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diff --git a/old/54542-0.txt b/old/54542-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3efcb76..0000000 --- a/old/54542-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,10097 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Liberia, by Frederick Starr - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Liberia - Description, History, Problems - -Author: Frederick Starr - -Release Date: April 12, 2017 [EBook #54542] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIBERIA *** - - - - -Produced by Larry B. Harrison, Harry Lamé and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - Texts printed in italics in the original work have been transcribed - between underscores, _text_. Small capitals have been replaced by - CAPITALS. - - More Transcriber’s Notes may be found at the end of the text. - - - - - LIBERIA - - DESCRIPTION - HISTORY - PROBLEMS - - BY - FREDERICK STARR - - CHICAGO - 1913 - - - COPYRIGHTED, 1913 - BY FREDERICK STARR - CHICAGO - - - THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO - WILLIAM N. SELIG - OF CHICAGO - IN EVIDENCE OF APPRECIATION AND AS - A TOKEN OF REGARD - - - - -PREFACE - - -Africa has been partitioned among the nations. The little kingdom of -Abyssinia, in the north, and the Republic of Liberia, upon the west -coast, are all of the continent that remain in the hands of Africans. -Liberia alone is in the hands of negroes. Will it remain so, or is it -destined to disappear? Is it a failure? The reports which have so -frequently been printed in books of travel and elementary treatises of -ethnology appear almost unanimous in the assertion that it is. Yet there -are those who believe that the Black Republic is far indeed from being a -failure. We are not willing to admit that its history and conditions -warrant the assumption that the black man is incapable of conducting an -independent government. A successful Liberia would be a star of hope to -the Dark Continent. In Liberian success there lies African Redemption; -redemption, not only in the religious sense, but redemption economic, -social, governmental. If the black men can stand alone in Liberia, he -can stand alone elsewhere; if the negro is able to organize and maintain -a government on the west coast, he can do the same on the east coast, -and in the southern part of Africa. Africa is restless under the white -man; it makes no difference whether the ruler be Portuguese, French, -German, Spanish, Belgian, or English, the native is dissatisfied under -the present regime. It is recognized that a spark may cause a -conflagration through negro Africa. On the other hand, the colonial -burden of the European governments grows heavy; the trade advantages of -holding Africa might be equally gained without the expense and trouble -of administration; it is mutual jealousy, not great success, which -holds the European powers in Africa. Were each convinced that withdrawal -would not give advantage to other powers, that abdication would not be -recognized as weakness, that free trade with black men might not result -in individual national advantage, they would be quite ready to withdraw -from the Dark Continent. In every colony the native is advancing; -education becomes more general; it must continue to diffuse itself, and -with diffusion of knowledge among the natives, restlessness will be -increased; the colonial burden will become heavier,--not lighter. If -Liberia prospers, it will stand as an example of what black men can do -to all the other negro populations of the continent; its example would -stimulate advance for all; the sight of enterprises originating with -negroes and carried out by them would give heart and stimulus to negroes -everywhere. This does not mean that all the European colonies should -necessarily become republics; far from it. Nor would it mean, unless the -home governments were blind and ignorant, a necessary severance between -the mother country and its colonies; it would, however, lead to a great -measure of home rule and to a large development of self-government. -Wauwermans, years ago, recognized the powerful influence which a -successful Liberia must needs exert. He says: “From this little state, -the size of Belgium, whose population does not surpass, including the -natives, a fifth part of the population of our country, will go forth -perhaps some day the best imaginable missionaries to extend over the -Black Continent the benefits of civilization and to found the free -United States of Africa, sufficiently powerful to defy the covetousness -of white men and to make justice reign, so far as it _can_ reign among -men.” - -One of the most thoughtful writers regarding the Republic is Delafosse -who, for a time, was French Consul at Monrovia. He has written upon -Liberia on various occasions, and what he says always deserves -consideration. On the whole he is not a hostile critic, having a rather -friendly feeling toward Liberians and being deeply interested in the -Republic. We translate some passages from his writings, as his point of -view is original. He says: “If one consider the Liberians -superficially--civilized, clad, knowing how to read and write, living in -relatively comfortable houses,--one will probably find them superior to -the natives. Actually, they are rather inferior to them, as well from -the moral point of view as from the point of view of general -well-being.” - -Further on he says: “First, along the coast and in the east, we see the -Krumen, a race of workers, energetic, proud, and fighters, but honest, -rejoicing in a fine physical and moral health, jealous of the virtue of -their women, of a most careful cleanliness. What a contrast do they make -by the side of the idle and nonchalant Liberians, expecting everything -from the State, subject to every kind of congenital disease, and in -particular to tuberculosis, never washing themselves, nourishing -themselves with food which a native slave would not accept, decimated by -a considerable mortality, having generally very few children, of whom, -moreover, the greater part are born scrawny, weak, devoted beforehand to -an early death! - -If we cast our eyes upon the natives of the west and north, the Vai and -other tribes of the Mandingo race, it is a different grade of comparison -which offers itself to us, but always to the disadvantage of the -Liberians. These natives, half islamized, have, much more than the -Liberians, the sentiment of human dignity, and their costume, fitted to -the climate and the race, far from rendering them ridiculous, as the -European does the Liberians, is not devoid of a certain æsthetic -character. They have, the Vai and the Manienka, above all, a superior -intelligence of commercial affairs. The Vai have even a -self-civilization which makes this little tribe one of the most -interesting peoples of Africa; alone, of all the negroes known, they -possess an alphabet suited to the writing of their language, and this -alphabet, which they have completely invented themselves, has no -relationship with any other known alphabet. A Vai native named Momolu -Massaquoi has just established at Ghendimah, not far from the -Anglo-Liberian boundary, a sort of model village, and in this village, a -school where he proposes to teach the language and the literature of his -country. I do not know what is the result of this attempt, but it seems -to me interesting, being an attempt purely indigenous in character -toward perfectment, attempted alongside of the effort toward -perfectionment by adaptation of European civilization which has so badly -succeeded in Liberia.” - -Again, after having given an attractive description of the first -impression made upon the stranger by Liberia and its inhabitants, our -author proceeds to say: “Now, the spectacle which offers itself to the -eyes of the visitor is less beautiful. It is the spectacle of a nation -in decadence. And this fact of a nation not yet a century old which, -starting from nothing, raised itself in twenty years to its apogee, and -has commenced, at the end of barely sixty years, to fall into decay, -this fact, I say, deserves that one should pause, for at first sight it -is not natural. And it can only find its explanation in the theory which -I attempt to develop here, to wit: That the negroes in general, and the -Liberians in particular, are eminently susceptible of perfectionment and -progress, but that this perfectionment and this progress are destined to -a sudden check, and even to a prompt decadence, if one has sought to -orient them in the direction of our European civilization. - -I have said that the spectacle which offers itself today to the eyes of -the visitor is that of a nation in decadence. In fact, the beautiful -broad streets cut at the beginning still exist, but they are invaded by -vegetation and guttered by deep gullies which the rains have cut and -which one does not trouble to fill up; the enclosing walls about the -different properties are half destroyed, without any one’s seeking to -repair them; a mass of houses in ruin take away from the smiling and -attractive aspect of the city; even houses in process of construction -are in ruins; a superb college building erected at great expense upon -the summit of the cape, is abandoned, and one permits it to be invaded -by the forest and weathered by the rain; the stairway which leads to the -upper story of Representatives’ Hall, having crumbled, has never been -reconstructed, and a sort of provisional flight of steps has been for -years back the only means of access which permits the cabinet officers -to enter their offices; the landings waste away stone by stone, and it -is difficult to draw boats up to them; the shops where one formerly -constructed vessels and landing-boats, have disappeared; roads, from -lack of care, have almost everywhere become native trails again; the -plantations of sugar-cane and ginger are matters of ancient history, and -fields, which formerly were well cultivated, have returned to the state -of virgin forest; coffee plantations have run wild, choked by the rank -vegetation of the tropics. The level of instruction has lowered, the new -generations receive only an education of primary grade; of the -University of Monrovia there remains only the name and some mortarboard -caps which one at times sees upon the heads of professors and -candidates. - -All, however, is not dead in the Republic. There is yet a nucleus of -Liberians of the ancient time, remarkably instructed and civilized, -excellent orators, fine conversationalists, writers of talent. There are -also among the young people some choice minds, who desire to elevate the -intellectual and moral level of their country and who seek to do so by -published articles, by lectures, by literary clubs, and by new schools.” - -There is much food for thought in these statements of Delafosse. Some of -his arraignment is true; on the whole, it is less true to-day than when -he wrote. There was a period when the Liberians were quite discouraged -and things were neglected. Much of this neglect still exists. It would -be possible to-day to find houses falling to ruins, crumbling walls, -guttered streets, unsatisfactory landing-places. But a new energy is -rising; the effects of efforts put forth by the nucleus which Delafosse -himself recognizes as existing in Liberia are being felt; contact with -the outside world with its stimulus, sympathies, and friendships, -warrants the hope that the future Liberia will surpass the past. We make -no attempt to answer Delafosse in detail; in the body of our book most -of the questions raised by his remarks are discussed with some fullness. - -In this book we attempt to represent the negro republic as it -is--Description, History, Problems. We have desired to paint a just -picture; some may think it too favorable; to such we would say that, -when there have been so many unfair, unjust, and biased statements, it -is necessary that some one should say things that are favorable, so that -they be true. We have no right to demand more from Liberia than we would -expect from any white colony with everything in its favor; yet that is -precisely what everybody does. We demand perfection. We forget that -perfection is not yet attained in any country, among people of any -color. It is unreasonable to demand it in a small African republic of -black men. There is no fairness even in comparing Liberia with English -and French colonies like Sierra Leone and Senegal. They have had much -done for them. The financial resources, the trained forces, the wise -judgment of rich and powerful nations have aided them. Liberia has -worked alone, blindly, in poverty. - -While to some we may seem to paint an unduly favorable picture, it is -probable that Liberians will claim that we have dragged some things to -light which should be left unmentioned. We have mentioned many of the -weaknesses of Liberia and her people. This has been done for several -reasons. It is a good thing to “see ourselves as others