Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-11
20:
Shall We Go To Africa?

NO. !. }
/ have not said anything like as
much as l wished relative 70 the an
tquity and primitive civilization OF
the Negro race. Those who do me
the honor TO read these papers must
take into consideration that am
not writing book, but newspaper
articles, and, therefore my space
must necessarily be circumscribed.
Most Of the modern historians
have failed 10 do justice to the Ne
gro race, but they were OF the Cau-
caslan race, who have always been
niggard in their treatment OF the
Negroes history. All OF them.
however. have not acted thus. and
through the crevices OF pretudice
CLEANS OF true light have come down
10 us. The time is not far distant
when the Negro will write his own
history and then justice will be done
We come now TO the fifth tonic
SNAIL we remain here forever. on
pressed by the dominant race. de-
MED every right dear TO the hearts
OF treemen, which rights are freely
accorded to every other race al
though they be aliens, while we are
natives and citizens?
IN friendly conversation We
question by simply saying, no. But
this is an argument and we nanst
give reason for our. no.
In the first place. / do not he
lieve God ever intended that we
should remain here under the cir
cumstances. Il would negative All
tne argument gone before, bv nv
sell on any other advocate of eouaI
rights and manhood. IL is abhor-
reht TO the very nature OF true
MANHOOD 10 tamely submit TO be
Wronged and oppressed. / think I
can see the withering glance unon
the race of the immortal Robert
Burns when he said:
III I'm designed yon lordIing's slave
by natures laws designed.
why was an independent wish
er planted in my mind?
III not, why am l subject To
his cruelty and scorn?
ana why has man the will and mower
TO make his fellow mourn?"
The Bible tells us that God made
man IN his own image, that IS. with
tne characteristics of God and not
OF the brute over which he had been
given dominion by the Creator. No
true man or men, therefore, who re-
tains one spark of that noble gen
ius with which God originally en-
dowed him are willing TO live in a
state OF fear and subordination for
ever in one country when ne NAV
enjoy natural state of freedom in
another.
See the influx into this country or
immigrants from ali parts OF tbe
old world. Hon. Frank p. Sargent
commissioner General of Immigra-
ton estimates the total number Of
Immigrants coming into this country
Tor the fiscal year ending June 3Oth.
20 at 10. 7,421. In order to form a
tangible idea of this vast number Of
people, think of the great state of
virginia and remember that IL is
largely more than half the popuia-
aon or our grand old mother of
states and statesmen. And they are
coming, not for one year nor two
out every year. Why do these peo-
PIE leave their native land and suf-
ier great urivations, travelling thous
anos OF miles across the briny At
iantic ocean to a strange country?
They Will tell you IL Is because
they are not free in their native
country-that they are wronged. on
pressed and denied the rights OF
manhood there. II the immigrant
10 whom the question Is proponnded
De intelligent and frank. he will tell
you ne comes because he expects. in
Few years. to enjoy all the rights
and privileges Of citixeBship and that
you, the Negro, though. already a