Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-05-17

the letter began In the quaint language
Of one to whom English IL still . for.
eign tongue. We have seriously and
keenly observed your request. and
have accepted 40 we are aware Il 10
from an experienced and well consid-
cred source"
The letter continues: Your scheme
and attitude to raise your countrymen,
we hail for It. in this country We
are looking forward for q day that
you would deem wise and fit to con.
vey your scheme OF raising the ne
groes In that country to this country
OF aboriginal natives. since q very
limited number could come over to
that country We believe that II was
Gods hand that touched and aroused
such feelings in your heart and mind
Come what might be said the re-
demption Of Africa will be person
who by blood Gains It as his, and cir.
cumstances force him 10 that point.
Among the other intere sting letters
gro college at WHEREFORE. O.. who
has started a school In what he calls
The BLACK Belt OF South Africa" lie
says: Remember us In this country.
for We are surrounded with thousands
Of people who need your Tuskegee
right among them: who need some
thing more than just the preaching OF
the Cos pei; who need to be lifted up
by means Of Industrial training, back.
ed up by high school such as your
humble writer has started out here
right In the Black Belt Of South Al
rica.'"
In some parts of Africa and South
America the news that there was to
be meeting of negroes and friends
OF the negroes from all parts OF the
world has given rise to the strangeat
Illusions Among the natives OF Dutch
Guiana for example. the report has
gone abroad that the negro king OF
North America has invited representa-
tives Of the negro race In every part
Of the word to an International con-
gress.
One OF the most interesting letters
spoke Of pres nt conditions In Abys-
sinfa since the the death of Emperor
Menelik. The writer. who Is Swed
ish missionary, said:
THE Swedes here sympathize with
the co'ored people and have good
few men and women among them for
erecting schools, for propagating good
books and for bringing up industry.
For the same purpose, | came,t TO A.
RIGA, 1898. and during my stay on the
field ! have seen some OF the places
where The Portugeses were busy with
their slave trade; have seen what an
inhuman treatment the slaves In A.
RIGA still are exposed to. but have also
seen that the colored people can be
lifted and developed.
"A conference such as the one at
Tuskeegee institute certainly will be
interesting and instructive. for there
one can see what effect the culture
and Christianity has had on the de.
scendants Of the sons OF Africa. and
also learn new methods found out by
the colored people themselves. But
the state OF the country where | am
and the circumstances that ! am
lone missionary in Abyssinia binders
me to leave my post. The etrong
hands of Emperor Menelik have left
the reins and anarchy has taken the
place Of the rule. The government 10
very suspicious and imprisons both po-
litical and religious persons. Out OF
our people. We had twenty-five persons
imprisoned last year. and among them
school boys under twelve years OF
age. (The boys were not imprisoned
on account OF suspicion for political
plots. but simply because they were
learning reading, writing and count
ing, etc. Did now leave, a catas-
trophe very likely would allure again.
I'm Abyssinia there Is no one IN
the present government that cares
about the colored peoples outside
their own borders. Out Of the sub
dued tribes and other neighboring
tribes great numbers Of slaves are
taken both for work within Abyssinia
and for slave markets abroad. The
Abyssinians therefore hold that the
lower the people stand the better"
Numerous other letters were received
from distinguished men in different
parts OF the world. who have been or
are interested In Africa. One Of these
was from Sir Henry H. Johnston. who
visited America a few years ago and
wrote a book upon THE Negro In the
New World" Another came from Sir
George Taubman Goldie, the man who
founded the great colony of Nigeria.
The governor general Of the Sudan.
where Tuskegee students have been
employed In the effort to Introduce
cotton culture among the natives. sent
a message expressing his interest IN
the objects Of the conference.
| Following Is Dr.. Booker T. Wash
ington's Introductory address to the
conferences:
For some time past, have received
an increasing number Of letters and
Inquiries every year. from persons out
side the United States. who have want
ed to learn something in regard to the
work and methods Of the Tuskegee
institute. These letters have come
from many parts OF the world; they
have come from missionaries in Africa,
Australia and India, from officials OF
the colonial, governments in Europe.
and from all sorts Of persons who are
interested, directly or indirectly. In
lifting up the man at the bottom IN
any xpart Of tho world.