see us”; the -weak points of Liberia are always emphasized by critics, they can not -well be ignored by friends. If we are to improve, we must clearly -realize the opportunity and necessity for improvement. The worst things, -after all, about Liberia are largely _inherent_ in its form of -government, or are due to the descent of the Americo-Liberians from -American slaves. They must fight against these inherent dangers and -tendencies of democratic government and against the disadvantages of -American inheritance, as we do. - -From time to time, in reading, we have gathered a considerable number of -quotations from Liberians, past and present, which seem to us of special -interest and pertinence. These we have prefaced to the chapters and -sub-divisions of our book. They are all expressions of black men -regarding their home and problems. Some of them are eloquent, all of -them are sensible. Thoughtful Liberians have never been blind to -national dangers, national weaknesses, national problems. - -The materials which we present have been culled from many sources; the -book contains little that is absolutely new. For its preparation we have -read double the literature which has been found mentioned in -bibliographies and in books treating of Liberia. We have made constant -use of Johnston, Wauwermans, Delafosse, Jore, and Stockwell. As the book -is meant for general reading, we have made no precise references. This -is not due to neglect of writers and sources, but is in the nature of -our treatment. We present no bibliography; it would be easy to fill -pages with the titles of books and articles, dealing with Liberia, but -such a list would be mere pedantry here, especially as four-fifths of -the works named would be absolutely inaccessible even to students with -the best library equipment at their disposition. The author has made a -considerable collection of pamphlets printed in Liberia, by Liberian -authors, dealing with Liberian matters. A list of these almost unknown -prints would have real interest for the special student of Liberian -affairs and for professional librarians; such a list may perhaps be -printed later, in separate form. - -Thanks are due to so many friends and helpers that it is impossible to -make individual acknowledgment. We were treated with great courtesy, -while in Liberia; from President Howard in the Executive Mansion to the -school children upon the village streets, every one was kind. It was -generally recognized that the author was a white visitor to the Republic -without a personal axe to grind. He represented no government, no -commission, no institution, was seeking no concession, had no mission--a -_rara avis_ truly. While it would be impossible to name all from whom -kindness and courtesy were received--for that would be an enumeration of -all we met--we may perhaps mention as particularly kind Ex-President -Barclay, F. E. R. Johnson, T. McCants Stewart, C. B. Dunbar, Bishop -Ferguson and Vice-President Harmon. To Major Charles Young, military -attaché to the American Legation, we are under greater obligations than -we can mention. Campbell Marvin was our companion and helper throughout -our visit to the Republic, and gave us faithful aid in every way. We -dedicate the book to William N. Selig, of Chicago, whose kindness and -interest made the expedition possible. - -The book is written in the hope of arousing some interest in Liberia and -its people and of kindling sympathy with them in the effort they are -making to solve their problems. For Liberia is the hope of the Dark -Continent. Through her, perhaps, African Redemption is to come. - - - - -CONTENTS - - - DESCRIPTION. - - Physiography 1 - Political Geography 21 - Society 25 - Government 36 - Economics 43 - - - HISTORY. - - 1821-1828 52 - 1828-1838 71 - 1838-1847 80 - 1847-1913 88 - - - PROBLEMS. - - Boundary Questions 100 - The Frontier Force 118 - Development of Trade and Transportation 131 - The Native 144 - Education 160 - Immigration 185 - Public Debt and Foreign Loans 199 - Politics 210 - The Appeal to the United States 221 - - - REPRINT ARTICLES. - - The Liberian Crisis (_Unity_, March 25, 1909) 229 - The Needs of Liberia (_The Open Court_, March, 1913) 231 - A Sojourner in Liberia (_The Spirit of Missions_, April, - 1913) 231 - Liberia, the Hope of the Dark Continent (_Unity_, March 20, - 1913) 235 - What Liberia Needs (_The Independent_, April 3, 1913) 235 - Should the African Mission be Abandoned (_The Spirit of Missions_, - August, 1913) 241 - The People of Liberia (_The Independent_, August 14, 1913) 244 - - - APPENDICES. - - Leading Events in Liberian History 251 - Declaration of Independence in Convention 257 - Constitution of the Republic of Liberia 261 - Suggestions to the United States 273 - Presidents and Vice-Presidents; Secretaries of State 276 - The National Hymn 277 - - Map of Liberia - - - - -LIBERIA - - - A more fertile soil, and a more productive country, so far as it is - cultivated, there is not, we believe, on the face of the earth. Its - hills and its plains are covered with a verdure which never fades; the - productions of nature keep on in their growth through all the seasons - of the year. Even the natives of the country, almost without farming - tools, without skill, and with very little labor, raise more grain and - vegetables than they can consume, and often more than they can sell. - Cattle, swine, fowls, ducks, goats, and sheep, thrive without feeding, - and require no other care than to keep them from straying. Cotton, - coffee, indigo, and the sugar cane, are all the spontaneous growth of - our forests, and may be cultivated at pleasure, to any extent, by such - as are disposed. The same may be said of rice, Indian corn, Guinea - corn, millet, and too many species of fruits and vegetables to be - enumerated. Add to all this, we have no dreary winter here, for - one-half of the year to consume the productions of the other half. - Nature is constantly renewing herself, and constantly pouring her - treasures, all the year round, into the laps of the - industrious.