Page:Central African Mission.djvu/19

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The Slave Trade and Released Slaves.
15

political freedom is complete. We know that very much more is needed.

It is sometimes assumed that to put released slaves under the superintendence of Englishmen or Scotchmen is all that is needed. I wish it were so; but a little experience shows that, just as a European can be much better than a negro, so he can be much worse, and that when possessed of absolute power, and free from the immediate control of home opinion, he probably will use the negro only to serve his own selfish ends, and cast him off as soon as he has served them. Neither by example nor in any other way are such Europeans as ordinarily settle in remote places likely to do any great amount of good to a negro.

Politically, the protection of the English name may save a released man in Eastern Africa from being forcibly re-enslaved; but in order to do him much good, he must have a means of livelihood opened to him, and must be brought at least within hearing of Christian teaching.

So much has been said lately on this subject that one need only point out as the duty of this Mission to be ready to give all such help as the men and money at its command may allow to any and every scheme for the benefit of the slaves, and released slaves, within the district in which it works. It must not be forgotten, however, that Missions in the interior are, after all, the chief means by which the regeneration of the negro must be accomplished.