The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-04

President w. H. COUNC1LL of an Alabama
College for negroes discusses the future Of
his race in the last number Of the Forum
and reaches the conclusion that the negroes
are destined to leave this country and
build up a new civilization in Africa. This
is the outlook ALSO of Bishop TURNER
of the African Methodist Church. He,
too secs no future for the negro" in this
country.
Neither OF them, however, and more par
ticularly the Alabama College President,
expects that this negro exodus will occur
now or soon, but that 1t will come only in
the course Of "a few generations" His
own PRIDE" says President CouNCILL,
the desire to redeem Africa from its
darkness, and, last, the alluremcnts of a
thousand superior advantages for mental
and material gain, to DO obtained through
hardship and adversely, will be irresist-
lb)a.' His theory is that the race prejudice
against the negroes can nevsr be overcome
In this country, and that eventually they
must go to Africa to develop by themselves
and Of themselves.
IT, however, this race prejudice is inerad-
icabe as he says, why should the negro
suffer from it less in Africa than here or
anywhere else where he is brought in con-
tact and in competition with the white
race? President CoUNCILL seems to nut
off one hundred years the emigration of his
people to Africa but according to all pres
ent indications the white race will be domi-
nant in Africa long before that time. 1t is
already dominant there so far as concerns
political power and the development of the
continent is likely to make it numerically
preponderating or at least so numerous
that the negroes will be powerless against
it. II anything in the historical outlook is
clear, it is that the civilization OF Africa is
to be distinctly white civilization.
The hopes Of Bishop TURNER and Presi-
dent CoUNCGLL therefore. are not likely to
be ever fulfilled. The negro race will have
no better chance in Africa than anywhere
else and probably so far as negro emf
grants are concerned the opportunity will
be worse. The supply of negroes already
there will be sufficient for the demand. and
the superior advantages for mental and
material gain" expected by the Alabama
College President will not appear Sys-
tematic attempts to colonize our negroes in
Africa were begun long ago, but they have
been Of no significance in the civilization OF
Africa and of no notable benefit to the emil
grants. The civilization of that continent,
which has been effected with so much
rapidity during the last generation, has
been brought about by the white race
wholly. White men have taken the lead in
the new development OF Africa, and OBJ
viously they will keep and strengthen and
extend their control.
In this country, however, tho demand
for tho negro race is great and will in
crease steadily. Negro labor was never so
much of a necessity to tho South as it is
now. 1t gives the South an advantage
in the industrial competition with other
regions which is peculiar and apparently
Irresistible. 1t is cheap labor and is UNI
affected by the combinations which disturb
the industrial system elsewhere. The very
circumstance that the white labor unions
exclude negroes from their associations be-
cause Of race prrjudicr makes negro labor
the more desirable for the South and moro
especially in the new and great develop
ment and dlversficatiOn of its industries
now in progress.
Negro emigration to Africa is now and
will continue to be like sending Goals to
Newcastle. But negro labor is requisite to
the prosperity OF the South and it will
always be able to find employment there.
AS natural consequence the condition
OF the laborers will improve and with
thrift they will acquire the greater re-
spect which goes with the possession Of
property.
Obviously, too, they will overcome the
nolitical discrimination against them. The