CHAPTER XXII.
AN EDUCATED AFRICAN.
Daniel Flickinger Wilberforce, a native African, and educated in America, presents a striking illustration of the capabilities of the Negro. He was born a pagan, and when brought in contact with the institutions of civilization he outstripped those whose earlier life had been impressed with the advantages of such surroundings. There was nothing in his blood, or in his early rearing, to develop him. He came from darkness himself as well as by his ancestry. Rev. Daniel K. Flickinger, D.D., has been secretary of the Home Frontier and Foreign Missionary Society for the past twenty-five years. He was the companion in Africa of George Thompson, and on one of his trips had a short association with Livingstone. Dr. Flickinger aided in establishing the United Brethren Mission on the Western Coast of Africa, and has had his heart in it for a quarter of a century. During that time he has made six trips to Africa to look after this mission; returning from his last voyage in May, 1881. He has studied those people and found them apt in the schools as well as in the acquiring of American customs in tilling the soil and in the trades. During Dr. Flickinger's first visit to Africa in 1855, while at Good Hope Station, Mendi Mission, located on the eastern banks of Sherbro Island, latitude 7° north, and longitude 18° west, he employed a native to watch over him at night as he slept in his hammock, there being wild and dangerous tribes in the vicinity. To that man in that time was born a child. The father came to the missionaries the next day to tell them that his wife "done born picin" and wanted them to give it a name. Mr. Burton, the missionary in charge, suggested that of Daniel Flickinger, and it was taken. The missionaries had performed the usual marriage ceremony for as many as came within their reach, and broken up the former heathen customs in their immediate vicinity as far as possible, and this man was duly married. He took as his last name that of Wilberforce after the English philanthropist, who was dear to all Colored people, and from that time on this native and his family became attached to the mission, and were known by the name of Wilberforce. This man had children born in heathendom and under quite different circumstances.
Dr. Flickinger soon afterward sailed for America, and soon forgot that he had a namesake on the distant shore. He made other trips across the water, but failed to come in contact with the Wilberforce family. Sixteen years afterward, in 1871, he was in New York City shipping goods to the African missionaries. The boxes, labelled "Daniel K. Flickinger," were being loaded and unloaded at the American Mission Rooms in that city, and the doctor noticed that the colored porter boy was about half wild over something. He asked him if there was any thing wrong, but got no reply. The young porter kept rolling his eyes and acting half scared at the name on those boxes, and finally the doctor asked him his name, to which there came the prompt reply, Daniel Flickinger Wilberforce! In his travels of a lifetime the missionary had often been surprised, but this bewildered him. A thunder-bolt could not have shocked him more. Then the two stood gazing at each other in perfect amazement, and neither able to tell how their names came to be so near alike. The boxes were forgotten. The boy soon had his relief and began laughing as few others could laugh, while the doctor was still unable to see through the mystery. He gave the young fellow two shillings and told him to proceed with the boxes. The doctor then began an investigation about the Mission Rooms, and found that this boy, just a short time before that, had been brought over on a merchant vessel to care for an invalid missionary lady during the voyage, that he had served a short time as bell-boy at a hotel, and that they had employed him in the Mission Rooms, but had promised to send him back on the next sail vessel. The doctor got his location in Africa and a complete chain of circumstances such as to convince him that this was the boy that was named after him in 1855. He told the authorities at the American Mission Rooms, to write to Africa and say that Dan. was well cared for over here, and for them to keep him till further advised. As soon as the doctor made his shipments to the missionaries he returned to Dayton and asked the Executive Committee of his Board if they would assist him in educating this African who had turned up in such a romantic manner. Consent was given, and young Wilberforce was shipped to Dayton. He was brought into Dr. Flickinger's office with the tag of an express company attached to his clothes—young, green, and, in fact, a raw recruit to the ranks of civilization. Seven years after that he bid adieu to his friends in that same office, to return to his people in Africa as a teacher, preacher, and physician. He was then one of the finest scholars of his age in this country. When he arrived at Dayton he of course had to have a private tutor. He was sixteen years old and had to start with the rudiments, but he was, at the beginning of the next school year, able to join classes on which he doubled right along. It requires a course of eight years to reach the High School, but in less than four years after his arrival in Dayton he passed the examination for admission to the High School of Dayton, Ohio, and was the first Colored pupil ever admitted to that school. Since then, other Colored pupils have annually been following his example. The course in the High School was four years, and the Board and teachers were