^ v"^ -<> '^^ THE DESTINY OF THE American Negro OR As An Eagle Stirreth Up Her Nest. BY LUCIUS L. GANT. DEC 3U 1920 g)CI.A604815 /-.^f^ '"'Vi o / Copyrighted, 1920, By Lucius L. Gant. PREFACE. In presenting this work to the 14,000,000 of my people, I have purposely avoided long-winded historical sketches and tiresome statistics, and have striven to express my thoughts as briefly as would give a comprehensive knowl- edge of the subject in hand. I have endeavored to come before you as though we were standing face to face discuss- ing questions of mutual interest, matters which vitally affect us all. I have found it necessary at intervals to state some very painful truths; but, even so, they are so based on the evidence in the case, and are so essential to the ends in view, that I cannot see how any intelligent, fair-minded person, white or black, could possibly take ex- ceptions. I lay no claims to having made any new or start- ling discovery in the field of thought, but only submit my deductions, with the hope that they, in connection with the teachings of others, may strike a responsive chord in the breast of all worthy Negroes, giving a clearer concep- tion of our duties and responsibilities, a stronger realiza- tion of our latent power, and a brighter vision of our fu- ture possibilities. The Author. INDEX. CHAPTER III. CHAPTED IV. CHAPTER V. CHAPTER VI. CHAPTER VII. Page CHAPTER I. WHY THE NEGRO _ 11 CHAPTER II. THE EAGLE AND HER NEST 19 HE FOUND HIM IN A DESERT LAND, AND IN THE WASTE HOWLr- ING WILDERNESS __ __..23 HE LED HIM ABOUT; HE IN- STRUCTED HIM __ 27 HE KEPT HIM AS THE APPLE OF HIS EYE _ __31 AS AN EAGLE STIRRETH UP HER NEST __ 33 FLUTTERETH OVER HER YOUNG 37 CHAPTER VIII. SPREADETH ABROAD HER WINGS, TAKETH THEM, BEARETH THEM __ - 39 SO THE LORD ALONE DID LEAD HIM, AND THERE WAS NO STRANGE GOD WITH HIM __ 43 TEMPERANCE VS. INTEMPERANCE__47 ECONOMY VS. EXTRAVAGANCE 51 KNOWLEDGE VS. IGNORANCE 57 TRUTH VS. FALSEHOOD 61 IDEALS — 67 THE NEGRO'S HEART 73 THE HOPE OF THE RACE -77 DEMOCRACY ...— — —82 CHAPTER IX. CHAPTER X. CPIAPTER XL CHAPTER XII. CHAPTER XIII. CHAPTER XIV. CHAPTER XV. CHAPTER XVI CHAPTER XVII. CHAPTER I. WHY THE NEGRO? It is remarkable, indeed, that I, of all men, should be led, *'as I believe," by the Spirit of God to write this mes- sage of hope and inspiration to my people. For as early in life as I can remember, I felt that the Negro, "Ishmael- like," had his hand against every man (himself included) and that every man's hand was against him. I even felt that God himself didn't love a Negro as He did other races. Consequently by reason of the forces arrayed against him, it was impossible for him to rise. But after practically a lifetime in the study of God*s Word, and thirty years of personal Christian experience, years in which I have studied the conditions surrounding the rise and fall of nations— years in which I have won- dered how, if it was ''the curse of Ham," as has been suggested, in the Negro's case, the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, should stretch itself throughout all the ages; years in which I have wondered whether his future depended solely on his own strength to fight it out; or on the calculating intrigues (11) 12 The Destiny of the American Negro. of other races. Or was there some source of justice, or fixed rule, that would eliminate every element of chance, and give the Negro a man's show? As an epitome of my deductions, I must, perforce, conclude that he is not an accident, or tool of fate, but a potent factor in the divine plans of God. Before proceeding with this work, we deem it advisable to impress the fact that the Word of God is true — the sun- rise, the change of seasons, the movements of comets, con- stellations, planets, stars and satellites being only secondary to His promises, as spoken by the mouth of His holy proph- ets. The rock of Gibraltar, ''whose rugged face has with- stood the lashing waves of many centuries, ' ' might crumble to dust, but the Word of God shall stand. (Matt. 24: 35.) "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away." We shall proceed, under the stimulus of this assurance, to attempt to inspire in some, and intensify in others, a hope that will so anchor us to a stern purpose that we will no more be found drifting on the waves of chance, but, rather, set our faces toward the goal, though we must stem the tide; and, with Spartan-like courage and unfaltering zeal, proceed under circumstances favorable or adverse to attainment. We shall attempt in these pages to lay such a concrete foundation for the hope of the Negro that no one in this The Destiny of the American Negro, 13 nor the future generations will hesitate to build, resting as- sured that honest and persistent effort will finally bring its reward. There are those, no doubt, wiio will deplore the almost total lack of political agitation in this treatise, and while we are keenly alive to the necessity of these rights, and are lending our moral and financial support to move- ments working to that end, the primaiy object of this work is to raise the moral standard of the Negro, to put forth the most convincing argument at our connnand, to show the urgent necessity of attaining a higher plane of civiliza- tion and a purer standard of Christianity, believing that, without these vital principles, all of the political agitation, or even poltical rights, his heart could desire would fail to raise him to any appreciable standard of true greatness. There are also those w^ho will see in this a queer admix- ture of religion and business. AVell, we are of the opinion that both religion and business would be vastly benefited if they would cease insisting so strenuously on segregating each other. If, when the German hordes had overrun Belgium, in- vaded France, and were knocking at the gate of fair Paris, General Foch found it advisable to spend an hour each m^orning and evening on his knees seeking divine guidance, it seems to be good reasoning that any people sorely op- pressed and discriminated against should accept the sug- gestion of this wise and successful general. 14 The Destiny of the American Negro. Right here we in truth must admit there has always been, and is at present, a large element of fair-minded white people who are spending money, facing social embarrass- ment, and doing all in their power to see that the Negro gets a fair consideration, for, without their help, it would have been utterly impossible for us to have attained any way near our present success. But there is also another large and determined element of white people who are ex- erting every effort to block the Negroes' progress, and see that he is hindered at every point. "We are not unmindful of one, nor do we condone the other. But, after viewing all of the helps, all of the hindrances, and all of the sur- rounding circumstances, favorable or adverse, it still re- mains for us to put the matter beyond quibble or question, to get a clear vision of the possibility of our future success or failure and the conditions tending to their attainment. Indulge for a moment while we explain the natural dis- position of the writer that, aided and guided by the Spirit of God, led up to the, to my mind, plausible solution of this vexing problem. As early as I can remember, I possessed an insatiable desire to see into things — natural things then, everything later. For instance, Christmas came around annually, as at present, and I feel quite certain that I was as proud of my toys as any child possibly could be. But after play- The Destiny of the American Negro. 