The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-07-29

their subjects. Tho Dutch and Swcdes
respectively prohibited the traffic to
their subjects. The Dutch and swedes
respectively prohibited tho traffic 10
their subjects few years later II
seems that slavery was abolished by
the South American states as they
gained their independence. II was
abolished in the West indies In 1898.
ia All parts OF the British donations
Ia 1870. In addition to what England
paid Portugal and Spain to prohibit
tho slave traffic In their dominions
this government distributed twenty mill
lion pounds among the slave owners
OF the West Indies for the liberation
the millions the English spent In the
founding Of Sierra Leone as a settle-
Inent for freed slaves. and the mill
lions she spent IN patrolling the West
Coast East Africa and the Persian
Giilf TO crusa ont the traffic In human
beings. 1t strilses one as being most
unique example OF q nation doing
penance for sins and making repara-
with M the vigilence Ia guarding the
coasts and the restrictive measures
passed by other nations the slave
trade was continued until the COM
plete abolition OF slavery In the New
World. and there ceased 20 bo q mar
kot for them. Il Is Impossible TO read
the history OF tho crueIties perpetrat-
ed upon the black man without real
king what dreadful price he has
had to pay for his baehwardness. and
yet, II must be admitted that he has.
been the gamer In the final analysts
Bufferings and bondage have uahered
him into q new worlda vision Of the
meaning OF life and made him heir
Of the highest development In govern
mont Ia science. IN art, In literature
and In relielon-the heir OF all the
ages. The fires through which the
black mans new environment have
forced him TO pass. have purged him
from his extreme sayasery. have ex-
plotted forever The theory advanced
~ some. that the Negro was incapable
Of absorbing the white mans civiiiza-
ton. with just a fraction Of mans
chance. We are forced to the conclu-
sion that the Negro was not brought
hore by accident--but By the directing
hand OF an over-ruling Providence.
Can Liberia ever become the mecca
for the oppressed Negro In other
lands7 No thoughtful member Of the
race can approach this subject with
out serious mlsgivings and degree
OF tlmidity which naturally selves one
when great question OF weighty Inn |
port ana far reaching consequence con-
fronts him. We arc living in q serious
AEGEAN age which demands the best |
that Ia la us. both In constructive |
thought and well poised deliberate |
aDtlon. There Is no place for the idle
dreamer and the self-eeelking syc0-
phant--he has boen the greatest bur-
den to our struggling race. We have
all noticed IN this country In recent
years the ever growing disposition
on the part OF the dominant race to |
crush out whatever manhood and nat |
ural human aspirations that well up
IN the Negroes breast. as Ia the breast
Of any other class Of American citi-
Nens." II could not be otherwise--we
study the same books. we espouse the
same ideals. we swear allegiance to |
the same flag we have fought In the
same wars and embrace the same
idea OF God. We brought nothing
TO the American nation but our pow
erful muscle and bigness OF soul:
was best In the European civilization
but In the matter OF nation building |
We worked together. while he fur
aished the brains we furnished the
Drawn Ia q very large measure.
I've came In savage state. raw from
ne junglos and was placed on trial.
first In the acid test Of slavery. and
subsequently by constitutional enact
ment. In the more exacting test OF
freo American citizens, How well we
met the first test our presence here |
today will testify--had The Negro been
unable to serve well as a slave he I
would have been useless for the pur-
pose for which he was brought here
the chapter. The second test is yet
in embryo and can only be prophecy |
based on the achievements DC the past |
fifty-six years, Let us sec what lie
has to base his future ori In 1922
we have 10 our credit ESQ., 900 homes. |
operate 100000 FARMS conduct 10000
business institutions. have accumulated
$500 900 900 In wealth; reduced his
iIliteracy from 10 TO 80 percent; erect |
ed 800 colleges e1d 81 n or schools;
che public schools; he has 1000
teachers in all schools; owns $4,000 = |
100000 In splio0l property for higher |
education; no has $4,000 churches
1.500.000 children IL the Sunday school
and owns ss0.000.00o worth OF church
property. believe any fair minded !
man must admit this to be a fine
showing. and when the Dreadful con-
ditions under wiisctsl fhis progress has |
been made and taken into account
IL seems juHf a bit short OF a miracle.
Then. we have proven to be loyal |
Americans, our children have mingled |
their blood with cKllef Americans on
every battle field from Boston Com |
mons TO Flanders she'll torn fields
ana they have never faltered. We have
been lynched and burned at the stake
- IA many Instances our property has
been destroyed and our women abused
and yet our advice has been to the
less thoughtful. be patient II will b.
better aftor while. Judged BY every
known test. the black man has won
his right TO prop0rtIonate share Of
tho spoils Of American democracy.
but this Is persistently denied him.
Shall he now give up and seek an
outlet for his expanding energies in
the tsand from which his fathers were
torn and made slaves more than three
centuries aEoY VIII this be the so
luton Of the acute race problem In
this country? Ttrsc are questions Of
infinite moment 20 members OF our
race. The readers will pardon this
PERSONAL mention. and / trust Will re-
ceive this In the spirit OF true humility
IN which Il Is presented. But II was
in quest ~ satisfactory answer 20
these quei tons that moved the writer
TO brave Acme. the ever changing ext
gencIes incident to travel to make
can appreciate what II all means. On
the first lap ofmy journey met
great acknowledgements. January Is a
hard time to CROSS the North Atlantic.
and for six DAYS the Paris fought its
way Through a terrific storm-the
Hike OF which many old sailors had
not seen.--I experienced an extreme
ease 81 sea sickness that lasted me
tfse whole seven days. A ship just be-
hind us was lost / was advised by
paase1gers to return when j got to
EurOpe-saying thai / would die he
roro / got to Affifk Many die when
they get into the copies. On reaching
Parts my ship hnG sailed the day be-
fore and wouiu have TO wait Is
days IN Europe and my time was linn
ikod my money was short tho ticket
had from TOWrist Company was no
good, and after staying in Paris and
london III days IL would be much
shorter. II had been ots for pleas
ure and profitable study. far famed
eAd sist0rlo London. and gay benutl-
fal Paris had those. No place on earth
Is as beautiful as Paris OF II one
may truly say: Every prospect pleasos
and only man ia viler But these att
fractions did not move me- wanted
70 see Liberia stopped in French.
Spanish and English Africa but was
not satisfied It was when stepped
off the boat at Monrovla-the capitol