The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-23
ALL ABOUT AFRICA
Bishop Hartzell Speaks on the Prog
ress Of the Race in
Liberia.
He Does Not Approve Of the Pro
miscuous Emigration Of the
Southern Negro.

q Washington special to the Record Her.
aid, says: Bishop Hartzell of the Metho-
dist church, whose diocese includes the
entire continent Of Africa, is on his peri
odical visit to Washington and has had
two long interviews with the president
concerning Afriran affairs. Few men
know so much about conditions in that
great continent or can discuss them so
intelligently from the American point of
view. Bishop Hartzell's sympathies are
with the people of the dark continent, for
he makes a tour OF both coasts and goes
for into the interior every two years. FIe
knows their needs, has watched their
progress and is personally acquainted
with more people in Africa, probably, than
any other man living. The bishop takes
the greatest interest in the little black
republic of Liberia, which is a. sor of
ward Of the United States, and feels that
our government and our people have not
fulfilled the moral obligations which they
owe to it.
Liberia is progressing slowly" said
Bishop Hartzell. but the people need help
to devlop their country, educated men,
mechanics, experienced agriculturists and
men of practical scientific knowledge g of
natural history who can intelligently d.
rect the natives to utilize the great riches
that God has bestowed upon them in their
mines and fields and forests. There is no
richer country on earth than Liberia, but
1t has never been explored and the natives
who live alonf the coast do not even sus-
poet the enormous wealth that lies DOR
mant in the interior. Nor can they profit
by it. because they lack knowledge. CAPT.
tai. leadership and energy. They need
education more than anything else.
: II do not sympathize with or approve
of the present emigration movement of
negroes from the southern states to Ii
IBERIA, which has been encouraged by
Bishop Turner and other prominent men
in the African Methodist church. Most
of the people who go from the south re-
turn to their old homes as soon as they
can raise money to pay their passage
back They do not find Liberia the land
flowing with milk and honey that has been
represented to them. There is no room
there for ignorant and ordinary laborers.
But there is q wide field and a great de-
mand for intelligent people with capital
trained mechanics, scientific farmers and
skilled artisans Of every class--1nen of
character with a, little capital who can
lead and instruct the people in modern
methods Of farming and mechanical in
dustries.
I'VE have established a school for the
training Of natives, similar to the indus
trial institutions that have done so much
good in the south, in order to develop
self-help, to prepare the natives to make
the best use Of the great opportunities
that lie around them. to utilize the raw
material which in which Liberia, abounds
anu 10 supply Tie local ue1ldllu LOT the
necessaries Of life, many of which are
now imported from Europe at a great
cost. For example, they pay 50 for a
European hat when they can make a bet
ter 'one Of their own f1bers for 10 cents.
We are teaching them to spin and weave
the native mat for their own garments.
to make their own leather and their own
shoes: to forge their own tools and adopt
the or-saving methods SO common in
the United States and SO rare among
them. f
eve have a good commercial man in
charge of our school now who is teach
ing twenty native boys the trades Of the
blacksmith, the carpenter and the wagon
maker, and am looking for a good farmer
to send out there-a graduate Of one OF
the agricultural schools, for that is really
the most important point in Liberian ed
ucation. 1t is an agricultural country
and its resources are unlimited. That Is
our great work and we believe that we
deserve the sympathy and the co-opera-
tion of the American people on broad
common-sense grounds
An English company has recently Sc
cured a citizen to explore the mountains
of the interior for mineral deposits, and
realized, a lot Of money will be invested
!. in the country.
every time visit Liberia" continued
Bishop Hartzell, can see evidences 81
progress and Improvement. We have nov
: twenty five primary schools, with more
than.s1, 200 pupils, and some of the teach
ers are Americans. Good teachers are
t, In great demand. Our college of Yves
! Africa at Monrava, has a faculty o
# eight educated American negroes and Isl
students.
4 Political affairs are in a satisfactor!
condition. Mr.. Barley, one of the bes
men in the country, intelligent, progress
Il sive and practical, has been nominated
3 for the presidency and will probably b.
4 elected. Unfortunately the United State
I has not been creditaby represented there
Mr.. Grassland, the United States minister
i is involved in an unfortunate scandal, an
recently shot the husband of woma1
X concerning whom there has been a goo
deal of gossip. He has been recalled b.
the president, and understand that Rev
| Ernest Lyon, pastor Of a Methodist churc
in Baltimore. will be appointed to succee
him 1t would be a great advantage an
& satisfaction to the Liberians II the Unite
States would send white man as 1T
representative.