15 ing with them a couple of hours, possibly three, I would secure a hatchet and go around behind the house. I wanted to see inside of them, and would be sadly disappointed to find that those nice little fat horses were only pieces of convexed tin fastened together with brads. Other chil- dren would often retain their toys until Christmas came again. But, alas! for me, my curiosity kept me without toys, except about two or three hours during the year. One of the happiest days of my youth was when father's watch stopped, and he allowed me to take it to pieces, examine, clean, and put it together, and it ran ! But do you know thks disposition has caused me a deal of sorrow and dis- appointment in life? For I've known people to have friends, good, bad, and indifferent, year after year, and enjoy their companionship immensely. I also have friends occasionally, and am as proud of them as a person possibly can be. But in the course of time I began to wonder what they are like inside, and the investigation so often brings sorrow and disappointment. For I find that the majority of them, "like those fat little horses," are only an aggre- gation of selfish motives held intact by fair words and de- ceitful smiles. Even so, I feel compensated for all of the anguish of spirit, occasioned by said trait, inasmuch as it has caused me to seek diligently for a plausible solution of the wherefore of the Negro, from beginning to end. 16 The Destiny of the American Negro. The unprecedented stirring events leading up to and culminating in the great world conflict, and the widespread social, political and industrial unrest prevalent among the nations of the earth, set up an inquiry in our mind as to what extent said and past events would affect the Negro. Having realized, from the study of the Bible, that nations had always, willingly or otherwise, been moved at the be- hest of God, and accepting the Bible as a history of his dealing with individuals and nations, an expression of His will, and a key to his purpose, we, having the past and the present of the Negro, felt that a case running parallel would unlock his future. A summary of the case most admirably adapted for ex- pression of the thought we wish to convey is found in Deut. 32: 10-12: "He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness ; He led him about, He instructed him. He kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings : so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him." Moses, the great Hebrew leader, after spending Jprty years in the house of Pharaoh, in Egypt, receiving intel- lectual training ; fort y years in the land of Midian, as shep- herd of Jethro's flock, receiving spiritual and actual tra in- The Destiny of the American Negro. 17 ing in leadership ; and forty years as leader of the Israel- ites, having, by the hand of God, accomplished the most remarkable feat of leadership the world has ever known^ nearing the close of his career, with a view of urging the stability of his people, and warning them of the grave dan-> bers of idolatry, and the consequences sure to follow, drew this wonderful picture. Being a shepherd, it stands to reason he would have drawn a similarity from his flock. The writer of this article sought a more appropriate me- dium of expression; and, having in mind man's intellectual supremacy over the lower order of animals, attempted to apply his invention, the cradle, but, on account of its rock- ing motion, it has a tendency to lull its occupant to sleep, and we so often find that they, ''figuratively speaking/' sleep on through life. ''Since you insist on sleeping while others strive to rise; Should you eventually wake up, and yawn, and rub your When all your opportunities have suffered sad neglect, Then poverty in old age is all you can expect." Moses, at the time of his call to service, had led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even Horeb (Ex. 3: 1). Commentators suggest that he went there to be alone with God to pray; but we believe, and subsequent events justify our belief, that he 18 The Destiny of the American Negro, was simply seeking better, grazing for his flock. For throughout his ministry, he showed exceptional devotion to duty, no sacrifice being too great for him to make for those in his charge, even spurning an offer to become father of the race (Deut. 9 : 14), at once showing love for his people and loyalty to the interest of his God, being unwilling to jeopardize his name among the heathen (Deut. 9: 28). The fact that Moses led the sheep to the back side of the desert, seeking provender, suggests to my mind that present day conditions would be vastly improved if more of the pastors would cease leading their flock across the fields of glory, and up and down hallelujah lane, and strike out into the vast areas of pasturage, as suggested in God's Word, where they could feast on thoughts of thrift, econ- omy, personal cleanliness, community interests, loyalty to country, and love to God and man. Far away from the haunts of men, the lonely shepherd had, no doubt, often watched the traits of the children of nature, ' ' observing, as he did, during his shepherd life the characteristics of a vast multitude of the beasts of the field and fowls of the air. The eagle presented probably the best similarity of God's dealing Avith His people, and, feeling that I may not do better, I accept it as sjrmbolic of God's dealing with the Negro race. CHAPTER II. THE EAGLE AND HER NEST. The eagle is remarkable for several things — her great ize and strength, her wonderful sight, her fleetness and ndurance in flight, and her strategy in evading the hunter ; )ut we only desire to interest you in the construction of ler nest, and the rearing of her young. We suggest that roil pay very close attention to the construction, use, and ibuse of this nest, as you will possibly glean thoughts other ;han the ones we disclose. She usually seeks the mountain fastnesses, and there chooses a ledge of rock from which it is many feet sheer lip and down, thereby making it inaccessible to man and prowling animals. It is also chosen with a view of being sheltered from the worst of the storms. She then gathers large branches of the trees and skillfully entwines them together, then smaller branches, then twigs and moss, finally plucking the down from her own breast. When finished, it presents a marvel of strength and comfort, and stands as a monument to her skill and ingenuity. It is very nec- essary that the nest should be comfortable, for the young (19) 20 The Destiny of the American Negro, rn eagles are very weak and tender, and as the mother bir feeds them from day to day they attain size and som measure of strength. But, as essential as the nest was a^J;, the beginning, in course of time it becomes filthy and breed lice. More than that, while they attain strength up to ji certain point, if allowed to remain in the nest it would havtj a weakening effect. So as the time for their departure ari rives, the old eagle, by instinct, begins to stir up her nesti pulling some of the hard sticks up near the surface. Sh does not make it uninhabitable at once, but stirs it suffi ciently to cause the young ones to move about, seeking mor« comfortable quarters. And as, from time to time, she stin it a little more, it becomes uncomfortable almost beyonc endurance. So, to escape its torture, they get out on the ledge, and the exercise increases their strength. During this stage of their existence the mother bird, instead oi coming directly to the nest after her excursions for food, stops in midair, just above them, fluttering her wings, by way of instructing them in the art of flght. As they leap upon her back, after the manner of the feathered tribe, she soars aloft, bearing them on her wings, and they no doubt, peering over the edge of their mother's wing, ob- serve nature in all of her transient moods — the cataract, leaping from crag to crag ; the mighty boulders jutting out in bold relief here and there; the giant cedars and other The Destiny of the American Negro. 