart of
the dark continent. l am introducing to
the natives the first stages of civilized
life, and by systematic effort starting
the civilizing of this part of the Jul
try. The villages are being built IN
what are now wild wastes of land.
No expedition. however large, will
ever be able to stamp out slavery in
Africa by force, for the very reasonable
fact that it is extremely unlikely that
any expedition will ever be sent here
of large enough proportion to success
fully cope with go. OOO,0 900 natives who
believe in this ancient and baneful Gus
tom.
The plan / am working upon for the
civilizing of this great continent or at
least a part of it. is different from any
thing before tried. In substance, it is
the requirement of fertile lands by ces-
sion from European governments and
by purchase from native chiefs. Upon
these lands l am building model vii
lagos and towns, composed OF free ma
tive settlers and liberated slaves. Quail
ity rather than quantity is aimed at.
Such villages. when completed. will
at nce radiate good influence. and will
be object lessons to all the dark regions
around. AS soon as the natives see for
themselves how much easier and more
profitable life is under civilized meth
DDS of living, than under their savage
customs they quickly move to the VII
lagos and become a part of them. IT.
joining the village they have to re-
nounce slave hunting, polygamy, witch
craft and rum. This, | think, from my
experience with them. many thousands
of them will very readily do when they
see for themselves how well the villages
get along without any of these evil in
luences to which they have been accus-
toned.
The natives, although barbarous, are
quick to learn and are great imitators.
When once shown how to do a certain
thing they remember it, and make good
workmen. They are strong and able
bodied and capable of accomplishing
great results when started on the right
track. The first of these villages is be-
ing established between Benguelia and
Lake Nyassa. in the southwestern part
Of the continent. High tablelands exist
in this region. and here. SEQ feet above
the sea level, the Town is being laid out.
The climate is healthful and the soil
is particularly good.
AS quickly as possible each village
will be made seif-supporting. The ma
tives are being taught GUS building.
farming and various industries and
trades. All the members of my eXpedi-
ton fare much the same as the natives
eating the same food and living in
houses built of native materials. But
Don we shall teach the natives i'm
proved methods of agriculture and the
cultivation of all the new products nee
essary for the maintenance and devel-
opment of the village.
The native settlers will also soon be
taught carpentering. blacksmithing
and other lines of worh and industry,
and gradually there will spring up a
solf-made and self-supporting town.
constructed on modern lines. When
once thoroughly established, ii will
probably grow rapidly, as every native
that joins will be an incentive TO others
10 follow suit; and having once demon
strated that by joining US they can i'm
prove their condition. we shall have no
difficulty in getting recruits. As soon
as this first village is thoroughly cstab-
lished we viii start Il second one on the
same lines. ONE distance further in
land. In like manner. a third and a
fourth will be added, and so on until
all this section of the country is dotted
with them.
The natives are not being pressed to
Join any of these villages. Work is be-
ing pushed with the express purpose of
creating an object lesson for them, and
of their own free Will they make appli-
cation to come in and be granted their
assignment of land on which to build
their house and help develop the re-
sources of the country. Each village
will be conducted on civilized and mod
ern principles. and everybody will work
Tor the advancement of the district.
In this way Africa will be civilized
by peaceful methods. which | believe IS
the only way ii Will ever be done. I'M
der our plan the natives are really civ
ilizing Observation-Disclosures Nigga.
zine.
Spider Saved Life.
Maj. Laurie, who fought with Kitch-
ener in the Soudan. says he owes his
life TO a spider. The spider made a