Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-06-15
SHALL WE GO TO
AFRICA?
Continued From First Page.)


SsG<ssysz-' nssr
people Of this country are not only
not enemies OF the Negro race but are
friendly toward them and desire TO
see them do well. But that same
majority are uualterably determined
that the Negro race shall never par
ucipate With them on equal terms
in the government of this country.
As a race, we have no tenue in
this country. If al the white people
should determine tomorrow (which
God forbid to drive the Negro race
out of this country, there is no pow
er on earth that could prevent them
And where would we go2 Echo an
swers, "Where2" This picture is too
awful 70 contemplate. But there is
one consolation, and that is, nobody
either white or black ever expects
that any will occur.
But there is another danger tha
is worthy of our consideration And
] am not so sure that il will never
overtake US. This is the danger OF
being reinslaved. 7 seem TO hear
some one say. what bosh, Well. let
us look into the matter. At the first
way back in the sixteenth and sew
enteenth centuries all the white peo-
I pie of this country and especially the
Southerners were opposed TO slavery
/ But as time went on. these people
/ changed their minds and African
/ slavery became an institution in this
/ country so deeply rooted that &c cost
millions OF precious lives, rivers OF
/ blood and the expenditure Of untold
/ treasure 20 break il up.
History often repeats itself Let
us beware. When all sections OF this
country were in harmony and fra
: ternal union, slavery dourished and
was secure. When sectional feel
ing became rampant &c rent the coun
/ try in twain and the abolition OF
slavery was the result or course
nobody believes that the Negro race
will ever be reinslaved by proclama-
I ton as il was emancipated. But If
I the present signs OF the times mean
anything, and the race remains in
I this country long enough. there IS
I great danger that. little by little he
viii be reduced 10 such a state OF
/ vassalaEe that he will wish for the
I former days OF slavery as being far
/ preferable.
We should also consider the labor
I phase. Competition between white
and colored labor Is ripe az the pres
/ ent but IL Is nothing Ike as keen as
i 10 is destined 70 BE- In the future
I Blood Us thicker than water. The
| employers are nearly an white and
/ they will naturally give preference
\ TO white labor. Then the antagon-
\ ism between the two classes of la
Y borers is becoming more deadly ev-
+ cry day. II ever q war OF races
should be precipitated in this country
IL viii be done by labor antagonism
and not by that OF politics.
And here again. IL Is proper 20 can
attention 20 the fact that history Of
ten repeats Itself There are those
/ especially among the Negro race.
who think that the Yankees set the
/ Negroes free because they loved
| them. They could not be guilty Of
la greater mistake il was antagon-
/ ism between free and slave labor
which brought on the war between
! the two sections OF this country and
which resulted in the freedom OF the
Negro slave.
lore the war wealth and culture
I Of trIs country were in the South
To-day they are Do he North. The
I Northerner saw that he, who had 70
labor with his own head and hands
could never successfully compete with
I the man OF the south who had a
hundred TO a thousand slaves to work
/ for him without remuneration. The
white laborer OF the North. the for
eign immigrants saw their chances
/ OF employment cut on by the slaves
/ All OF these combined. therefore, and
| resolved 20 wipe out slavery for these
reasons and not for love OF the slave
Let us beware then that when all
these forces, South as well as North
combine to crush out Negro labor in
this country, it viii certainly be
done. II we can barely line now
with employment what Will we do
when the day comes that employ
ment shall be denied US? II were
far better TO go when you may so in
peace, having some where to go an
time TO go; having friends among the
other race TO help YOU in your re
moval and leave friendly and
strong government behind which
would stand by and protect you in
your own government In your own
country until you are able TO stand
alone.
o. NJ STEWARD.
P. SIN my paper No. 4 on AT
rica published in The PLANET