very particularly averse to gaining time. Owing to Wilberforce's great aptness, that allowed him to go ahead of his class, he gained one year then and there, and took the honors of the class that started one year ahead of him. There were twenty-three members of that class. The Commencement was in the Opera-house at Dayton in 1878, and on that occasion the President of the Board said, without discredit to any others, he felt called upon to make special mention of young Wilberforce, which he did in a handsome manner. This was not all; the Missionary Society wanted to send Wilberforce to Africa in September of that year, and as he went along they had him at other studies. He had become an excellent musician, both vocal and instrumental. He had been studying theology and read Hebrew well. He had also taken a course of reading in medicine, so that he might be of service to the bodies as well as the souls of his brethren. Marvellous as it may seem, all of this was done in so short a time, and from a state of savage life up to civilized life; still it is true. And, besides, Wilberforce had been a reader of history and general literature, and was a writer of unusual merit. His progress has always and always will seem incredible, even to those who had personal knowledge of him during the time that he had this experience of seven years. He had a remarkable mind, was born a heathen, had no youthful advantages, and is to-day one of the best-informed and most thoroughly cultivated thinkers of his age. When he left Dayton in the summer of 1878, he was greatly missed. At the Colored United Brethren Church he was janitor, leader of a choir, organist, superintendent of the Sunday-school, and class leader, and when the pastor failed, Wilberforce also did the preaching. He was never proud. In the humble capacity of janitor he took excellent care of Dr. Flickinger's office, and was willing and ready to do anything. He was modest socially, but a favorite among his classmates, and not only respected but admired by all. He married a Dayton girl before he left for Africa, and has remained abroad since 1878, but he expects at no distant time to return to America to complete his professional studies. He belonged to the Sherbro tribe or people, and with them he is now laboring.
LAFAYETTE'S PLAN OF COLONIZATION.
Now, my dear General, that you are about to enjoy some repose, permit me to propose to you a scheme which may prove of great benefit to the black part of the human race. Let us unite in the purchase of a small estate, where we can attempt to free the negroes and employ them simply as farm laborers. Such an example set by you might be generally followed, and should we succeed in America I shall gladly consecrate a part of my time to introducing the custom into the Antilles. If this be a crude idea I prefer to be considered a fool in this way rather than be thought wise by an opposite conduct.[145]
5th February, 1783.
THE RESULTS OF EMANCIPATION.
As an evidence of the growing confidence in the eagerness for and capacity of the Negro to become an educated citizen, the handsome bequest of John F. Slater, Esq., for the education of the race stands forth as a conspicuous example. The Negroes of the South have acknowledged this munificent gift with that graceful gratitude so strikingly characteristic of them.
DRAFT OF AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE TRUSTEES OF THE JOHN F. SLATER FUND.
Whereas, Messrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio; Morrison R. Waite, of the District of Columbia; William E. Dodge, of New York; Phillips Brooks, of Massachusetts; Daniel C. Gilman, of Maryland; John A. Stewart, of New York; Alfred H. Colquitt, of Georgia; Morris K. Jesup, of New York; James P. Boyce, of Kentucky; and William A. Slater, of Connecticut, have, by their memorial, represented to the Senate and Assembly of this State that a letter has been received by them from John F. Slater, of Norwich, in the State of Connecticut, of which the following is a copy:
To Messrs. Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio; Morrison R. Waite, of the District of Columbia; William E. Dodge, of New York; Phillips Brooks, of Massachusetts; Daniel C. Gilman, of Maryland; John A. Stewart, of New York; Alfred H. Colquitt, of Georgia; Morris K. Jesup, of New York; James P. Boyce, of Kentucky; and William A. Slater, of Connecticut:
Gentlemen.—It has pleased God to grant me prosperity in my business, and to put it into my power to apply to charitable uses a sum of money so considerable as to require the counsel of wise men for the administration of it.
It is my desire at this time to appropriate to such uses the sum of one million of dollars ($1,000,000 00); and I hereby invite you to procure a charter of incorporation under which a charitable fund may be held exempt from taxation, and under which you shall organize; and I intend that the corporation, as soon as formed, shall receive this sum in trust to apply the income of it according to the instructions contained in this letter.
The general object which I desire to have exclusively pursued, is the uplifting of the lately emancipated population of the Southern States, and their posterity, by conferring on them the blessings of Christian education. The disabilities formerly suffered by these people, and their singular patience and fidelity in the great crisis of the nation, establish a just claim on the sympathy and good will of humane and patriotic men. I cannot but feel the compassion that is due in view of their prevailing ignorance which exists by no fault of their own.
