Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-16

Washington, D. c.. April 15.-One
occasionally hears some gushing soul
express the sentimental wish that all
the negroes might be returned to
Africa. This, in the opinion of these
well meaning persons, would settle the
negro problem of the south, would I'M
do the wrong done to the negroes
when the slavers brought them to this
country, and would restore to their
native land the American black men,
where they, having profited by their
experience in government in this coun-
try could build up new republic and
gain political sovereignty.
1t is very beautiful thought, but
Uncle Sam, in dealing with recent
possible violation of the mails, was
dealing with the facts and not theories.
Consequently, Uncle Sam came to n
very different conclusion. The best
place for American negroes, he decid-
ed, is in America and not Africa.
1t is most interesting case-still
pending, by the way, in the postoffice
department-and it has to do with one
"Chief Sam, of the Gold Coast full
blooded African who is endeavoring
to gain negro recruits in America for
a Utopian colonization scheme in
Africa. Already he has attracted the
attention of many negroes, especially
in Oklahoma and the southwest.
"Chief SAM" it seems, is at present
cruising off the Maine coast on the
ship "Curityda,'' which he owns and
commands. He was recently ordered
out of New York harbor. 1t is Chief
c., ,,e,,S~ %0 q Gold
of west Africa with American negroes.
In order to be eligible each recruit
must have considerable sum OF mon
ey, since the African immigration law
requires that each colonist must have
between 500 and $4O0 before he can
land.
It was the possession of this money
by those who have joined the colonial
tor movement that attracted the sus-
picion of the United States authori-
ties. The government agents have
been unable to find that the Chief
has defrauded any of his followers. but
he is looked upon with suspicion, main
w because of the fact that it is pal
pably not practical scheme to colon
ize the fever-ridden Gold Coast with
American negroes.
The government got first hand lrfor-
nation on this head from American
Consul w. J. VERIFY, of Freetown, Ser
ra Leone, Africa, whose report knocks
in the head the prevalent opinion that
American negroes could return to
Africa and live happily there If the
means of transportation were proVld'
ed Said Consul VERIFY:
"Those negroes who have come to
West Africa suffer untold misery and
are for the most part illiterate farmers
who have, through long struggle,
managed to save enough to pay pas
sage for themselves and family, with
barely enough to live on through their
first certain attack of African malaria
Many have expressed the choice OF
prison life in America to freedom mere.
In addition to the above, now ana then
a misguided independent missionary
comes, suffers and dies.
OF the few American negroes VINO
have found their way to west Africa
to settle in Liberia, ninety-nlne per
cent are unprepared to meet the econ
omic conditions and express regret at
having left America. These, except
inp few who cannot secure passage
return to the United States
some have been assisted by the con-
sui in securing passage on Sailing
vessels returning to America. te"'
other than well-educated American
negroes, can accommodate themselves
to the existing racial, religious ana
economic conditions, the natives al
ways considering them foreigners.