The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1909-12-04
Emigration to
Africa UnWise.
D. EncSt lyon. american Minister to
Iberia. b Address al New YOrk
SAYS DE Negro Gan SgnhV Tie
Struggle For blsisaCe Here
and Should Remain.
RxN.R bopsoN.

Lyceum in New York DR.. Ernest Lyon,
American minister and resident consul
general at Monrovia, Liberia, speaking
On emigration Of the American Negro
20 Africa, said:
I'm regard to the struggle which is
now on between the two races two ques-
ions are suggested-Viz: Can the race
survive the struggle? II 1t cannot, is
It wise for 1t to remain?
These in turn suggest a third, If
emigration, whittier?
1Can the race survive the struggle
for existence, in which are pitted
against it In the most formidable man
ner mind and matter, men and money,
laws and institutions, together with
every other device which the ingenuity
Of the other race can invent? answer
emphaticaIly yes. The flttest Will sur
vive. Ii is impossible to annihilate ten
millions Of people.
The ancient Britons Cicero describ-
ed as being dull, stupid and fit only for
slaves. No one would have thought
that from the latter race would come
the masters and cOnquerors Of the
earth; that their literature would have
become the cream Of the human intel
lect and their language the most popu-
lar on the globe.
Il would rather be a Negro than
anything else and to be where the
struggle Is the fiercest The hope Of
triumph through manly endeavors
should furnish inspiration to endure
hardships as a good soldier and citizen.
LET US admit, however. by way Of
argument, that the Negro cannot sur
vive. What then? Would you advise
him to remain in a land In which he
seems doomed to discrimination and
humiliation and perhaps to extinction,
as the social scientist would express it?
/ answer this question In the afhrma-
tive. I would advise him to remain
until he was thoroughly convinced that
he could better his condition by going
70 some other country.
eWhat are the reasons advanced to
justify Negro emigration from the
United States? Two-the white mans
reason, general unacceptability on &C
count Of race and color with this we
cannot deal In this paper; second, the
black mans reason, prejudice.
This Is the most comprehensive
term that can be employed. All seem
agreed that prejudice against race
and color, arising from previous con-
dition Of servitude, Is the root OF the
eYil. This Is the indictment and the
only one that can be made against the
people Of the United States. But do
not think the situation VIII be helped
any by declaring that the evil is uni
Versal.
'SWhat imputation can be brought, 50
FAR as the country itself Is concerned,
against the territorial adequacy Of its
resources for the livelihood Of its citi-
Sens without any reference to race, color
or previous condition Of servitude?
what Indictment can be brought |
against the abundance OF Opportuni- |
ties In almost every sphere Of influence !,
for the development and progress Of
the Negroes. II the door Of oppor-
tunity closes among the whites he can /
turn to more than 100000 OF his
own race whose needs are similar IN
der the same favorable auspices.
what imputation can be brought
AGAINST the advantage for education
Of every kind-classicaL professional,
technical, liberal and industrial2 In
no other country in the world do the
same advantages exist for the poor.
"What indictment can be brought /
against the spirit Of Christian benevo-
lence, which Is widespread, manifest
ing itself In a number Of schools and
colleges, universities and seminaries,
scattered all over the land, for the
higher education OF the Negro2
Now, say with al eandor II the
Negro can better his condition In 50
brief a time by going somewhere else.
let him leave.
%where win you direct him to go7
Africa, you say, but Liberia in partie-
ular.
sNo one who knows the condition in
Africa would advise emigration to any |
part OF that continent. / think the
feeling is decidedly against the coming |
Of the American Negro. am satisfied |
that the American Negro would ind,
IN addition 10 the opposition which |
would come from the heads Of Euro
pean colonies and protectorates In
africa, If he intended TO live In them,
q curious kind Of prejudice Of blacks
against blaels, which would annoy |
him equally as much, II not more, than |
that In tie United States.
Il shoIld feel some delicaey In Of
fsring Liberia to American Negroes,
IN view Of the fact that the highest
auth0rities In Liberia have declared
that It Is not ready for the return Of
the exilea."