--ADDRESS BY LIBERIANS: 1827. - - - - -DESCRIPTION - - -PHYSIOGRAPHY--1. There are various inherent difficulties in African -Geography. The population of the Dark Continent is composed of an -enormous number of separate tribes, each with its own name, each with -its own language. Most of these tribes are small and occupy but small -areas. For a mountain, or other conspicuous natural landmark, each tribe -will have its own name. What name is given by a traveler to the feature -will be a matter of accident, depending upon the tribe among which he -may be at the time that he inquires about the name; different names may -thus be easily applied to the same place, and confusion of course -results. Even within the limits of a single tribe different names in -the one language may be applied to the same place; thus, it is regular -for rivers to have different names in different parts of their course; -it is nothing uncommon for the same river to have four or five names -among the people of a single tribe, for this reason. Throughout Negro -Africa, towns are generally called by the name of the chief; when he -dies, the name of the town changes, that of the new chief being assumed. -Again, throughout Africa, towns change location frequently; they may be -rebuilt upon almost the same spot as they before occupied, or they may -be placed in distant and totally new surroundings. For all these -reasons, it is difficult to follow the itinerary of any traveler a few -years after his report has been published. All these difficulties exist -in Liberia, as in other parts of Africa. More than that, Liberia has -itself been sadly neglected by explorers. Few expeditions into the -interior have been so reported as to give adequate information. Sir -Harry Johnston says that the interior of Liberia is the “least known -part of Africa.” - -2. Liberia is situated on the west coast of Africa, in the western part -of what on old maps was known as Upper Guinea. Both Upper and Lower -Guinea have long been frequented by European traders; different parts of -the long coast line have received special names according to the natural -products which form their characteristic feature in trade; thus we have -the Grain Coast, Ivory Coast, Slave Coast, Gold Coast. Liberia is the -same as the old Grain Coast and was so called because from it were taken -the grains of “Malagueta Pepper,” once a notable import in Europe. -Liberia has a coast line of some 350 miles, from the Mano River on the -west to the Caballa River on the east and includes the country extending -from 7° 33′ west to 11° 32′ west longitude, and from 4° 22′ north to 8° -50′ north latitude. Its area is approximately 43,000 square miles--a -little more than that of the state of Ohio. - -3. The coast of Liberia is for the most part low and singularly -uninteresting. Throughout most of its extent a rather narrow sandy beach -is exposed to an almost continuous beating of surf; there is not a -single good natural harbor; where rivers enter the sea there is -regularly a dangerous bar; here and there, ragged reefs of rocks render -entrance difficult. There is no place where vessels actually attempt to -make an entrance; they regularly anchor at a considerable distance from -the shore and load and unload by means of canoes and small boats sent -out from the towns. At Cape Mount near the western limit of the country -a promontory rises to a height of 1068 feet above the sea. It is the -most striking feature of the whole coast. There is no other until Cape -Mesurado, upon which the city of Monrovia stands; it is a notable cliff, -but rises only to a height of 290 feet. At Bafu Point, east of the -Sanguin River, there is a noticeable height. These three, diminishing -from west to east, are the only three actual interruptions in the -monotonous coast line. - -4. Five-sixths of the total area of the Republic is covered with a -forest, dense even for the tropics. Almost everywhere this forest comes -close down to the sandy beach and the impression made upon the traveler -who sails along the coast is one of perpetual verdure. The highest lands -are found in the east half of the country. In the region of the Upper -Caballa River just outside of Liberia, French authorities claim that -Mount Druple rises to a height of 3000 meters. The same authorities -claim that the highest point of the Nimba Mountains, which occurs within -the limits of Liberia, is about 2000 meters (6560 feet). Further south -is the Satro-Nidi-Kelipo mass of highlands bordering the Caballa basin -on the southwest; Sir Harry Johnson claims that it offers nothing more -than 4000 feet in height. Northeast of the Caballa are Gamutro and Duna -which rise to 5000 feet. There are no heights comparable to these found -in the western half of the Republic, though there are peaks of -significance among the upper waters of the St. Paul’s River and its -tributaries. In the lower half of this river’s course there is a hilly -or mountainous region known as the Po Hills, where possible heights of -3000 feet may be reached. In the northwestern part of the country the -forest gives way to the Mandingo Plateau, high grass-land. Benjamin -Anderson, a Liberian explorer, says that he emerged from the forest at -Bulota where the ground rose to the height of 2253 feet. This plateau -region is open park-like country of tall grass with few trees. - -Very little as yet is known of the geology of Liberia. On the whole, its -rocks appear to be ancient metamorphic rocks--gneiss, granulite, -amphibolite, granites, pegmatite, all abundantly intersected by quartz -veins. Decomposition products from these rocks overlie most of the -country. The material and structure of the coast region is concealed by -deposits of recent alluvium and the dense growth of forest; a -conspicuous lithological phenomenon is laterite which covers very -considerable areas and is the result of the disintegration of gneiss. As -yet little is known of actual mineral values. Gold certainly occurs; -magnetite and limonite appear to be widely distributed and are no doubt -in abundant quantity; copper, perhaps native, certainly in good ores, -occurs in the western part of the country; various localities of -corundum are known, and it is claimed that rubies of good quality have -been found; companies have been organized for the mining of diamonds, -and it is claimed that actual gems are obtained. - -5. There are many rivers in Liberia and the country is well watered. -Several of these rivers are broad in their lower reaches, but they are -extremely variable in depth and are generally shallow. Few of them are -navigable to any distance from their mouth, and then only by small -boats; thus the St. Paul’s can be ascended only to a distance of about -twenty miles, the Dukwia to a distance of thirty (but along a very -winding course, so that one does not anywhere reach a great distance -from the coast), the Sinoe for fifteen miles, but by canoes, the Caballa -(the longest of all Liberian