The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
James A. Handy, of Baltimore, remarked that they lived in an interesting
age of the world--that it was the glory of our day that assistance is
offered to the immortal principles of man, and it struggles to free
itself from the trammels and superstitions of the past, and of the
oppressions and burthens of the present. We live in an age of physical,
moral and intellectual wonders; and that man is truly fortunate who
lives at the present, and has the privilege of aiding in carrying
forward the great enterprise of redeeming, disenthralling and restoring
back in all their primitive glory three millions of down trodden people
to the land of their forefathers. On the western shore of Africa there
was the infant republic of Liberia attracting the attention of all the
enlightened nations of the earth. For four years she had maintained her
position as an independent State, and today she was prosperous, happy
and free, acknowledged by England, France, Russia and Prussia--four of
the greatest powers of the earth; and before this year is out the United
States will be willing, ready and anxious to cultivate friendly
relations with that garden spot--that heritage which a kind and
overruling Providence has prepared for us, and not only for us, but for
all the sable sons and daughters of Ham.
One word in relation to the inducements held out by Liberia--Asia could
not exceed the variety of the productions of Africa--Europe with her
numerous manufactories and internal resources, could not cope with her
in physical greatness--America with her noble institutions, elements of
power, facilities of improvement, promises of greatness and high hopes
of immortality, was this day far, very far behind her in natural
resources. Nothing can excel the value of her productions--sugar-cane
grows rapidly, cotton is a native plant, corn and hemp flourish in great
perfection; oranges, coffee, wild honey, lemons, limes, mahogany,
cam-wood, satin-wood, rose-wood, &c., abound there; mules, oxen, horses,
sheep, hogs, fowls of all kinds, are in the greatest abundance. She
holds out a rich temptation to commerce and a strong inducement to
emigration. To the latter the United States owed what she was, making
her one of the most effective nations of the world. For years the
glorious galaxy of stars which arose in the western hemisphere have been
casting their generous, grateful light over the social, moral and
political darkness of the East, but to-day the commanding tide of
commerce is changing. From the Pacific shores the genius of American
enterprise and industry has opened a nearer highway to the Celestial
Empire, and is now, by a closer interchange of fraternal relations,
unbolting the massive doors, and securing the commerce of China and
Japan.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account