21 jpecies of the forest, draping the sides of the mountain,, md far below, the green meadow, dotted with herds of 3attle, browsing lazily on the grass, and the charming lake, i^ith the sunlight shimmering upon its placid bosom — in jhort, a world of vast proportions and transcending beauty. Ever and anon the old eagle darts from under the little }nes, and, struggle as they might, they would find them- selves falling, with the prospect of being dashed to pieces Dn the rocks below; but the mother, ever watchful, ever ready, goes to their rescue. Naturally she carries them back to their home on the ledge. But in that hour was born in them a desire to fly — yes, an overwhelming deter- mination for the conquest of the air. Why? Because aerial conquest is the heritage of the feathered tribe. It is, indeed, an unworthy specie even among the lower ani- mals that does not seek to realize the highest standard of its kind. In man it is no less than criminal. CHAPTER III. HE FOUND HIM IN A DESERT LAND, AND IN THE WASTE HOWLING WILDERNESS. An insignificant beginning presents no convincing argu- ment why one should remain so. The success of individ- uals and races depends largely on their inherent and ac- quired characteristics, the intensity of their desire to suc- ceed, and the will and power to face difficulties and over- come obstacles. ''These qualities about embracing the scope of our effort," we can safely leave the rest to him that doeth all things well. He found the Negro in a desert- land and in the waste howling wilderness; literally, the greatest on the face of the earth; figuratively, the desert suggests solitude, cut off from the benefits of civilization, alone in a wilderness of ignorance and superstition, having no art or science, no constructive form of government, no language, no religion, no God. The fact is that all of those teeming millions in all of that broad expanse of territory had but one redeeming asset, and that was a heart. By the term ''heart," we do not mean the organ that manip- ulates the blood supply ; for he no doubt had other physical (23) 24 The Destiny of the American Negro, organs, which performed their duty equally as well — a stomach, for instance. But we mean that vital principle which raises men above the lower animals — that elusive, unnamable quality that forms the very bedrock of his being, the seat of emotions. The ancients believed it was his bowels; hence, ''his bowels did yearn upon his brother*' (Gen. 43 : 30) . The Middle Ages adopted the heart. ''Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4: 23). The more modern idea accepts the mind. "Let this mind also be in you which was in Christ Jesus" (Ph. 2:5). It is true that passages containing illustration of the progress of this thought are somewhat dovetailed in the Bible; but the trend is very apparent to the observant eye. « We make the foregoing explanation so that when later v/e shall refer to the Negro 's ' 'heart ' ' you will more readily understand the trend of our thought. Scientists describe the Negro as having a skin ranging in color from copper to ebony, a big mouth, thick lips, thick, flat nose, thick, narrow skull, flat, receding forehead, woolly or kinky hair, scanty beard, flat chest, flat buttocks, long arms, bow legs, flat feet, with long heels; a brain about five ounces smaller than the white man's, that is fairly re- ceptive, making him an excellent imitator. But in that which requires independent thought, they declare he stands The Destiny of the American Negro. 25 on a low stage. The primeval Negro certainly does not present a very alluring picture. But his present physical and mental development proves conclusively one of two things, or both — that there is a master mind and hand, at work in his reconstruction, or that he had inherent in him a mind far more susceptible to improvement than was sus- pected of him, when examined in his raw state, either of which speaks volumns for the hope of his continued suc- cess. CHAPTER IV. HE LED HIM ABOUT; HE INSTRUCTED HIM. God works in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He even makes the wrath of men to praise Him. He also utilizes their greed and other emotions as agents to accom- plish His purpose. A bout three^ umlred years ago the prospects of ajlife of ease and wealt h caused the settlers to begi n importing Negroes to America. These people were just as previously stated as they were when found in the wilderness, and being unused to the rigors of winter, or the customs of civiliza- tion, they were practically helpless, requiring a master mind to look after their ever^^ need. *'He instructed him." The question naturally arises that if God had really chosen him, why didn't he miracu- lously instruct him. Well, my observation reveals the fact that God usually resorted to miracles to prove his divinity to pagan races, where other gods were arrayed against him. The miracles in Egypt w^ere to convince Pharaoh; at Mt. Carmel, to discredit Baal; in Babylon to confound the Chaldeans ; in the time of our Lord to prove His divinity ; (27) 28 The Destiny of the American Negro. and in the years immediately succeeding, to establish Chris- tianity. Besides, to my mind, there are other and valid reasons why God should be conservative in the employ- ment of miracles. For miracles of teaching would discour- age study, consequently dwarfing the mind and blocking the progress of art and science ; miracles of healing would encourage intemperance and careless living. Besides, the immutable law of the universe decrees that sin shall bring its o^vn punishment. But by the indiscriminate use of miracles, the reckless youth would plunge into debauchery and vice until he was rotten, soul and body, then drag him- self to his good old Christian mother, who, under the in- fluence of mother love, would lay her hands on him and heal him, only to return to his vice as a dog to his vomit, or a sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. And God, ''the sovereign of all the universe," by His free distribution of power, would have His hands tied and be helpless to interfere, unless He'd wipe the world out of existence. But God in His superior wisdom instructed him in the school of slavery, where, aside from acquiring the rudiments of language, industry and religion, he was taught by hard experience, ''which in many cases is the only teaching that sticks." The advantages of wisdom, wealth, and power. He was also taught the virtue of pa- tience, being made to realize that true growth is the result The Destiny of the American Negro. 