Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-02-23
REY. REYES WRITES

for Americans and Africa for Africans.
Eor some unknown reason the different
races of the human family did, at
remote time, settle in different portions
of the earth where they nave more or
less remained until this day. working
out their race problems ana tenolhs
towards human destiny. Some have
out -stripped others IN the race; noMa wv
on the Southern slope Of the Bible land
lies one Of the greatest continents IN
the world, "Africa,," which according
to territory law belongs to the BLACK
Race" which swarm over It's vast ter
ritory in fabulous numbers. For 1orty
or fifty centuries the natives claim TO
Africa was undisputed and no one IN
terfered with them with but very few
exceptions, and as the country abounds
in abundance Of rich proVender OF most
every variety and the climate warm
and pleasant, the natives were content
with a mixed and pastoral nomadlc
mode Of life.
About one hundred and fifty years
ago people called Bores intruaeu
themselves into the rightful dominion
of the Africans and have since affected
a government out of and are still en-
crouching upon their rights
This land-grabing is going on there
now. which together with the fact that
every other race of men but the Afri-
cans is formed into compared
government for self protection. Goes
to show us that it is high time the
African race too was formed into a
staple government.
This government should be establish
ed upon the continent Of Africa where
the bulk of the race is. This does not
mean that every African in the world
must go to Africa to live whether he
desires to or not, but it means federal
head of the race. That without which.
the great black race Of the world will
suffer as it has never before. For this
age in which we are living wholly given
to decorating, combining and organic
ing forces, the classes against masses
and vice versa, is but the introduction
of the coming reign Of combination
and he that makes no preparations to
cope with these must fall 1t is true
that Hayti and Liberia are attempts
on the part of some members of the
race to form political heads for the
race, but each of these governments is
far too local to be any thing like
adequate.
Africa must have staple govern
ment and if Libaria can be made a
nucleus" for this. all well and good,
IL not. one NC louIIu oIlN eIoouS -
a compaxed and indurable government
with its normal functions, such as a
system of wise and just laws one
capital, one flag and one united people.
Such political head as would bring
together every member of the two
hundred and seventy millions Of the
dusky sons and daughters of the
African race. This can and must be
done. The wellbeing of the race and
the Righteousness of God demands 1t.
For twenty centuries the African race
have layed submissively at the feet OF
every other race of the world and have
been contented with the lot heWers OF
wood and drawers Of water. Thus sus-
tanning an attitude towards their fel-
low men that is both abnormal and
DEGRADING An attitude which have
affected a faith in the bosom of some
that the just God made the dark people
of the world to be servents of the light
ones. A faith that has degraded and
damned more human beings than any
other evil known to modern times. A
faith that unhumanized and made
brutes of a large portion of the eau
casians Of America and caused them
to reduce to imbecility and sent in dis
grace to their graves six generations
Of American negroes. A faith that
subjects nine millions of them now in
America to conditions that amounts to
social and political ostracism. faith
that has caused a large portion of the
Caucasian race of the world to hesl-
tate in calling the two hundred and
twenty millions of dark or black skinned
people brothers. This state Of things
is due, I repeat, to the Indifference OF
the black race about self preservation,
self defiance and for lack of Sytem-
attic providing today for the morrow.
Too easy satisfied. too afraid OF dying
and for the lack Of self confidence. All
of which the other races have TAKEN
advantage of. but the time has come
that such acts must be abandoned and
the African race must get up from be-
meath the feet of the other races OF men
and look them in the face, study their
better nature, recognize the DrOther-
hood of man. and demand human
Justice and equality. If not. the race
will see ere long the sun Of it's political
possibility set for ever Look. the great
nations of the Caucasian race have
rose up in the greatness of thel
strength, thrown off every disguise and
have gone forth with their mighty
armies to conquer and dominate the
world And yet I am proud to have it
to say that believethat England and
our America would be in favor of the
Africans organizing themselves into a
nation.
The great christian powers know that
this is the black races greatest lack,
and that it's present statOus which is
impedious to civilization. a burden to
religion and degrading to humanity,
are results of it. And believing as we
do. that a good strong government for
the race to be what is needed most.
and should be provided first, as such
would serve to unity the race and. as
we believe, further that every member
of the African race is called upon by
the ties Of consanguinity to contribute
by words and in council to affection of
such government for his race. l am
member Of the race, do in good faith.
and with malice towards none. hut
with charity for all. call the members
of the race in the city Of Keokuk. Iowa.
on the 18th and 10th day of March, 1900.
in convention for the purpose Of asking
h representative negro from each Of the
Tribes, Republics and Kingdoms of the
black race of the world to come to-
gether in convention at place - in
1902, for the purpose of deciding upon
a form of government and gathering
all or as many Of said Tribes. Re-
publics and Kingdoms into it as can