The Washington times., 1907-08-05
Senator Jackson Dis
cusSeS the Future of
Race and Limitations
Here.
His Parents Left Amer
lea for Africa Just
After Civil War.

NEW YORK, Aug. 6-Senator r. II
Jackson. of Liberia, who is now In this
city. Is convinced that the only hope
OF the American negro Is IN the African
republic. The senator IS a small black
man considerably past middle age HIS
parents were among the first 10 go from
America 70 Africa. They were once
slaves and emigrated from New Or
leans TO Monrovia.
Il see no hope for the negro In Amer
icas" he said. 4 agree with Bishop
Turner that all who have the meas
should seek home in Liberia If 1 saw
him combining with whites in business
and being treated with impartiality
would say nothing. but ne is to be found
In no large enterprises 10 speak OF. and
so socially he Is an outcast
The Liberian Emigration Society
formerly transported the negroes and
maintained them for six months. Il
would be well for the negroes and the
whites, II the United States Govern
ment-which now protects the republic
from foreign aggression-would under
take the work which the society Is no
longer able to perform"
DO you intend TO see President Roose-
welt upon this proposal?'' asked the re-
porter.
Here on Private Business.
NO" replied the senator. 7 am in
this country on a private business en-
terprise and have no commission from
my government 70 take the matter UP
with him. and I would not presume to
bring Il III otherwise"
What do you think Of the proposal
TO set aside a portion OF the United
States and restrict its use to negroes p
That would fail 1t would only lead
to trouble The only plan for doing
away with the race problem is to make
IL possible for any OF the negroes VINO
wish to go 70 Africa"
You would not propose q general
would your
NO: ! would not Ike to see d great
number going TO Liberia at one time.
not do 50 voluntarily, and l would cot
have them 20 with delusiOns.
The pioneers went 10 Africa newly
released from slavery. They were
spurred on TO face all sorts of hard
ships by the thought that they would
be free, and succeeded. Their descend
ants have no such Inspiration and man
OF them have fallen into shiftless ways.
1 axe Ihem all Tor all, they are Just
about the same as the negroes are here.
Some work and some do not
Number About $4,000.
The Liberians are about 5000 In
number. and there are 1.500.1 20 heathens
about them They get along well with
the natives, a number OF whom are
civilized now. We nave our schools and
our churches aud about half our popu-
lation can read and write. The people
here tell me that some day they viii
have a share in the government, bat
tell them that that will never be.
They must be equal in brains, equal
IN purse and equal IN numbers before
they can hope for that, but there is nC
immigration Of negroes TO this country
and whites are continually coming II
from all parts. The negroes can only
dwindle IN numbers"
Then YOU believe that Liberia should
afford the solution OF our race prob.
lem2'
Yes. II the Government OF The
United States take steps TO enlarge
Liberia and assist IN the development
Of its resources Dy lending financial aid
there IS no reason why we should no
become a prosperous nation. That II
itself would draw the negroes whom
the Government would assist in estab
lfShfOp IN Our TpOublic." ."