29 of processing. That inasmuch as the giant oak and other monarchs of the forest, that spurn the fury of storms and defy the ravages of time, attained their status by adding annually a layer to its trunk and a cubit to its stature, and by piLshing its roots inch by inch in every direction, and down into the heart of the earth, forcing them into the crevices of rocks and gripping them as security against the approach of the storm. So much so must men and nations aspiring to greatness, work out their destiny with courage and patience. CHAPTER V. HE KEPT HIM AS THE APPLE OF HIS EYE. Despite the handicap of a weak body and inferior brain, and his ignorance of hygienic laws, he continued to show numerical increase, and proved himself adaptable to all climatic conditions, and all of the requirements of civiliza- tion. Often in privation and want, being forced to eat poor and unwholesome food, live amid squalid and unsan- itary surroundings, wear insufficient clothes to protect their bodies during the winter seasons, and above all, the blighting sense of oppression, and the dismal prospects of a future for himself and his children — especially his chil- dren, whom he loves the same as other races do theirs — ^he remained true to his trust and his God. Ex. 3:2: ''And behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed," symbolic of a race burning in the fire of affliction and bondage, yet not being con- sumed, indicating the intervention of the hand of God. We call attention to the fact, that it might be worthy of more than passing notice. For (Ex. 3: 3) Moses said: **I (31) 32 The Destiny of the American Negro, will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bushi is not burnt.'* Note by contrast the American Indian, who was already accustomed to climatic conditions, and who showed no such i physical or mental deficiencies as was accredited to the* Negro; and yet, in contact with civilization, he is fast be- coming extinct, being annihilated by tuberculosis. CHAPTER VL AS AN EAGLE STIRRETH UP HER NEST. As the slaves grew and multiplied, the cotton industry assumed definite form, by the invention of the cotton gin, and with the prevailing high prices and the possibilities presented by the utilization of slave labor. The slave- holder's cupidity was aroused, and they began to dream of a great empire of unlimited w^ealth. As the ''dream" began to be realized, they began to lay heavier burdens on the slaves, and to appoint over them hard task-masters, ** overseers and nigger drivers," who often beat and other- wise abused them unnecessarily. Consequently, instead of the friendly relation, the "doglike felicity" that had ex- isted between master and slave, there grew up an enmity, resulting in the slaves frequently running away, going North, and as they related their tales of horror and pre- sented scars to substantiate them, a feeling of revulsion began to form itself in the minds of the more conscientious element, causing them to spend vast sums of money and perfect elaborate means of escape for the slaves— so much (33) 34 The Destiny of the American Negro. so that it was ''dubbed" the underground railway. Moi than that, the thought began to take form that the Negr must be freed. Abraham Lincoln, when a boy, witnessin the horrors of slavery during a trip South, had th: thought fixed in his mind, and it grew up a part of hin becoming a potent factor in shaping the destiny of on people, by tJie part he played in breaking off the shackle of bondage. But all of this is history, and the averag person is no doubt conversant with the facts surroundin these incidents. Suffice it to say that the incidents lead ing up to and culminating in the great civil conflict wer utilized by the hand of God to accomplish, among othe things, our freedom. For inasmuch as it was not good fo the young eagles to remain in a nest that was becomin|; filthy and breeding lice, so much so was it essential tha the Negro be liberated from under the yoke of bondage For two hundred and forty years he had been a fledgelinj in the nest of slavery, and however necessary it may havt been at the beginning, through the course of years it hac become loathsome and disgusting. Greed and oppressioi had risen up and stank in the nostrils of God. And bj reason of their condition and prayers, the Lord said (Ex 3:7) : **I have surely seen the affliction of my people which I are in Egypt (bondage), and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. * ' The Destiny of the American Negro, 35 As previously stated, during the years of slavery the Negro had acquired the rudiments of industry, language and religion, and to have remained in slavery would have deprived him of the privilege of developing his knowledge of industry along lines co-ordinate with his talents, or of improving his language beyond the dialect available to chance. But the supreme tragedy of all is, it would have caused him to doubt the veracity of the God he had learned to love, worship and trust. Consequently the results of the stirring events incident to and coincident with the great civil warjwasjbo m ake the Neg^o stand on^hi sj^^.1 There were those, of course, who wept bitter tears on being separated from their former masters and being thrown on their own resources. While we admit the outlook was in- deed bleak and dreary, to be turned adrift with absolutely nothing but an appetite, we deplore the fact that there are still men who prefer toremain in the n^st^of iadolence and allow the lice of ignorance, superstition, poverty and crime to sap their God-given power and blight the future... pos- sibilities of themselves and their children, rather than stand on their feet and exert every effort to soar out into the ether of lmawl£dge^in.d£pfin.dfin££..ajid--U§ efulness, thereb y assuring a bright future for their children and presenting an ideal for those who come within the radius of their in- fluence. CHAPTER VII. FLUTTERETH OVER HER YOUNG. ^ince the object of this treatise is to create in some, and stimulate in other Negroes a desire to soar above his present environments, it might be well to call attention to one of his characteristic traits, according to science — that is, his tendency to imitate — one that has proved his great- est blessing, also his greatest cnrse. In the days of slavery, when he was under the scourge of a master, he began to realize that his master was only a man, and that he was all of that himself. But his master's educatio n and wealth- had put him in a position to rule, whereas his own ignorance and poverty had left him no choice but to serve. That his master's wealth made it possible for him to wear fine clothes, eat wholesome food, live in respectable houses, ride and drive good horses, and educate his children, there- by perpetuating his supremacy, whereas his own poverty made it necessary for him to eat and wear such as his master gave him, which was, as a rule, common and insuf- ficient clothes, poor and unwholesome food, a sorry hut to live in, and no means bv which to educate his children, (37) 38 The Destiny of the American Negro. thereby indicating a future that was indeed dreary. Some of them hoarded every penny they could obtain, and bought their freedom, and started out, figuratively speaking, to take a journey on foot, where other men were going on wings. It isn't a very encouraging picture, but it shows the indomitable courage inherent in the man. It also shows that imitation isn't so bad, after all, whenever it is possible to find a worthy example. For we more than half suspect that he acquired the major portion of his bad traits by imitating other races. * * Imitation ' ' carries our mind back to the home on the ledge, and presents the thought that, after the nest had been stirred up, and was so uncom- fortable as to be practically uninhabitable, the young eagles began to sit or stand up, and take notice, and as the mother bird fluttered over them, it dawned upon them that their own inability to fly made it necessary for them to stand around on the bare ledge and