Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-12
"a Modern slaxe.n

J. L. Carney says of this book, now
in the library here, written by Henry
w Nevison, and published by Harper
Brothers last year, that 1T is, in its
| methodical statement of facts, trum
pet call to all civilized nations and peo-
PIES Its subject is the story that read
ers are more or less generally ac-
quainted WITH the oppression Of the
blacks in Africa by their rulers. In
this case the Portuguese government, a
nation itself low in the scale Of human-
ity, but possessing some physical pow
er, Is able to over-awe and terrify into
submission the natives of West Central
Africa, and the Portuguese Islands Of
San Thome and Principe, the grave-
yards of the slaves, deported there
from the coast. The limits of such a
review as this are too narrow in which
to express the indignation that the
story excites in Its passionless state
ment of facts.
The book opens with the feeling
that abuses will be revealed of an ig-
norant, helpless race by their employ
ers in the carrying on Of commercial
enterprises. 1t closes with the blood
mounting to the temples. and an mex
pressible feeling of sympathy for the
poor creatures on the other side OF
the world, thus reduced to slavery by
reason of mans greed for riches
MIR. Nevison went to Africa to In
vestigate. What he finds is In brief as
follows: There is a system of plan
tation slavery on the mainland where
by under certain so-called forms Of
law, natives are "hired" for five years
work and the chiefs of the tribes be-
ing bribed and intimidated. require a
certain number of the natives in that
particular tribe to be hired" The
truth is that the hiring is fiction,
and when the slaves, male and female
are once in the possession of their
employers" all hope is gone. They are
never released, and lnally under the
stress of hard labor, inconsistencies and
poor food. they meet early death.
The transportation to the islands
named, is for the purpose Of labor In
the tiling and cultivation of cocoa. AS
the author states 1.-The islands possess
exactly the kind of climate that kills
man and makes the cocoa tree -four
ish.' The death rate among the slaves
lis twenty per cent each year, or one in
five.
Because of this awful average. the
price is high and slave agents are
driven hard to supply from the main
land In sufficient numbers, the grlst for
this crushing machine of humanity
Out Of the small wages received (about
ten shillings per month";, which for
forms sake is paid the slave, he pro-
cures few necessaries, but by far
the largest part is spent for the fear
full product Of the sugar cane in the
form or rum, to drown sorrow and
inconsistencies, and all of this pittance
must be. spent at the masters depart
nent store. so that really the amount
paid might as well be retained. Con-
sidertion of sex, chastity and all social.
restrictions have no more place than
in the brute creation Everything bends
TO getting all possible out of the arti-
Gle Of flesh and blood. for the benefit
of the great plantation proprietors
who for the most part live in Europe.
and spend their days In luxury and
l'iotous living.
The author, in closing. in a sort Of
iispairing way, looks the world over
for help England has closed her
heart Of compassion, and for ten years
past the oppressed have called to her
1 nvain." In America he finds a hope
that the plague spot may be cleansed.
Certainly the book in its cool recita-
lion of an almost unbelievable condi-
ton, is absorbing.