But it is not only for their own sake, but also for the safety of our common country, in which they have been invested with equal political rights, that I am desirous to aid in providing them with the means of such education as shall tend to make them good men and good citizens—education in which the instruction of the mind in the common branches of secular learning shall be associated with training in just notions of duty toward God and man, in the light of the Holy Scriptures.
The means to be used in the prosecution of the general object above described, I leave to the discretion of the corporation; only indicating, as lines of operation adapted to the present condition of things, the training of teachers from among the people requiring to be taught, if, in the opinion of the corporation, by such limited selection the purposes of the trust can be best accomplished; and the encouragement of such institutions as are most effectually useful in promoting this training of teachers.
I am well aware that the work herein proposed is nothing new or untried. And it is no small part of my satisfaction in taking this share in it, that I hereby associate myself with some of the noblest enterprises of charity and humanity, and may hope to encourage the prayers and toils of faithful men and women who have labored and are still laboring in this cause.
I wish the corporation which you are invited to constitute, to consist at no time of more than twelve members, nor of less than nine members for a longer time than may be required for the convenient filling of vacancies, which I desire to be filled by the corporation, and, when found practicable, at its next meeting after the vacancy may occur.
I designate as the first President of the corporation the Honorable Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio. I desire that it may have power to provide from the income of the fund, among other things, for expenses incurred by members in the fulfilment of this trust, and for the expenses of such officers and agents as it may appoint, and generally to do all such acts as may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of this trust. I desire, if it may be, that the corporation may have full liberty to invest its funds according to its own best discretion, without reference to, or restriction by, any laws or rules, legal or equitable, of any nature, regulating the mode of investment of trust funds; only I wish that neither principal nor income be expended in land or buildings, for any other purpose than that of safe and productive investment for income. And I hereby discharge the corporation, and its individual members, so far as it is in my power so to do, of all responsibility, except for the faithful administration of this trust, according to their own honest understanding and best judgment. In particular, also, I wish to relieve them of any pretended claim on the part of any person, party, sect, institution, or locality, to benefactions from this fund, that may be put forward on any ground whatever; as I wish every expenditure to be determined solely by the convictions of the corporation itself as to the most useful disposition of its gifts.
I desire that the doings of the corporation each year be printed and sent to each of the State Libraries in the United States, and to the Library of Congress.
In case the capital of the Fund should become impaired, I desire that a part of the income, not greater than one half, be invested, from year to year, until the capital be restored to its original amount.
I purposely leave to the corporation the largest liberty of making such changes in the methods of applying the income of the Fund as shall seem from time to time best adapted to accomplish the general object herein defined. But being warned by the history of such endowments that they sometimes tend to discourage rather than promote effort and self-reliance on the part of beneficiaries, or to inure to the advancement of learning instead of the dissemination of it; or to become a convenience to the rich instead of a help to those who need help, I solemnly charge my Trustees to use their best wisdom in preventing any such defeat of the spirit of this trust; so that my gift may continue to future generations to be a blessing to the poor.
If at any time after the lapse of thirty-three years from the date of this foundation it shall appear to the judgment of three fourths of the members of this corporation that, by reason of a change in social conditions, or by reason of adequate and equitable public provision for education, or by any other sufficient reason, there is no further serious need of this Fund in the form in which it is at first instituted, I authorize the corporation to apply the capital of the Fund to the establishment of foundations subsidiary to then already existing institutions of higher education, in such wise as to make the educational advantages of such institutions more freely accessible to poor students of the colored race.
It is my wish that this trust be administered in no partisan, sectional, or sectarian spirit, but in the interest of a generous patriotism and an enlightened Christian faith; and that the corporation about to be formed, may continue to be constituted of men distinguished either by honorable success in business, or by services to literature, education, religion, or the State.
I am encouraged to the execution in this charitable foundation of a long-cherished purpose, by the eminent wisdom and success that has marked the conduct of the Peabody Education Fund in a field of operation not remote from that contemplated by this trust. I shall commit it to your hands, deeply conscious how insufficient is our best forecast to provide for the future that is known only to God; but humbly hoping that the administration of it may be so guided by divine wisdom, as to be, in its turn, an encouragement to philanthropic enterprise on the part of others, and an enduring means of good to our beloved country and to our fellow-men.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, your friend and fellow-citizen,
JOHN F. SLATER.
Norwich, Conn., March 4, 1882.