shiver in the cold, cruel dawn, and eat such as the old eagle brought, which left them in a state of perpetual hunger. Consequently he began to flap his little wings. Of course, he couldn't fly; but the desire fixed his determination and the exercise gave him strength. CHAPTER VIII SPREADETH ABROAD HER WINGS, TAKETH THEM, BEARETH THEM. One of the bloodiest wars in history gave the Negro his freedom; one of the bitterest political eras in history gave him the ballot. And since there was considerable enmity between the opposing factions, it stands to reason that the Negro would often be used by the stronger faction as a medium of revenge, and no doubt some of his rights and positions were given him solely for that purpose. Be that as it may, the fact remains that he was the innocent cause of many a bloody and bitter conflict, which, through abso- lutely no fault of his own, brought upon him a storm of prejudice. And after a few years of the most shameful and disgusting uses to which a nation's franchise could be put, it was taken from him by state rights — years in which he had bee n ku klux ed, brow-beaten and what not; yearsljtt which he had through ignorance often sold his vote for a song, a few paltry dollars appealing to him more than the future of his race. Quite often in those days, a candidate with an ample supply of bad whisky and worse (39) r 40 The Destiny of the American Negro. cigars, a few dollars and a smooth tongue, but absolutely no pinciple would sweep the community off its feet and go in office by a landslide ; while a conscientious opponent,; who did not resort to such means, but simply ran on his merits, would be buried under an avalanche. It has been asserted by some of our ablest speakers and writers that it was a serious mistake to have given the Negro the ballot, and to have put him in exalted positions — that he should have been first educated and thoroughly instructed in the use and abuse of his franchise, all of which seems reasonably true. But while they seemed only to have seen the tragedy of it, I see the hand of God. For, although the experiment proved a failure — ''absolute, mir-' erable failure" — in that period was born in him a deter- mination to prepare himself for the duties and responsi- bilities of citizenship. The incident carries our minds back | to the home on the ledge. When the old eagle had carried her brood out to view a world vast in scope and radiant in splendor, and then back to the existence on the bare rock, they were made cognizant of two things — their own weak- ness and the advantage of power. The Negro's political rise showed him the advantage of power, while his fall emphasized his weakness and short- comings. Being naturally energetic and aspiring, he set | about to rem.edy his defects and right his v/rongs. The Destiny of the American Negro. 41 We simply invite you to scan his history, and note his present progress along all lines, and decide for yourself whether or not the experiment has proven a success. CHAPTER IX. so THE LORD ALONE DID LEAD HIM, AND THERE WAS NO STRANGE GOD WITH HIM. The argmnent naturally arises, that this picture was 'drawn by Moses to magnify God's choice of Israel. Conceded; but it does establish the fact that the rise and fall of nations is not consummated by chance, but is under the direct supervision of the hand of God; and to my mind it substantiates the reason- ing that he would employ the same method, to elevate other races, and prepare them for effective service. It also establishes the fact that God chooses people, not for their abilities, but their possibilities; not on their face value, but on their inherent qualities; not on account of their exalted ideas, but for the flexibility of their will — a will that may be blended with His own, thereby absorbing its strength from an unerring, inexhaustible and unques- tioned source. It might be further argued that God has no special choice from a racial standpoint. Conceded ; but He does endow certain races with special traits, which, prop- erly developed, would constitute a choice. He then, Tl 44 The Destiny of the American Negro, through his wonderful providence, secures for them an oj portunity for development, leaving entirely to their ow minds whether or not they care to be His choice. Tt, , Negro's religious tendencies present a strong argument il his favor. Of course, his religion is to a great extent art en ficial; yet the fact remains that the tendency does exis and only requires honest, all-around development. *' After viewing the hand of God in the affairs of mei and the natural qualifications, and past and present deve opment of my people,*' I see the promise of a brighter fi ture. But remember, God has issued his ultimatum in Sam. 2 : 30 : ^ ' Them that honor Me I will honor, and thei that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." And in Proi 14: 34: ''Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a re proach to any people. ' ' So, accepting His word as a medium of prophecy, I de! clare unto you that except ye have inoculated in you th! principles of righteousness, ye shall in no wise realize th fulfillment of these goodly promises. We do not mean tha brand of ' ' righteousness " ( ? ) that only makes you sin; loud and pray long, but just an ordinary ' ' do right ' ' spirit that makes you willing, even anxious, to give a man square deal ir business; give a day's pay for a day's work and a day 's work for a day 's pay ; pay your honest debts lead a temperate life ; and tell the truth. The Destiny of the American Negro. 45 The principles of righteousness presenting themselves to r mind as prime factors in the process of race develop- mt could be sunnned up in a few terse phrases of ''do's" d ''don'ts." But we purpose to treat a few of the more tstanding features separately, for the sake of greater em- asis. CHAPTER X. TEMPERANCE VS. INTEMPERANCE. Intemperance, the scourge of the human race, the mon- ster serpent that entwines itself into our physical and mental fabric, often in t he guise of pleasure, exacting a toll of jTiis ery^ suffering. waii t^Dteaical.-aiL4--mentaL-(i eb a aft- , ment^tc, that is causing grave apprehension— even alarm — among thinking people everywhere, and is rocking the social fabric to its very foundation, so much so that the government has enacted laws to abolish some of these evils and thereby save the people from themselves, spending vast sums of money and energy, and creating a deal of friction to accomplish what temperance alone would do, much bet- ter, and without any friction whatever. For temperance teaches the total abstinence of anything detrimental to the human body or mind, and conservative use of our necessi- ties. It is only by leading temperate lives that we can hope to be healthy; for temperance is the Joundat^ el health, and health is the bulwark oi the mce. Consequent- ly it is^quitTapparent that the maintenance of physical fitness is of the most vital importance. Normal health is (47) 48 The Destiny of the American Negro. the greatest asset of the human race, although the most often and most shamefully abused. ' ' It 's often the case we abuse it by drinking ; And oftener still we abuse it by thinking; We often abuse it by abnormal greed ; And sometimes abuse it by stinting the feed ; We abuse it early and abuse it late, And often proceed at a terrible rate. Though cautioned and scolded, we seldom behave Till we finally land in a premature grave." And that at a time when having deepened in wisdom, and ripened in experience, we should be doing the best work of our lives. We venture the assertion that i ntempera nce . causes more ills than all other agencies combined, and the energy and vitality that should be ours to accomplish our work is used to counteract the effects of careless living. It should be borne in mind that the office of the stomach and intestinal tract is to manufacture energy from food and water, and emphatically is n ot the dumping g round for a distorted appeti te. We are in honor bound to keep well, because interests we cannot afford to ignore demand it. The state, by the organized protection afforded us, de- mands that we hold ourselves in readiness to answer its summons; the church, by the sanctity thrown around us, demands that we grace its edifice with clean, normal bodies ; and the home, by the responsibilities imposed upon us, de- mands the highest type of physical efficiency. For a de- The Destiny of the American Negro, 49 crepit body is a poor asset to state, church, home, or even its possessor. 