Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-19
Shall We Go To Africa?


Editor, PLANET:
In the foregoing series OF papers
OF which this is the conclusion,
have discussed the following topics:
First. Who and what are we?
Second. Whence came we?
Third How came we here?
Fourth. Why did Providence per-
nit us TO be brought here?
Fifth. Shall we remain here for
ever. oppressed by the dominant
race and denied every right dear TO
the hearts of freemen, which rights
are freely accorded 60 every other
race though they be aliens while we
are natives and citizens2
Sixth. Shall we not rather return
20 the land OF our fathers bearing
the torch-light Of the Gospel OF
Christ and of civilization which God
has given us 20 our bcnighted breth
ren who are waiting and praying for
our coming?
Seventh. VIII not true and real
freedom in our fatherland though
we be years in reaching 10. more
than repay us and our children for
any deprivations we may sustain I'm
leaving this country?
In this discussion. have endeav-
ored TO portray. to the best OF my
ability the real condition OF our peo-
pie in this country as ] see it. both
present and prospective.
lt has been my object 90 show
that. so far as our social. civil and
political status IN this country Is
concerned. IL will not improve. but
will grow worse as time rolls on.
And this, I believe is one OF Gods
ways OF convincing us that &c As not
His will and purpose that we shall
remain in this country.
Now. as TO how we shall be re-
moved TO Africa and transplanted
there. The first thing necessary IS
for us to be agreed amonc ourselves
that Is the Intelligent Ald leading
element The masses viii not move
OF themselves. neither VIII they be
pushed or driven: they must be led
After full discussion pro and con
amongst the intelligent element
there should be formed colonial
tion society or company after the or
der OF the English company form
ed in England prior 10 colonial times
for the colonization OF America
Then let this company work for the
moulding of a public sentiment in
NAAAo N0AANAg AANOAAUaG ~ AA0 UEOICNA
and finally appeal to the govern
ments OF the States and of the u
nited States. The white people Of
this country. and especially those OF
the South, owe a debt 10 the col
Ored people which they Will finally
recognize aud will never DISCHARGE
until they replace them safely and
we'll in their own country whence
they brought them and enslaved them
for over two hundred and fifty years.
We served them we'll while slaves.
The impetus given America while
receiving the benefits OF our unre-
Quilted labor will not be lost in the
next thousand years. The United
States is now rich and powerful and
can we'll afford TO pay this debt with
double interest.
The people of African descent in
all America-North and South A
merica and the West Indies at the
present viii hardly exceed twenty
million. If they are removed at
the rate of one million annually,
they may be all safe and settled in
Africa in twenty-five years. Then
the government formed by and for
them in their own country should
be protected by the great power OF
the United States until it be able to
stand alone. Amid the crashing
greed OF the powerful nations of the
earth, it would not stand a ghost of
chance without such a protector
! ate TO sustain It.
The old argument about the
world not containing ships enough
TO transport the Negroes of Ameri-
ca TO Africa has long been exploded.
Statistics show that during the year
1906 over one million, one hundred
thousand immigrants crossed the
Atlantic Ocean TO the United States.
and the estimate for the present wear
far exceeds that of last year. IL
there efore, this immense number of
people could be moved in one wear
by their own individual efforts, what
could they not do with government
aid? Then there must be taken in
TO consideration the tens and hun-
dreds of thousands of persons of
another class than immigrants who
were transported to this country bv
the same ships at the same time.
OF course the carrying out of this
enterprise of planting our peopla In
government Of their own in Afri-
ca will cost the United States MANY
millions OF dollars. But. the Unit
ed States owe us many millions.
Besides the commerce that would nat
uraliy spring up between the two
countries will be worth untold mil
lions OF dollars TO the United States,
not to mention the political strength
it would gain in the future when
this young dark giant of the dark
continent will have attained matur-
! ity.
Territory on the western coast of
Africa between the tenth degree of
north latitude and the twentieth de-
gree OF south latitude would be de-
sfrable. The European nations hold
ing land in this region are French,
| German, Portuguese and English.
Immense stretches of terriforv are