The 1890 Anti-Slavery Congress in Paris
In September 1890, just weeks after La Fraternité began printing, an anti-slavery Congress took place in Paris. La Fraternité covered this event extensively. Below, you can follow through this coverage.
30 August 1890 – In the very first article of the first issue, Benito Sylvain referred to the anti-slavery campaign that Cardinal Lavigerie had launched a few years earlier, but he lamented that the related progress against European racism, "is nearly destroyed by the odious and incessant campaign that is being carried out against us by a few irreducible minds, aristocrats of the skin, who, in their brains stuffed with prejudices, still have ideas worthy of the Middle Ages and of the feudal era." In fact, Sylvain cited this upsurge in racism as one of the primary factors that prompted the launch of La Fraternité.2 September 1890 – The second issue of La Fraternité contained a full article announcing the upcoming Congress. It reproduced a letter that Cardinal Lavigerie had sent to the various national anti-slavery committees, inviting them to attend the Congress, which would take place in Paris beginning with a "a solemn religious ceremony" on 22 September and carrying on with sessions on the 22nd. In the letter, Lavigerie also announced the opening of a contest to write the best popular work that would popularize the abolition of slavery in Africa for a grand prize of 20,000 francs.
In the same issue, in the article immediately following the latter, Sylvain defended Lavigerie and his campaign against African slavery against attacks in the Paris press. In particular, he targeted a journalist named Charles Canivet for his lack of sympathy toward Lavigerie and toward the people of Africa.
10 September 1890 – The defence of Cadinal Lavigerie against the Paris press was picked up again in the next issue. Presumably Benito Sylvain was the author of an article entitled "Cardinal Lavigerie and the Press," though there is no byline. In the same issue, in the "Miscellany" section, the anti-slavery writing contest was announced again. The notice expressed a hope that Haitians would make submissions, that "our moralists and our young writers will take part in such a noble literary tournament."
16 September 1890 – In the fourth issue, the arrival of Cardinal Lavigerie was announced in the "News & Rumours" section. "The prelate," it read, "has come to preside over the Anti-slavery Congress, which will open, as we have said, on the 22nd of this month."
24 September 1890 – About half of the fifth issue of La Fraternité was dedicated to the Congress, which took placed over the preceding days. The first article was a description of the solemn opening ceremony, which took place in the church of Saint-Sulpice.