1 Cor. 9: 25: "Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things." In other words, to properly master anything, requires temperance in all things, v^hich probably accounts for the vast num- ber of failures recorded in every line of human en- deavor. "Temperance in all things includes our thoughts and emotions. Ask your doctor about the effects of violent anger on the digestion. Our thoughts and emotions are so closely allied to our physical fabric that anything seriously affecting one must more or less affect the other. It is so imperative that you realize this that we present it thus. Suppose you discovered that your house was infested with all manner of foul and venemous reptiles and creeping things. You no doubt would speedily do one of two things : Rid your premises of these vermin or vacate. Wouldn't you? Because you would realize their danger and loathe their vile presence. But this picture, as revolting as it is, falls far short of fea- turing the effects of evil thoughts on the human body, and to the human race ; for be it understood that the hereditary taints apparent in children are not due to physical contact but to mental influence. It might be 50 The Destiny of the American Negro. argued with some success that physical weakness and deformities are due to physical contact ; but to infer the same concerning mental traits is out of all rea- soning. That you might more fully understand the appall- ing and far-reaching effects of thoughts on unborn generations, we cite instances. We first call atten- tion to a family having two sons — one born while peace and harmony reigned in the home, the other when these had fled. The two boys were brought up amid exactly the same surroundings and educated in the same schools, yet the net result was that one was a brilliant success, the other a dismal failure. Our next investigation takes a woman of criminal disposition, the mother of several children, and fol- lows their career for seventy-five years, and find that during that period they had produced no less than seven hundred criminals; thirty-seven had been exe- cuted for murder. They had cost the government more than three million dollars for trials and execu- tions, to say nothing of all those that escaped the clutches of the law, and all the petty meanness which, with the greater crimes, caused untold sorrow and suffering to themselves and others, all on account of one woman's evil or intemperate thoughts. CHAPTER XL ECONOMY VS. EXTRAVAGANCE. A race is largely considered, or not, according to its ability to produce wealth. The desire for wealth has be- come so incessant that it has assumed the role of a dictator, and is driving people to illegal, dangerous, and criminal extremes for its attainment, thereby supporting the adage that ' 'wealth is a good servant but a bad master. " As a servant it is unexcelled, in that it provides means for sup- plying our physical needs — food, clothes and shelter; our mental requirements — books, schools and teachers for same ; our spiritual needs — churches and religious literature ; and is a prime factor in maintaining the supremacy of our gov- ernment. Consequently the paramount question of the na- tion is ''how to secure wealth," and the universal answer is "economy." There is, of course, a favored few who ride in on a train of circumstances. But economy presents a possible means to all men. There are very few men past midde age but can look back over their lives and see where . they have squandered the nucleus of a fortune. "Econ- (51) 52 The Destiny of the American Negro, omy" does not necessarily mean depriving oneself of the necessities of life, but it does mean the use of sound judg- ment in utilizing to the best advantage what we have, and wasting nothing. Our (according to science) proneness to imitate often proves our undoing. For as a rule we pos- sess an insatiable desire to get anything we see anyone else with. We do not condemn the trait, but deplore the fact that we so often get the ''topsy-turvy" or 'Hail-first" idea; and, seeing a neighbor with a home, auto, fine raiment, etc., we proceed to annex the auto, fine raiment, etc., leaving the home for last, which usually means "out." Being to a great extent a race of laborers, we deem it necessary to consume large quantities of food to sustain our physical fitness, which may be reasonably true. But when, as often happens, we go to extremes, we indulge in a two-fold extravagance — that of buying unnecessary food, and of buying medicine and paying doctor's bills to coun- teract the effects of overeating. "For the drunkard and glutton shall come to poverty, and drowsiness shall cloth a man with rags, and poverty breeds discontent, disease, and crime." The average individual considers it a humiliat- ing proposal to be forever asked to economize, while the rich is squandering his millions. But, for the soundness of the principle, we are not to look at individual cases, but the source from whence this abundance came. Note the The Destiny of the American Negro. 53 giant industrial corporations, making fortunes by utilizing material which formerly went to waste, and the creation of other industries for the sole purpose of utilizing scrap, such as paper, rags, bones, etc. But since, as a race, we are to build on a high order, we require a high ideal. So we will look further yet. Ps. 19 : 7 : ''The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." In the event you're not already converted to economy, suppose we take a super- ficial glance at God's economic law. He even saves the dust of the ground. Were it not for the fact that the earth, by the law of gravity, attracts every particle of mat- ter within its radius ; the dust blown up by the wind would go on, never to return, and the centrifugal force of the earth would hurl great masses off into space, thereby in time depleting the entire sphere. Even the water, which, by the aid of the sun's rays, is able to escape the law of gravity, through evaporation, comes in contact with a belt of cool air that condenses it, making it again susceptible to gravitation, and it comes back to the earth in cooling showers. Consequently the same waters "that heard the voice of God in creation, when He said, let the waters under the heavens be gathered together in one place, and let the dry land appear," is still pounding the rocks and lapping the shores ; where he said, ' ' Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further, and here shall thy proud waves be 54 The Destiny of the American Negro, stayed," Even tlie fragile dewdrops, sparkling like some