Today, eight European governments have from one to three exploring parties penetrating that vast continent for various purposes. The negro slave of America has become a free man, has the ballot in his hand, and the nation is under bonds to fit him for citizenship. He is restive in his present position. He has an instinct for home which does not find its full satisfaction either on the cotton lands of Mississippi, nor on the corn fields of Kansas or Indiana. What it all means, God in His own time will fully unfold. Meantime, the pressure of necessity is upon us to save ourselves from being trampled to death under the feet of these ignorant voters, led to the polls by unscrupulous demagogues. When we have done this, we shall have fitted an instrument for God’s own right hand; whether for use in America or in Africa chiefly, we know not, and it matters not. * * * * * _John Sykes._—The editor of the _Independent_, on a recent excursion into Virginia, met with, what we may begin to call, a representative negro, for John Sykes is not so much alone today as James’ celebrated solitary horseman of thirty years ago. He is the owner of 171 acres of land near Lake Drummond, all paid for, and stocked with horse, mule, several cows, pigs, sheep, and fowl. He was on his way to Hampton to hear the valedictory address of his son, with great expectations as to what he should see and learn as to new methods of farming practiced on the great farm connected with the school. His daughter is to take her turn at the school next year, to be followed by another son. Since he bought his land, eight years ago, twenty-five other colored men, his neighbors, have purchased, and paid for, land in lots of from 5 to 50 acres each, while some thirty others have contracts for similar lots. All this within eight years, and along with it has been a progress in education and general thrift which is most hopeful. The editor met four graduates on the same boat with Mr. Sykes, on their way back to Hampton to attend the graduating exercises, “whose intelligence and gentlemanliness were most marked.” He adds as the result of his observations, what a recent excursion into the South enables us to confirm, “In Virginia, the colored people are rapidly rising in intelligence, in comfort, and in wealth; and the feeling of the whites toward them is quite as kindly as could be expected.”