their gaze; and its consolations have never entered their hearts, nor its everlasting truths cheered their deaths. "And all this only epitomizes the miseries of Africa, for it would take a volume to detail and enumerate them. But this is sufficient to convince any son of Africa that the land of our fathers is in great spiritual need, and that those of her sons who haply have ability to aid in her restoration, will show mercy to her, and perform an act of filial love and tenderness which is but their 'reasonable service.' "I have two objects in view in addressing you this letter: one relates to the temporal, material interests of adventurous, enterprising colored men; and the other pertains to the best and most abiding interests of the million masses of heathen on this continent-I mean their evangelization. "First, I am to speak with reference to the temporal and material interests of adventurous, enterprising and aspiring men in the United States of America. I wish to bring before such persons reasons why they should feel interest in Africa. These reasons are not, I am free to confess, directly and distinctively philanthropic; although I do, indeed, aim at human well-being through their force and influence. But I appeal now more especially to the hopes, desires, ambition, and aspirations of such men. I am referring to that sentiment of selfregard which prompts to noble exertions for support and superiority. I am aiming at that principle of SELF LOVE which spurs men on to self advantage and self aggrandizement; a principle which, in its normal state and in its due degree, to use the words of BUTLER, 'is as just and morally good as any affection whatever.' In fine, I address myself to all that class of sentiments in the human heart which creates a thirst for wealth, position, honor, and power. I desire the auxiliary aid of this class of persons, and this class of motives, for it is such influences and agencies which are calculated to advance the material growth of Africa. She needs skill, enterprise, energy, worldly talent, to raise her; and these applied here to her needs and circumstances, will prove the handmaid of Religion, and will serve the great purposes of civilization and enlightenment through all her borders. * * * * "Africa is as rich in resources as India is; not as yet as valuable in products, because she is more unenlightened, and has a less skillful population. But so far as it respects mineral and vegetable capacity, there seems to me but little, if any, doubt that Africa more than rivals the most productive lands on the globe. "Let me set before you, though briefly, some of the valuable articles of West African trade. * * * * "The following table is an attempt to classify valuable products and articles of present trade. Nearly every article mentioned has come under my own personal inspection; the exceptions are not over a dozen and a half. Individuals of rare gifts and endowments have given distinction to a nation or an age, and like fixed stars shed their light through the darkness of the present to guide and cheer the generations of future times. They seem ordained of Heaven for signs and for seasons in the progress of Humanity to give direction to the opinions and destiny of mankind. The influence of one great mind may extend itself beyond that of all its cotemporaries, and bless more powerfully their successors. In nothing should the friends of Liberia more rejoice than in the influence which her freedom, schools, and prospects are exerting upon the minds of her people, the intellectual and moral power set in motion by her institutions to extend the boundaries of knowledge, civilization, and the Kingdom of Christ. Consider the labors of Paul and of Luther, and of many who have imitated their example in modern times; reflect upon the Apostolic spirit which impels many faithful servants of the Most High to push forward the triumphs of Christianity in Africa and other heathen lands, upon the blessing that has opened their way and made their Ministry mighty and effectual, and rest assured that the Divine Promise to Ethiopia will shortly be fulfilled. The author of this instructive and able pamphlet is of pure African blood, was educated for the Ministry in the Episcopal Church, completing his studies for this end through the kindness of English friends at Queens' College, Cambridge, England, at which place he received such information from President Roberts, and others, as led him to decide upon making Liberia his permanent home. Before visiting England he had been Pastor of a Protestant Episcopal Church in New York, and thus became well known to many of the intelligent colored people of this country. In our number for October, 1857, we published several extracts from his oration on the duty of a rising Christian State, delivered before the Common Council and Citizens of Monrovia, July 26, 1855, the day of National Independence. That oration must have deeply impressed the citizens of Liberia, and taught them the necessity of mental culture for the honor and prosperity of the State. As for the world's history in general, he asks, "how few have known any thing about training and fashioning men. Vast hordes of male inhabitants there are, in this country and that; but that largeness of soul, that quick, glad recognition of noble principles, that love and reverence of fixed and Eternal Truth, that eager desire for the work of life which mark and characterize men-TRUE MEN-in how many of the human frame and form—in any land, can you discover them?" Yet such men are the strength, security, and glory of any society, and though, at its commencement few, if faithful to their trust, their numbers will increase until their influence shall pervade the Commonwealth. It augurs