rare diamond, yet vanishing under the first rays of the morning sun, is as old as yon mountain, which lifts its hoary head above the cloud. Carbonic acid, disengaged by decomposing vegetable and animal substance, and is expelled from the lungs during respiration, from fissures in the earth, and from all kinds of fuel in the course of combustion, acts as a narcotic poi- son when taken into the lungs. For instance, the choke damp in mines and wells, and in some valleys in various parts of the earth, such as the Upas valley, in Java, being uninhabitable to animal life. Instead of allowing this sub- stance to accumulate and menace the animal world, or ex- erting special divine energy to counteract the effects of it, our Creator simply allows the plants to absorb it from the atmosphere, and it forms an important part of their nour- ishment. Even the leaves which fall to the ground are not wasted ; for they rot and form a fertilizer which augments future growth. Carbonic acid in turn decomposes in the plants and is thrown off by them, as oxygen, and this is not wasted, for without it animal life could not exist. In inspiring we re- ceived into the lungs a quantity of oxygen. This oxygen is carried by the blood to the various parts of the body, and there deposited to do its work of tissue building. The The Destiny of the American Negro, 55 deoxygenated blood returning to tlie lungs for a fresli sup- ply of the necessary oxygen. So, instead of exerting divine energy in preparing a special substance for the sustenance of animal life, He against proves himself a past master in the practice of economy, governing the forces of nature by an economic law far more wonderful than creation itself, and conserving divine energy to prepare this race and the world at large, by the past and present stirring events for the great day that is now da^vning — a day of opportunity, brotherhood, peace and righteousness. We believe it is sound advice to economize on some things, and prepare the boys and girls for the strenuous times ahead, for the law of the ''survival of the fittest" shall always predominate in the affairs of m^en, as it reasonably should. This, of course, does not refer to the primeval law which claims might as right ; but it does mean that the best prepared men shall stand on the front. So, with all of the help afforded him, it will still require a deal of economizing on the part of the Negro to raise him to the point of efficiency demand- ed to stand the acid test of the future. Still, it's no disgrace to economize, for He by whom all things were made, and without Him was not anything made that was made, Who took the lunch of one lad, and so manipulated it as to feed five thousand, said ( Jno. 6 : 12) : 56 The Destiny of the American jNegro, ** Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost/' * 'If you will lead a temperate life, you've fair prospects of health ; And if you will economize, you may amass some wealth; A fair amount of knowledge will likely get you fame, But ignorance and extravagance will certainly lead to shame." CHAPTER XII. KNOWLEDGE VS. IGNORANCE. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wis- dom ; and with all thy getting, get understanding, ^ ^e class knowledge among the essentials to righteous-^ ness, and illiteracy among the benighting elements of_ tr^-*— ■■——■;-■■- r^^i^^—— ■ ■ " sin, believing these to be the only terms sufficiently s^Erohg to emphasize the crying need of attaining the one, and eliminating the other. W e^are at a loss to u nderstand how anv oiue xould JaiL to appre.cjate J.he_ strength and_beauty of wisdom ,or the blighting in- fluence of ignorance; or why any sta te sho uld neglect to write compulsory schooMaws_onJts^ statiie^^ Tor it must be admitted that wisdom is power, and gower add s jto^Jthe jresflurces, af^n^Ljc Snimonweal th. It must be further admitted that a man with a fair amount of intelligence can give better service in any line of industry and coax more out of the soil by ap- plication of more modern farming methods. Knowl- edge bridges difficulties, annihilates space, conserves energy, creates opportunity, broadens vision, and opens up avenues of usefulness that are closed to il- literacy; gives a clearer conception of duty, and a (57) 58 The Destiny of the American Negro. more comprehensive knowledge of the power, wisdom, and love of God. As an astronomer we can go with him out into the vast areas of space, and weigh and measure the planets ; describe the circuits of comets, stars, and satelites; and behold the wondrous forma- tion of constellations. As a geologist we can de- scend with him into the bowels of the earth, unlock the treasure house of his riches and display the vast wealth of gold, silver, fuel, ore, and precious stones. As a naturalist we can go with him out in the fields and forests, and in the cleft of rocks, and stalk the beasts and fowls, or dive into the sea and observe the antics of the finny tribe. As a botanist we can go with him out in the parks and gardens, or in the wilds of nature, and admire the grandeur of trees, and the beauty and sym.metry of the plants and flowers; while ignorance breeds superstition, and they twain wroth fetters which bind our feet, and limit the speed of our onward march to progress. They close our eyes to the danger of contagious and communicable disease. Note, for example, India, a land rich in re- sources, yet so wrapped in ignorance and supersti- tion that centuries pass without showing any im- provement whatever; who lost several millions of souls during the recent epidemic of influenza, no doubt mostly on account of ignorance of hygienic laws. Their only motive power is the ox, used for plowing the fields, drawing the vehicles, threshing the The Destiny of the American Negro. 59 grain, and turning the mill. And, because of religious su- perstition, they treat him a s a privil eged charac ter ; more than that, they regard him as a brother; consequently he works, or leaves it alone, accord as he feels about it. He has the right of wf ^.y in thft str e ets and thoroughfares, and if found lying in the doorway of a shop, the native will not disltob him^u^^o, hia w^y:, .waiting to doJiis-^shoppdiig w hen his br ottieT* has fiTiishfirl .hls__nap and moved on. But we need not look in far-off India for ignorance and superstition; for right here in this enlightened country there are v ast hordes of my people being destroyed for tne lack of knqwl^dgfi^...aiidr'-g¥eatly-4iin^ered-on-uc£ouM of su- perstition.^ JfJl^ ^fflrfg nnt jn the morn ini^ and ^8^ rabbit, or„ black cat^crosses his palji ^e is incapacitated for effective work, or coherent thought, during the_entire day, .dread- ing some impending disaster. If his left eye quiver, he "is in an agony of fear and apprehension, accepting it as an evil omen ; and a thousand and one other signs exhaust his mental energy and retards his industrial and financial progress. He spends vast sums of good money with the astrologer, the fortune teller, and the common hoodoo, that could be used to better advantage furthering beneficial en- terprises, and educating his children. Even ministers of the gospel, securing ''hands" with which to influence their congregations. It's awful! 