The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-02
THE NEGRO AND AFRICA.

There is sentiment among many peo-
pie of both races that the hand of Provi-
eence brought the negro to America as
a supersttious slave that he might be
educated and Christiapized to the end
that he could return to and be the leader
of the millions of negroes who sit in
ignorance and darkness in Africa, Very
few educated negroes have believed this
and fewer still have put it into practice
But there are many who believe that tho
destiny of the negro race is to return to
Africa and lift up the benighted dwellers
on the Dark Continent. They will
be strengthened in their belief that such
ought to be the mission of the educated
negro by the accounts of the speech of
Rev DR.. Geo. Fl. Rose, native of Sierra
Leone. made in Philadelphia few days
ago. He is reported as saying:
"A public school system in Africa, for
Africans, to be taught by Africans is
the only way to educate and Christianize
the Dark Continent
II fear there is a mistaken idea exist
ing that there is only a dark and heatnen
side of Africa. The advocates of the re-
demption of Africa never have thought it
worth while to present the civilized side
OF Africa. But there is one, and it as pro-
nounced as that of any country in the
world. Bishop II. M. Turner, of Georgia,
in advocating his plan to deport the ne
groes in this country to Africa, is not far
wrong, and is the only man that has visi-
ted my country, returned to America and
reported what he saw in a favorable
light. He declares that all Africa needs
is capable teachers, TIT to lead. Africa
has three hundred million natives who
have not seen a missionary or heard OF
Jesus. This condition, it has been proven,
can be remedied only through the natives
themselves. l believe God intends that
the principles OF civilization are to be
taught by the black man to the black
man.
THE negro in America should have, and
must take, a personal interest and re-
sponsibilty in the redemption of Africa,
for sooner or later he may want to live
there himself, for he is apart from the
destiny of the American people"
Before the war there were not few
slave owners who sent their slaves to
Liberia. after setting them free. They
did not believe in slavery but they did
not believe the negro could live here free
in peace and in concord with the white
people. The Societies having the eXpor-
tation Of liberated slaves to Africa were
doing good work when Wendell Philips
and Lloyd Garrison started the fight for
Abolition which resulted in Emancipation.
IL African civilization depends upon be-
ing taught by American Africans. the So
cieties that were sending negroes to Lii
be,ia were showing better results than
have been shown by Emancipation. But,
is it the mission of the negro to civilize
Africa? And if so, has the set time
come for the work to be undertaken?
The celebration of Emancipation day
in the South yesterday was general the
speeches were in good taste, and the spirit
was excellent. So far as North Carolina
is concerned, there is good feeling be-
tween the races, the negroes are doing
well here, are we'll treated, and they
have no disposition to go TO Africa, and
there is no disposition, upon the part of
the whites to urge their going