And whereas, said memorialists have further represented that they are ready to accept said trust and receive and administer said Fund, provided a charter of incorporation is granted by this State, as indicated in said letter;
Now, therefore, for the purpose of giving full effect to the charitable intentions declared in said letter;
The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Sec. 1. Rutherford B. Hayes, Morrison R. Waite, William E. Dodge, Phillips Brooks, Daniel C. Gilman, John A. Stewart. Alfred H. Colquitt, Morris K. Jesup, James P. Boyce, and William A. Slater, are hereby created a body politic and corporate by the name of The Trustees of the John F. Slater Fund, and by that name shall have perpetual succession; said original corporators electing their associates and successors, from time to time, so that the whole number of corporators may be kept at not less than nine nor more than twelve.
Said corporation may hold and manage, invest and re-invest all property which may be given or transferred to it for the charitable purposes indicated in said letter, and shall, in so doing, and in appropriating the income accruing therefrom, conform to and be governed by the directions in said letter contained; and such property and all investments and re-investments thereof, excepting real estate, shall, while owned by said corporation and held for the purposes of said trust, be exempt from taxation of any and every nature.
Sec. 2 Rutherford B. Hayes, of Ohio, shall be the first President of the corporation, and it may elect such other officers and hold such meetings, whether within or without this State, from time to time, as its by-laws may authorize or prescribe.
Sec. 3. Said corporation shall annually file with the Librarian of this State a printed report of its doings during the preceding year.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
COLORED EMPLOYÉS IN WASHINGTON.
There are six hundred and twenty persons of color employed in the different departments of the Government at Washington, D. C., distributed as follows:
| War Department | 44 |
| Treasury Department | 342 |
| Department of Justice | 7 |
| Department of State | 20 |
| Navy Department | 40 |
| Department of the Interior | 106 men, 7 women |
| Post-Office Department | 54 |
| ——— | |
| Total | 620 |
NEWSPAPERS CONDUCTED BY COLORED MEN.
Alabama.
Mobile.-The Mobile Gazette; Phillip Joseph, Editor; $2.00 per year; office No. 36 Conti Street.
Huntsville.-Huntsville Gazette;——, Editor; $1.50 per year; Saturdays.
Arkansas.
Helena.-Golden Epoch; H. W. Stewart. Little Rock.—Arkansas Mansion; Henry Simkens, Editor; $1.50 a year.
California.
San Francisco.—The Elevator, Phillip A. Bell, Editor.
District of Columbia
Washington City.—People's Advocate, established in 1876; J. W. Cromwell, Editor; C. A. Lemar, Manager; $1.50 a year.
Washington City.—The Bee; W. C. Chase, Editor; C. C. Stewart, Business Manager; $2.00 per year; Saturdays; office, No. 1107 I Street, N. W.
Florida
Pensacola.—The Journal of Progress; Matthews & Davidson, Editors and Proprietors; $2.00; Saturdays.
Key West.—Key West News; J. Willis Menard, Editor; weekly; five columns; price, $1.50 per annum.
Georgia
Atlanta.—Weekly Defiance; W. H. Burnett, Editor.
Augusta.—The People's Defense; Smith, Nelson, & Co., Proprietors.
Augusta.—Georgia Baptist; Wm. J. White, Editor; $2.00 per year; office, No. 633 Ellis Street.
Savannah.—Savannah Echo; Hardin Bros. & Griffin, Proprietors; $2.00; Saturdays.
Illinois
Chicago.—The Conservator; Barnett, Clark, & Co., Editors and Proprietors; $2.00 per year; Saturdays; 194 Clark Street.
Cairo.—The Three States; M. Gladding, Publisher; Saturdays; $1.50 per year; 190 Commercial Avenue.
Cairo.—The Cairo Gazette; J. J. Bird, Editor; Wednesdays and Saturdays; $2.50 per year.
Kansas
Topeka.—Topeka Tribune; E. H. White.
Kentucky
Louisville.—The Bulletin; Adams Brothers; $2.00 per year; Saturdays; 562 West Jefferson Street.
Louisville.—The American Baptist; Wm. H. Stewart.
Louisville.—Ohio Falls Express; Dr. H. Fitzbutler, Editor; $1.50 per year; Saturdays.
Bowling Green.—Bowling Green Watchman; C. C. Strumm, Editor; C. R. McDowell, Manager; Saturdays; $1.50 per year.
Louisiana
New Orleans.—Observer; Saturdays; republican; four pages; size, 22 x 32; subscription, $2.00; established, 1878; G. T. Ruby, Editor and Publisher.