60 The Destiny of the American Negro. We shall not attempt to take up the bludgeon against the occult sciences and hoodooism, and, for the sake of argu- I ment, we won't even dispute the validity of the various signs; we only advance the fact that even if they are real,! there is still a power that supersedes all of these. And, trusting in that power, we are enabled to banish the endless confusion of their daily observance. We can proceed in the path of duty without fear or foreboding, even if all the rabbits and black cats in t he vicin ity pjrade_jiaily across j our path. For then the eye is single and the whole body is full of light. CHAPTER XIIL TRUTH VS. FALSEHOOD. Prov. 12 : 19 : ' ' The lips of truth shall be established for- ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment." Truth and falsehood represent the two great opposing forces of the universe, summarizing all of the foregoing features — in fact, embracing every atom of human endeavor, thoughts, words and deeds. As a character builder, truth constitutes the foundation, superstructure, and spire. In fact, it is the sole requirement. Show me an individual, true to him- self, his fellow-man, and his God, and I '11 show you in the same person a character of the highest type, possessing the virtues of temperance, economy, and, in fact, all that goes into the make-up of the best type of progressive Christian citizen. If I were asked to draw an illustration of truth, I'd picture a stalwart figure in glittering raiment, tower- ing in beauty and grandeur, going forth in the greatness of his strength ; we would then picture jealousy, prejudice, and the other baser emotions, swarming around throwing mud on him, until he was so disguised as to be scarcely recog- nizable ; but when the latter rain of circumstances or op- (61) 62 The Destiny of the American Negro, portunity for service falls, it whips off the mud of slander, etc., and he shines forth in his splendor, because the light is from within. By contrast we'd feature falsehood, a decrepit figure in a somber mantle, being perfumed and whitewashed by hy- pocrisy into a semblance of respectability. He then ven- tures into society, church, and state, inoculating all with his baleful influence. But a ''lying tongue is but for a moment ; ' ' for, little by little, the erosion of time will peel off his disguise, until finally he stands out in all of his hideousness. The object of drawing the two foregoing pictures was to furnish material for the paramount picture of the series; not because it is more realistic than the others, but because we believe and hope it will prove suggestive to the mass of our people, or the world at large, for that matter. It presents truth emerging from the ruins of falsehood, the somber mantle falling to the ground, the shriveled limbs and sunken chest assuming normal proportions, finally pre- senting a figure of superb manhood, suggestive of the un- gainly youth in training camp, emerging into a stalwart soldier— not necessarily going out to shed blood, but to wage war against sin, and beat back the power of dark- ness ; to battle against intemperance, immorality, prejudice, The Destiny of the American Negro, 63 and the associate evils that are tearing at the vitals of our homes, churches and commonwealth. It might be well, right here, to take up the bludgeon against lying ; for while, in some instances, it is the most harmless of all pastimes, in others it is the most deadly foe in all the universe, brooding in its various forms the entire range of human woes. Me- thinks Satan keeps everybody at it, more or less, so as to make it second nature, thereby better enabling him to put over a big one once in a while. Lying is employed in every form of misdemeanor, from the ordinary family or neigh- borhood row, to the ambitious and selfish monarch claiming alliance with God to dupe His people and plunge nations into war. Lying is elastic in scope, insidious in character, and ter- rible in consequences. That you may more fully realize the baleful influence of lying, we purpose to draw for your consideration a similarity between a lie and a fly: First, the breeding ground ; flies breed in rubbish and manure ; lies, I suppose, breed in hell, or a disordered mind; anyhow, the devil is a liar and the father of it. Second, the haunts; the fly thrives best in filth, and were it possible to confine him there, he would be comparatively harmless. But from the filthiest places in existence, without even wiping his feet, he soars into our homes, walks over our food, and drinks f 64 The Destiny of the American Negro, out of our milk. He even drags his vile and loathsome ! body across baby's sweet lips, spreading disease more ter- rible than war. So the lie ; it flourishes where wickedness abounds, and were it possible to confine it to the brothels, it would not constitute a very serious menace. But alas I with all of its revolting hideousness, infernal wretchedness, , and diabolical cunning, it invades our homes, our offices, our politics, and the sacred precincts of our churches, spread- ing woes more deadly than war and pestilence combined; \ for while they only kill the body, this hydra-headed monster '■ is doing that more effectively, and besides, is robbing us of our peace and contentment, and everything that makes ,! living worth while. So, since in the interest of health and | sanitation, the municipal authorities are urging screening \ to prevent the invasion of flies, why, in God's earth, don't : the preachers and teachers wage a relentless war on lies? ! Everyone who has had trouble and sorrow, or even seen or heard of suffering, should hate a lie; for remember, it was the instrument used by Satan to hoodwink Eve in the garden, bringing all these conditions in its train. In de- fense of our assertion that a lie is elastic in scope, we call attention to the fact that it may be enacted by a word, a thought, a deed, or even a look. Half truths are usually about the biggest ones ; for we once heard a man complain- ing of belonging to a "down-trodden" race, and, while we The Destiny of tlie American Negro. 65 admit and deplore that the same was true, this particular man had never done anything to keep from being other- wise. Consequently, to my mind, his all-round worthless- ness robbed his statement of whatever truth it might have otherwise contained; for know thou, man, that whoso- ever maketh of himself a worm, ha.h no conceivable right to complain of being trod on 1 A summary of the foregoing principles of righteousness as advocated in race building, presents nothing at all dras- tic. They are only ordinary rules of conduct that anyone could, and everyone should, practice. And yet, they are an epitome of all the teachings of the lowly Nazarene. And any plan to reach an envi able position _among the races "not based on these principles" is doomed to failure^ abso-^ lute, miserable jail ure ; for t hey arg^otjnily the salvation "of the race, but of the world. These simple rules, in action, should have averted the recent titanic struggle, and the thousands of cargoes of food and other supplies submarined might be feeding and other-' wise supplying millions of hungry and suffering people^ the millions of weeping widows and orphans might be sur- rounded with the joys and comforts of happy homes ; the empty sleeves and legless trousers might be full ; the sight- less orbs might be gazing in rapture on the beauties of art and nature ; the shrieks of the wounded and groans of the I 66 The Destiny of the American Negro. dying might be peals of laughter and songs of joy. ' 1) **0h, Jerusalem, how I would have hovered you as a hen hovereth her brood, but you would not!** •J ofii '/ffio lot (gifajq xo riboni ->>-i^ ^-*- io({ ifio id i, z^"?* - <■ ' / DOBBSBROS. ^ ^ ^ ^ Cj LIBRARY BINDING 'f^-.X //^ ^ 'ST. AUGUSTINE ^O * " ^vi§^ ^i^- ^ A^ ^ LIUhMHy OF CONGAS 011 643 492 ; ■ ■ ■ ;