rivers) to eighty miles. - -A notable feature in the physiography of Liberia is the great number of -sluggish lagoons or wide rivers, shallow, running parallel to the coast -behind long and narrow peninsulas or spits of sand; there are so many of -these that they practically form a continuous line of lagoons lying -behind the sandy beach. These lagoons open onto the sea at the mouths of -the more important rivers; smaller rivers in considerable numbers enter -them so that in reality almost every river-mouth in Liberia may be -considered not the point of entrance of a single river, but of a cluster -of rivers which have opened into a common reservoir and made an outlet -through one channel. As good examples of these curious lagoons, we may -mention from west to east the Sugari River, Fisherman’s Lake, Stockton -Creek, Mesurado Lagoon, Junk River, etc., etc. - -Inasmuch as the rivers are the best known features of Liberian -geography, and as they determine all its other details, we shall present -here a complete list of them, in their order from west to east, together -with a few observations concerning the more important. - - Mano--Mannah: Bewa, in its upper course; the western boundary of the - country; flows through a dense forest; no town at its mouth; not - navigable to any distance; Gene, a trading village, twenty miles up; - Liberian settlements a few miles east of the mouth. - - Shuguri, (Sugary), Sugari, only a few miles in length; extends toward - the southeast, parallel to the coast. - - Behind the peninsula upon which Cape Mount stands is a lagoon called - Fisherman’s Lake, which parallels the coast for a distance of ten - miles; this shallow, brackish, lagoon is about six miles wide at its - widest part, and is nowhere more than twelve or thirteen feet in - depth; it is so related to the Marphy and Sugari Rivers that it is - said of them, “These rivers with Fisherman’s Lake have a common - outlet, across which the surf breaks heavily”; where these three water - bodies enter the sea by a narrow mouth there is but three feet depth - of water. - - Half Cape Mount River, Little Cape Mount River, Lofa (in its upper - part). Of considerable length; in the dry season a bank of sand closes - its mouth; the village of Half Cape Mount is here. - - Po, Poba. Small stream eight miles from last; here are the Vai village - of Digby and the Liberian settlement of Royesville. - - St. Paul’s, De; Diani, further up. This great river, the second of - Liberia, rises on the Mandingo Plateau, about 8° 55′ north latitude; - it is perhaps 280 miles long; it receives several important - tributaries. There is a bar at its mouth, and it is not directly - entered from the sea; it is navigable, after once being entered - through Stockton Creek, to White Plains, about twenty miles from its - mouth. - - Mesurado River (Mesurado Lagoon) enters the sea at Monrovia and lies - behind the high ridge on which that town is built. Through the same - mouth with it Stockton Creek enters the sea, and through Stockton - Creek, which runs across to the St. Paul’s, the latter is accessible - for boats from Monrovia and the sea, although at low water there is - but two feet of depth. At White Plains the St. Paul’s River is broken - by rapids which occur at intervals for a distance of about seventy - miles. Above these rapids it is probably possible to ascend the St. - Paul’s and its tributary Tuma, Toma, might be navigable for a combined - distance of about 150 miles. There are many Liberian settlements on - the lower St. Paul’s River, and it is said that “quite half the - Americo-Liberian population is settled in a region between Careysburg - and the coast.” - - Junk River parallels the coast and nearly reaches Mesurado Lagoon; a - long, winding tidal creek; at its mouth three streams really enter - the sea together--the Junk, Dukwia, and Farmington. On account of the - near approach of this river to the Mesurado Lagoon, Monrovia is almost - on an island thirty miles long and three miles wide, surrounded by the - Mesurado, Junk, and the sea. - - Dukwia. Very winding; navigable for thirty miles; source unknown; at - its mouth is the settlement of Marshall; one of the worst bars of the - coast is here. - - Little Bassa, Farmington. As already stated, enters the sea together - with the Junk and the Dukwia. - - Mechlin, Mecklin. A small stream. - - St. John’s, Hartford. - - Benson, Bisso (Bissaw). The Mecklin, St. John’s, and Benson enter the - sea by a common mouth. At or near this mouth are Edina, Upper - Buchanan, Lower Buchanan--the latter at a fair harbor, though with a - bad bar. - - Little Kulloh, Kurrah. Small, but accessible to boats. - - Tembo. - - Fen. - - Mannah. - - Cestos, Cess. A considerable river, rising probably in the Satro - Mountains, close to the basin of the Cavalla; very bad bar--rocks in - the middle and only three feet of water. - - Pua. - - Pobama. - - New. - - Bruni. - - Sanguin. Of some size; rises in the Nidi Mountains; entrance beset - with rocks; though the bar here is bad, there is a depth of nine or - ten feet of water, and a promising port might be developed. - - Baffni. - - Tubo, Tuba. - - Sinu, Sinoe, San Vincento, Rio Dulce. Savage rocks, bad bar; - Greenville is located at the mouth; canoes can ascend for about 15 - miles; rises in the Niete or Nidi Mountains, close to the Cavalla - watershed. There are three channels by which boats may enter this - river. Here again we have long narrow lagoons paralleling the coast - and with a mere strip of land between them and the sea. Going from the - west toward the east we find the Blubara Creek and the Sinoe entering - with them. The Blubara Creek is supplied by two streams, the - - Bluba and the - - Plassa. - - Uro. - - Dru. A stream of some magnitude. - - Esereus, Baddhu, Dewa, Escravos. It rises in or near the Niete - Mountains, not far from the sources of the Sinoe and Grand Sesters. - - Ferruma, near Sasstown. - - Grand Sesters. Empties into a lagoon nearly three miles in length. - - Garraway, Garawe, Try. Accessible at all times to canoes and boats. - Within the next eight miles there are three small streams, - - Gida. - - Dia--with a rock reef stretching out from it. - - Mano. - - Hoffman. Another lagoon-river, which forms Cape Palmas harbor; it is - one hundred yards wide at its entrance to the sea. The town of Harper - is situated upon it. - - Cavalla; Yubu (in its upper part); also Diugu or Duyu. The largest - river of the country; forms the boundary with French possessions; very - bad