On this same plain, growing out of the embers of that same conflict, another and almost as threatening a struggle is rising up before us. The white race in the South still largely controls capital, intelligence and power, and these forces are again used to hinder the impoverished laborer. The white man holds office, from which the black man is excluded, who is denied opportunities and privileges which crush his manhood. The contest is again unequal, and the outcome must take one of two forms. Either the oppressed laborer will rise in rebellion—and whatever may be the ultimate result the conflict will be dreadful—or, on the other hand, the laborer, denied education, a comfortable home and a chance to accumulate property, will sink into an utterly hopeless degradation, a curse to himself and to the whole South.
What is the remedy for all this? There is a remedy, and if applied promptly may save the nation from either of the catastrophes we have named, and that is: Give the black man a chance to acquire property, education and power equal to his white neighbor, and the elements of the struggle are gone. This is the work the American Missionary Association is attempting to do. It meddles not with theories, or parties, but aims quietly to give the needed help to the Negro.
OUR ALASKA MISSION
Letters received from Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson and Mr. Lopp give us the gratifying assurance that the mission is by this time opened under favorable auspices. Dr. Jackson found on reaching Alaska that Mr. Lopp had visited the mission at Cape Prince of Wales this spring and discovered that the buildings, furniture and supplies were in good condition. Mr. Lopp, in response to our request, has consented to return to the Cape and re-open the mission. He greatly regrets that an ordained minister was not sent, and expresses the earnest hope that another season this necessary addition will be made, but he consents to return and do the best he can. He has little fear of violence from the natives, finding them completely intimidated by the threats of the captain of the revenue cutter "Bear."
The experiment of introducing the reindeer into Alaska is thus far very encouraging. Mr. Lopp has had a herd under his care at Port Clarence, and although the winter has been unusually severe one hundred and fifty fawns were added to the herd. The Government has promised to our mission at Cape Prince of Wales this season one hundred reindeer, and Mr. Lopp, with adequate help, will have the care of them. The ultimate success of this experiment with reindeer in Alaska is one of great promise. It indicates a food and clothing supply for the natives, with increased facilities for transportation, thus laying the foundation for growth in population and in civilization.
It will be remembered that of the three men connected with the horrible murder of Mr. Thornton, two were at once arrested by the natives and shot. The third, Titalk, who was the leader, escaped for the time. Mr. Lopp thus describes his death: "After the 'Bear' had left for the South, Titalk came back to the cape, and his uncle, Te-ed-loo-na led him up on the hillside near the grave of Mr. Thornton, and asked him how he should put him to death, strangle him, stab him or shoot him. The boy preferred to be shot, so he commanded him to hold his head down and then shot him."
Mr. Lopp furnishes another evidence of the disposition on the part of the leading natives to guard the interests and property of the mission: "On one occasion during the winter Chief Eliguok heard that a boy had broken into the school-house, and he announced his intention to kill the boy, but upon investigation it was found to be a false report."
We trust that in the good providence of God, this mission will be made prosperous and be greatly enlarged, that its missionaries will be preserved in safety, that the natives will become more orderly, that the influence of the school and mission may bring to them peaceable fruits of civilization and Christianity.
HON. A.C. BARSTOW
We record our tribute of sorrow at the death of Hon. A.C. Barstow, which occurred September 5th. He was for many years intimately and usefully connected with the growth and prosperity of the city of Providence, R.I., which was his home and where he died. He was a man of wide sympathies in Christian and patriotic work, having held responsible offices in his native State, and was connected with other public movements, like that of the Board of Indian Commissioners, of which for a time he was president. He was a devoted Christian man, active in the church of which he was a member, and deeply interested in the missionary and benevolent boards of the Congregational churches. He was for a long time a vice-president of our Association.
REV. GEORGE S. SMITH
"Servant of God, well done!
Rest from thy loved employ!
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy!"
This may be fittingly said of Rev. G.S. Smith, who for thirteen years was pastor of the Congregational Church at Raleigh and McLeansville, N.C., and who entered into rest on the 12th of last August. Memorial services were held on the 26th of August in the church where he had long and faithfully conducted the worship of his people. Addresses were made by those who had been intimately associated with him in his work, which testified to the earnestness and success of his ministry. The best proof of his work is to be seen in the intelligence and virtue of the community in which he labored.
Our field missionary in a recent visit speaks in this way: "It is very rare to find colored people under such discipline and so orderly and intelligent in meetings. The faces of the old people are sunny and sweet, they are so attentive and appreciative and so responsive. The young people were at the meeting in large numbers. It will give you an uplift from your work to spend a day or two with the people of this place in meetings such as they now hold."
THE SOUTH
THE WALDENSES AT VALDESE, N.C
This new field of work, which was reported for the first time at our annual meeting last year, is one of unique and especial interest. Two years ago the steamship Kaiser Wilhelm arrived in New York with one hundred and sixty-six Waldenses among her steerage passengers. These people came from the Piedmont valley and mountain regions of Italy. Their purpose in coming to America was to establish for themselves homes in our own mountain region of the South. This little company that came down from the deck of the Kaiser Wilhelm were the pioneers in the establishment of their colonies in this new land. They were rather the Pilgrim Fathers of this Waldensean movement. Before the actual colonists had come, Rev. Chas. A. Tron, D.D., pastor of the Waldensean Church, and member of the Board of Evangelization in Italy, had been to the mountain regions of North Carolina, and after careful investigation had purchased a tract of land for these Waldensean colonists.
Soon after the coming of these Waldenses, correspondence was opened with them by the American Missionary Association. The colony was to be planted in the midst of our great mountain field, and we had every confidence that the coming of these conscientious and devoted Christian colonists would be of real helpfulness in our work there. Rev. C.M. Prochet, D.D., whose name is well known to the readers of this magazine, and to the Christian public generally, came to look after the interests of the Waldensean colony not long after their first settlement. In conference with Drs. Tron and Prochet, and after learning thoroughly the condition of their colony, an appropriation was voted by the Executive Committee to assist them in the beginning of their work, as they were in great need of such help.
These Waldenses have begun their settlement in America in a wise and sensible way. Let us notice their business-like arrangement before speaking of the interesting educational and religious work which has developed among them with the assistance of the Association.
They have purchased five thousand acres of land. In dividing this land, they first set aside a portion for a church and manse, together with a small farm for the use of the pastor. Then they set aside a good, commodious site for the school-house. After this a considerable portion of the land, three thousand five hundred acres in extent, is divided into farms of fifty acres each.
In addition to this first company who came on the Kaiser Wilhelm, others have come at various times until there is a considerable colony there. These people are poor. They come from the