Massachusetts
Boston.—The Boston Leader; Howard L. Smith, Editor; $1.50 per year; office, No. 8 Boylston Street. Room 9.
Mississippi
Verona.—The Banner of Liberty; J. B, Wilkins, Editor; $1.50 per year.
Greenville.—The Baptist Signal; Rev. G. W. Gayles, Editor; $1.00 per year.
Jackson.—People's Adviser.
Jackson.—Mississippi Republican; Preston Hay, Editor; $1.00; Saturdays.
Mayersville.—Mayersville Spectator; W. E. Mollison, Editor; D. T. Williamson, Publisher; $1.50 per year; Saturdays.
Missouri
St. Louis.—Tribune; Sundays; republican; eight pages; size, 26 x 40; subscription, $2.00; established, 1876; J. W. Wilson, Editor and Publisher; circulation, I.
Kansas City.—The Kansas City Enterprise; D. V. A. Nero; published every Wednesday and Saturday; $2.00 per year; office, No. 537 Main Street, Room No. 2.
New Jersey
Trenton.—The Sentinel; R. Henri Herbert, Editor; Saturdays; $1.25 per year; No. 4 North Green Street.
New York
New York City.—Progressive American; Thursdays; four pages; size, 22 x 31; subscription, $2.00; established, 1871; John J. Freeman, Editor; George A. Washington, Publisher; circulation, J.; office, 125 W. 25th Street.
New York City.—New York Globe; Geo. Parker & Co.; T. Thos. Fortune, Editor; office, No. 4 Cedar Street, Room 15.
Brooklyn.—The National Monitor; R. Rufus L. Perry, D.D.
North Carolina
Goldsborough.—The Carolina Enterprise; E. E. Smith, Editor; $1.00 per year; Saturday.
Charlotte.—Charlotte Messenger; W. H. Smith, Editor; $1.50 per year.
Wilson.—The Wilson News; Ward, Moore, & Hill, Editors; $1.50 a year.
Raleigh.—Raleigh Banner; J. H. Williams.
Wilmington.—Africo-American Presbyterian; D. J. Sanders.
Ohio
Cincinnati.—The Afro-American; Clark, Johnson, and Jackson, Editors and Proprietors; $1.50 per year; Saturdays; office, 172 Central Avenue.
Cincinnati.—The Weekly Review; Review Publishing Co.; Chas. W. Bell, Editor; $1.50 per year.
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia.—Christian Recorder; Thursdays; Methodist; four pages; size, 28 x 42; subscription, $2.00; established, 1862; Rev. Benj. T. Tanner, D.D., Editor; Rev. Theo. Gould, Publisher; circulation, G; office, 631 Pine Street.
South Carolina
Charleston.—The New Era; Wm. Holloway, Business Manager; $1.50 per year; Saturdays; democratic; 196 Meeting Street.
Charleston.—The Palmetto Press; Robert L. Smith, Editor; $1.50 per year; Saturdays.
Tennessee
Nashville.—Knights of Wise Men; J. L. Brown, Editor; office. No. 5 Cherry Street.
Chattanooga.—The Enterprise; Rev. D. W. Hays.
Texas
Austin.—The Austin Citizen; J. J. Hamilton & Co.
Dallas.—The Baptist Journal; S. H. Smothers, Editor; A. R. Greggs, Publisher.
Dallas.—Christian Preacher; C. M. Wilmeth.
Marshall.—The Christian Advocate; M. F. Jamison.
Galveston.—Spectator; Richard Nelson, Editor; $1.50 per year.
Palestine.—Colored American Journal; monthly; C. W. Porter, Editor.
Virginia
Richmond.—Virginia Star; Saturdays; four pages; size, 20 x 26; subscription, $2.00; established, 1876; R. M. Green, M.D., O. M. Stewart, and P. H. Woolfolk, Editors and Publishers; circulation, K.
Richmond.—Industrial Herald; John Oliver, Editor; $1.00 per year.
Petersburgh.—The Lancet; Geo. F. Bragg, Jr., Manager; $1.50 per year; Saturdays.
West Virginia
Wheeling.—The Weekly Times; Welcome, Buckner, & Co., Publishers; Geo. W. Welcome, Editor; 8 pages; $1.00 per annum.
NEGROES IN NORTHERN COLLEGES.
In response to a circular sent out, seventy Northern Colleges sent information; and in them are at present one hundred and sixty-nine Colored students. The exact number of graduates cannot be ascertained, as these colleges do not keep a record of the nationality of their students.