bar; goods going up the river are landed at Harper and sent across - the lagoon which parallels the Atlantic for nine miles and is - separated from it only by a narrow strip of land; navigable for small - steam vessels for about fifty miles; boats of considerable size ascend - to a distance of eighty miles; it rises in the Nimba Mountains at - about 8° north latitude; it receives a number of important - tributaries. - -There are no true lakes in Liberia, although the name “lake” is rather -frequently applied to the brackish lagoons so often referred to. Thus we -hear of Fisherman’s Lake, Sheppard Lake, etc. - -6. We have already mentioned that there are no natural harbors of any -value in Liberia; boats anchor at a considerable distance from the -beach, and all loading and landing is done by means of small boats or -canoes; at all points there is a dangerous bar, and it is a common thing -for boats to be capsized in crossing it. - -There are almost no islands of any consequence off the coast. There are -indeed many masses of land included in the networks of river-mouths and -lagoons, but they are not usually thought of as being islands. There are -also many rocky islets and reefs along the coast, particularly from the -mouth of the River Cestos eastward. Such, however, are mere masses of -bare and jagged rocks. Of actual islands to which names have been given, -four are best known, two of which are in Montserrado County and two in -Maryland County. Bushrod Island, named from Bushrod Washington, the -first president of the American Colonization Society, is a large, -cultivable island near Monrovia, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the -St. Paul’s River, and Stockton Creek. A very small island in the -Mesurado, known as Providence or Perseverance Island, is interesting as -having been at one time the only land occupied by the colonists. Garawé -Island, also called Old Garawé, at the mouth of the Garawé River, is -about three miles long. Russwurm, or Dead Island, lies in the Atlantic, -opposite Cape Palmas, with about two hundred feet of water between it -and the mainland; it measures about 700 by 120 yards; the name Dead -Island is due to the fact that the aborigines buried their dead here. - -7. The climate of Liberia is very imperfectly known. Our most recent -data are derived from Sir Harry Johnston, the best informant on all -scientific matters. He states that there is probably a marked difference -between the climate of the forest region and that of the Mandingo -Plateau. In the forest region the dry season is short; it is the hottest -period of the year and includes the months of December, January, and -February; February is the hottest and dryest month of the year and the -temperature ranges from 55° at night to 100° in the shade at midday. -During the wet season the daily range is almost nothing; the constant -temperature stands at about 75°. The coolest month of the year is August -with a day temperature of 69° and a night temperature of 65°. Upon the -Mandingo Plateau the annual rainfall is believed to be not more than -from 60 to 70 inches; the dry season extends from November to May; -during that time the vegetation is parched; the nights are cool, -becoming cold with an altitude of 3000 feet; the hottest time of the -year is at the beginning and end of the rainy season when the -thermometer may mark more than 100° at midday. - -8. On the whole, we still have nothing better in regard to the climate -than the description given by Dr. Lugenbeel in 1850. He traces the -characteristics of the weather through the year month by month. He says: - -“_January_ is usually the dryest, and one of the warmest months in the -year. Sometimes, during this month, no rain at all falls; but generally -there are occasional slight showers, particularly at night. Were it not -for the sea-breeze, which prevails with almost uninterrupted regularity, -during the greater part of the day, on almost every day throughout the -year, the weather would be exceedingly oppressive, during the first -three or four months of the year. As it is, the oppressiveness of the -rays of the tropical sun, is greatly mitigated by the cooling breezes -from the ocean; which usually blow from about 10 o’clock A. M. to about -10 o’clock P. M., the land-breezes occupying the remainder of the night -and morning; except for an hour or two about the middle of the night, -and about an hour in the forenoon. During these intervals, the -atmosphere is sometimes very oppressive. The regularity of the -sea-breeze, especially during the month of January, is sometimes -interrupted by the longer continuance of the land-breeze, which -occasionally does not cease blowing until 2 or 3 o’clock P. M. This is -what is called the harmattan wind; about which a great deal has been -written; but which does not generally fully accord with the forced -descriptions of hasty observers or copyists. - -The principal peculiarity of the harmattan wind consists in its drying -properties, and its very sensible coolness, especially early in the -morning. It seldom, perhaps never, continues during the whole day; and -usually not much longer than the ordinary land-breeze, at other times in -the year. When this wind blows pretty strongly, the leaves and covers of -books sometimes curl, as if they had been placed near a fire; the seams -of furniture, and of wooden vessels sometimes open considerably, and the -skin of persons sometimes feels peculiarly dry and unpleasant, in -consequence of the rapid evaporation of both the sensible and the -insensible perspiration. But these effects are usually by no means so -great as they have been represented to be. What is generally called the -harmattan season usually commences about the middle of December, and -continues until the latter part of February. During this time, -especially during the month of January, the atmosphere has a smoky -appearance, similar to what is termed Indian summer in the United -States, but generally more hazy. - -The average height of the mercury in the thermometer, during the month -of January, is about 85°, it seldom varies more than 10°, during the 24 -hours of the day; and usually it does not vary more than 4° between the -hours of 10 A. M. and 10 P. M. During this month, however, I have seen -the mercury stand at the lowest mark, at which I ever observed it, in -Liberia, that is, at 68°. This was early in the morning during the -prevalence of a very strong land-breeze. During this month I have also -seen the mercury stand at