The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1919-01-03

races who received, the tradition of
civilization associated for US with the
name of ancient Egypt. Ii this
should prove to be the case. and the
civilized world be forced to recognize
| Id the black people the fount of It's
original enlightenment, it may happea
that we shall have to revise entirely
our view Of the black race"
IN the rich historic past Of the Al
rican Negro Is surely proof enough 10
convince any fair-minded impartial
person that the African is eminently
'iit to exercise the functions Of self
government and that without the
guidance" Of saltruistic white ma
tons (how Hell must roar at the
xpressi0n!) nor yet Of educated
Western Negroes And If further
proof be necessary let us take the case
of the modern African. What Il tho
season Tor the superior advancement
If the nominally self-governing ma
lives Of Basutoland and Uganda over
that Of the natives Of the areas di-
rectly under control and government
Iof superimpoaed European rule 1T
may be argued that England and
france being rich and powerful ma
tiona eotald spesad faore for the esluca@
ton ef their subjects than could .
small native state. But the factsig
hat Of all the West Africa countries,
| Liberia, the poorest Of them, spends
| by far the largest sum for education.
The same thing is true of Uganda and
Basoteland Ia these two countries
native education is encouraged and
advanced. In the territories directly
goyerned by European powers, native
education is not only not encouraged
| but ACTUALLY BLOCKED! The
| 1gandans have advanced so far an to
be complimentary nicknamed the
| japanese Of the Dark Continent The
Basutos are the most enlightened and
Industrious natives of the southern
ub-continent. Yet the abilities of the
native neighbors Of lfor instance) the
3asutos are IN no way inferior to
| hose Of the people Of the glorious
| 8asuto nation. or the former no less
an authority than Maurice S. Evans,
himself an "Afrikandes," says;
"They have abilities which have
been recognized by all who have
known them well, power Of reasoned
argument, which is often surprising
| Their, laws and social customs, !,
though simple, are admirably fitted
Tor the life they lead, and certainly
indicate d power Of adopting means to
| lends that IL. biz no means Of low
older.'
/ Mr.. Evans also calls them n
wonderful, law-abiding race" Their
laws are universally accepted and
rarely inffinged' "Law-abidng the
Inatiye certainly is; his severest critic
would admit that, even when the white
mans law seems objectless he obeys
lit; and | must claim that he also obeys
in far larger number of cases thar
is commonly admitted, the higher laws
/ of conscience
That the Negro has for long been
accustomed to the functions Of gov
! ernment and the exercise and recog
nition Of authority and is a poor soil
for anarchy Of the eastern Europe and
Southern States kind, is amply demon
strated BY his tribal organization:
| "All their life is centered lii the
| tribal organization; they live, not unto
themselves, but to the tribe and chief
and unless the depth of this attach.
ment is recognized, the true inward
nessN Of the black mans life, mental
ity, and ideals will be missed. A
the call Of his hereditary chief, the
| strong but subordinate claims OF wifi
and child, the allnrements Of cattle
i end girls are forgotten, no persona
advantage, no comforts are considers
the chief as representing themselye
the whole body, If which they forn
the integral and .indissoluble part
has called, All Ii thrown aside an
jubiIantly the tribesmen respond.
Amsterdam News, New York City
..~yrssas ss . n