well for Liberia that such a man as Mr. Crummell, with his scholarship and learning, has consecrated his abilities to the interests of Liberia, and through her to the population of Africa. One eminent man brings honor to a State, and a few great actions or works rescue an age or a people from reproach. The letter of Mr. Crummell contains much valuable information, and is written in a spirit so just, reasonable, and candid, that if any should fail to be won over to his conclusions they cannot fail to cherish a true respect for his character, learning, and abilities. Yet, we indulge the hope, that many of our better instructed free people of color will find the words of Mr. Crummell seconded by a voice within, and go forth in that spirit which is always "twice blessed," to reveal the Day Spring from on High to their brethren in the region and shadow of death. We give a few extracts, in hopes that many will be induced to purchase the pamphlet. "When these colored men question the duty of interest in Africa because they are not Africans, I beg to remind them of the kindred duty of self-respect. And my reply to such queries as I have mentioned above, is this: 1. That there is no need of asking the interest of Englishmen, Germans, Dutchmen and others, in the land of their fathers, because they have this interest, and are always proud to cherish it. And 2d, I remark that the abject state of Africa is a most real and touching appeal to any heart for sympathy and aid. It is an appeal, however, which comes, with a double force to every civilized man who has negro blood flowing in his veins. "Africa lies low and is wretched. She is the maimed and crippled arm of humanity. Her great powers are wasted. Dislocation and anguish have reached every joint. Her condition in every point calls for succor; moral, social, domestic, political, commercial, intellectual. Whence shall flow aid, mercy, advantage to her? Here arises the call of duty and obligation to colored men. Other people may, if they choose, forget the homes of their sires; for almost every European nation is now reaping the fruits of a thousand years civilization. Every one of them can spare thousands and even millions of their sons, to build up civilization in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, or Victoria. But Africa is the victim of her heterogeneous idolatries. Africa is wasting away beneath the accretions of civil and moral miseries. Darkness covers the land and gross darkness the people. Great social evils universally prevail. Confidence and security are destroyed. Licentiousness abounds everywhere. Moloch rules and reigns throughout the whole continent; and by the ordeal of sassy-wood, fetiches, human sacrifices, and devil-worship, is devouring men, women and little children. They have not the Gospel. They are living without God. The Cross has never met their gaze; and its consolations have never entered their hearts, nor its everlasting truths cheered their deaths. "And all this only epitomizes the miseries of Africa, for it would take a volume to detail and enumerate them. But this is sufficient to convince any son of Africa that the land of our fathers is in great spiritual need, and that those of her sons who haply have ability to aid in her restoration, will show mercy to her, and perform an act of filial love and tenderness which is but their 'reasonable service.' "I have two objects in view in addressing you this letter: one relates to the temporal, material interests of adventurous, enterprising colored men; and the other pertains to the best and most abiding interests of the million masses of heathen on this continent-I mean their evangelization. 66 First, I am to speak with reference to the temporal and material interests of adventurous, enterprising and aspiring men in the United States of America. I wish to bring before such persons reasons why they should feel interest in Africa. These reasons are not, I am free to confess, directly and distinctively philanthropic; although I do, indeed, aim at human well-being through their force and influence. But I appeal now more especially to the hopes, desires, ambition, and aspirations of such men. I am referring to that sentiment of selfregard which prompts to noble exertions for support and superiority. I am aiming at that principle of SELF LOVE which spurs men on to self advantage and self aggrandizement; a principle which, in its normal state and in its due degree, to use the words of BUTLER, 'is as just and morally good as any affection whatever.' In fine, I address myself to all that class of sentiments in the human heart which creates a thirst for wealth, position, honor, and power. I desire the auxiliary aid of this class of persons, and this class of motives, for it is such influences and ageneies which are calculated to advance the material growth of Africa. She needs skill, enterprise, energy, worldly talent, to raise her; and these applied here to her needs and circumstances, will prove the handmaid of Religion, and will serve the great purposes of civilization and enlightenment through all her borders. * * * * "Africa is as rich in resources as India is; not as yet as valuable in products, because she is more unenlightened, and has a less skillful population. But so far as it respects mineral and vegetable capacity, there seems to me but little, if any, doubt that Africa more than rivals the most productive lands on the globe. "Let me set before you, though briefly, some of the valuable articles of West African trade. * * * * "The following table is an attempt to classify valuable products and articles of present trade. Nearly every article mentioned has come under my own personal inspection; the exceptions are not over a dozen and a half. |