the highest mark, at which I ever observed -it--that is, at 90°. The air is sometimes uncomfortably cool, before 8 -o’clock A. M., during this month. - -During the month of _February_ the weather is generally similar to that -of January. There are, however, usually more frequent showers of rain; -and sometimes, towards the close of this month, slight tornadoes are -experienced. The harmattan haze generally disappears about the last of -this month; and the atmosphere becomes clear. The range of the -thermometer is about the same as in January. - -_March_ is perhaps the most trying month in the year to the -constitutions of new-comers. The atmosphere is usually very oppressive -during this month--the sun being nearly vertical. The occasional showers -of rain, and the slight tornadoes, which occur in this month, do not -usually mitigate the oppressiveness of the atmosphere, as might be -supposed. The variation in the state of the atmosphere, as indicated by -the thermometer, seldom exceeds 6° during the whole of this month. The -average height of the mercury is about 85°. - -_April_ is significantly called the ‘tornado month,’ the most numerous -and most violent tornadoes usually occurring during this month. The -ordinary state of the weather, in reference to the degree of heat, and -its influence on the system, is not very different from that of the -three preceding months. The showers of rain are usually more frequent, -however; and the visitations of those peculiar gusts, called -_tornadoes_, are much more common in April, than in any other month. -These are sudden, and sometimes violent gusts, which occur much more -frequently at night, than during the day. Although they usually approach -suddenly and rapidly, yet certain premonitory evidences of their -approach are almost always presented, which are generally easily -recognized by persons who have frequently observed them. They generally -commence from northeast, or east-northeast, and rapidly shift around to -nearly southeast; by which time the storm is at its height. - -At the commencement of a tornado, dark clouds appear above the eastern -horizon, which rapidly ascend, until a dense looking mass spreads over -the whole hemisphere. As the heavy mass of clouds ascends and spreads, -the roaring sound of the wind becomes stronger and louder, until -suddenly it bursts forth in its fury; sometimes seeming as if it would -sweep away every opposing object. Very seldom, however, is any material -injury sustained from these violent gusts. The scene is sometimes -awfully grand, for fifteen or twenty minutes, during the formation and -continuance of a heavy tornado. Sometimes the whole hemisphere presents -a scene of the deepest gloom; the darkness of which is momentarily -illuminated by vivid flashes of lightning, in rapid succession; and -sometimes tremendous peals of thunder burst upon the solemn stillness of -the scene. The rain seldom falls, until the violence of the gust begins -to subside; when a torrent of rain usually pours down for a short time, -seldom more than half an hour; after which, the wind shifts around -towards the west; and generally, in about an hour from the commencement -of the tornado, the sky becomes serene, and sometimes almost cloudless. - -The weather during the month of _May_ is usually more pleasant, than -during the two preceding months. The atmosphere is generally not quite -so warm and oppressive. Sometimes copious and protracted showers of rain -fall, during the latter half of this month; so that the beginning of the -rainy season usually occurs in this month. Tornadoes also occasionally -appear, during the month of May. The average height of the mercury in -the thermometer is usually two or three degrees less, than during the -four preceding months. - -_June_ is perhaps the most rainy month in the year. More or less rain -usually falls nearly every day or night in this month. Although there -are sometimes clear and pleasant days in June; yet, there are seldom -twenty-four successive hours of entire freedom from rain. The sun is, -however, seldom entirely obscured for a week at a time; and he -frequently shines out brightly and pleasantly, in the interstices -between the floating clouds, several times during the day; occasionally -for several hours at a time. During this month, as during all the other -rainy months, more rain always falls at night than in the day time; and, -indeed, there are very few days in the year, in which the use of an -umbrella may not be dispensed with some time during the ordinary -business hours. In the month of June, the atmosphere is always -considerably cooler than during the preceding month; and I have -generally found it necessary to wear woolen outer as well as under -garments; and to sleep beneath thick covering at night, in order to be -comfortably warm. The sensible perspiration is always much less, during -the month, and the five succeeding months, than during the other six -months in the year. The mercury in the thermometer seldom rises above -80° in this month, the average height being about 75°. - -During the months of _July_ and _August_, a great deal of rain also -generally falls; but perhaps less in both these months than in the -preceding month. There is always a short season of comparatively dry, -and very pleasant weather, in one or both of these months. This season -usually continues from three to five weeks; and generally commences -about the 20th or 25th of July, Sometimes, for several successive days, -the sun shines brilliantly and pleasantly all day; and no rain falls at -night. The air, however, is always refreshingly cool and agreeable. This -is perhaps the most pleasant time in the year. This is what is commonly -called ‘the middle dries.’ It seems as if Providence has specially -ordered this temporary cessation of the rains, for the purpose of -permitting the ripening and gathering of the crops of rice, which are -generally harvested in August. - -_September_ and _October_ are also generally very rainy months; -especially the former. Sometimes more rain falls in September, than in -any other month in the year. Towards the close of October, rains begins -to be less copious; and sometimes slight tornadoes appear, indicative of -the cessation of the rainy season. The sea-breezes are usually very -strong, during these two months; and the atmosphere is generally -uniformly cool, and invigorating to the physical system. - -During the month of _November_ the weather is generally very pleasant, -the temperature of the atmosphere being agreeable to the feelings--not -so cool as during the five preceding months, and not so warm as during -the five succeeding months, the average height of the mercury in the -thermometer being about 82°. Frequent showers of rain usually fall -during this month, both in the day and at night; but generally they are -of short duration. Slight tornadoes also generally appear in this month. -The sun may usually be seen during a part of every day in the month; and -frequently he is not obscured by clouds, during the whole of the time in -which he is above the horizon. The middle of this month may be regarded -as the beginning of the dry season. - -_December_ is also generally a very pleasant month. Occasional slight -showers of rain fall during this month, sometimes several sprinklings in -one day, but seldom for more than a few minutes at a time. The mornings -in this month are peculiarly delightful. The sun usually rises with -brilliancy and beauty; and the hills and groves, teeming with the -verdure of perpetual spring, are enriched by the mingled melody of a -thousand cheerful songsters. Nothing that I have ever witnessed in the -United States exceeds the loveliness of a December morning in Liberia.” - -9. Closely related to climate is health. Here again we have no better -information than that supplied us by Dr. Lugenbeel. He asserts that “the -rainy season is decidedly more conducive to health than the dry season -in both new-comers and old settlers. The oppressiveness of the -atmosphere and the enervating effects of the weather, during the dry -season, tend to debilitate the physical system, and thereby to render it -more susceptible of being affected. Persons who arrive in Liberia during -this season are more liable to attacks of fever than those who arrive -during the rainy season.” Monrovia is usually ranked with Freetown as -being unusually unhealthy; conditions have, however, considerably -improved and are by no means so bad as in the early days. All -new-comers, white and black alike, must undergo the acclimating fever, -but on the whole, blacks seem to suffer least. Remittent and -intermittent fevers, diarrhoea and dysentery are among the more common -and serious diseases. Rheumatism occurs, though it is rarely violent -either in a chronic or acute form; dropsical affections are rather -common, often due to debility after fever; enlargement of the liver and -spleen are common, the latter being most frequent in whites and -mulattoes, and usually following upon fevers; the most common eruptive -diseases are measles and erysipelas--both mild; varioloid, though -common, is rarely fatal; flatulent colics are common; slight scratches -and abrasions give rise readily to ulcers, more common in whites and -mulattoes than in blacks. Leprosy is occasional among natives. Curious -local diseases are craw craw and yaws, both endemic cutaneous troubles. -The famous sleeping sickness, the scourge of Africa, is more frequent -among natives than among the Americo-Liberians, but it has long been -known in that region. The list sounds like a long and dreadful one, but -is, after all, far from appalling. Dr. Lugenbeel says: “Some other -diseases, which are common to most countries, may be occasionally -observed in Liberia; but the variety is much less than in the United -States; and except in some old chronic affections, in broken down -constitutions, convalescence is generally much more rapid; in -consequence of the less violence of the attack. Among the many attacks -of fever, which I experienced, I never was obliged to remain in my room -more than a week, at any one time; and I very seldom was confined to my -bed longer than twenty-four hours. The danger in new-comers generally -consists more in the frequency than in the violence of the attacks of -sickness. And the majority of colored immigrants, who have sufficient -prudence to use such means for the preservation of good health in -Liberia as enlightened judgment would dictate, usually enjoy as good -health, after the first year of their residence, as they formerly -enjoyed in the United States. In some cases, indeed, the state of the -health of the immigrant is decidedly improved by the change of residence -from America to Africa.” In another place, he says: “In some cases, -persons who might have enjoyed tolerable health in the United States, -die very soon after their arrival in Liberia, in consequence of the -physical system not being sufficiently vigorous to undergo the necessary -change, in order to become adapted to the climate. Hence the impropriety -of persons emigrating to Liberia whose constitutions have become much -impaired by previous diseases, by intemperance, or otherwise. And hence -the necessity of missionary societies being careful to guard the -physical as well as the moral qualifications of persons who offer -themselves as missionaries to Africa.” - -10. So far as concerns the flora of the country, four different types -present themselves. The beach, the river-swamp, the forest, the -grass-lands present their characteristic forms of plant-life. -Five-sixths of the Republic are covered with the densest tropical -forest; an enormous variety of gigantic trees grow closely crowded -together and are bound by a tangle of vines and creeping plants into an -almost impenetrable mass. Nowhere perhaps in the world is there a more -typical tropical forest. The lower reaches of the rivers are bordered by -a thicket of mangroves and pandanus, the former by its curious mode of -growth--throwing downward from its branches almost vertical aerial roots -which reach the water and strike down into the soft, oozy mud of the -river-bottom--stretching far out from the banks themselves over the -stream. Among the notable trees of Liberia are mahogany, ebony, and -other valuable timber trees; camwood is abundant, and was formerly an -object of important export for dyeing purposes; coffee grows wild and is -of fine quality; there are various gum-producing trees, among them that -which yields the gum arabic; the kola nut is common and has long been -exported from the Grain Coast; there are various rubber-producing -plants--the _funtumia_ and _landolphia_, the two most prized -rubber-plants of Africa, occur abundantly--the former being a tree, the -latter a vine; palms of many species occur; among them are the borassus -or fan-palm, the calamus or climbing palm, the oil palm, a raphia, -commonly known as the bamboo palm, which yields palm wine and the -precious piassava fibre; notable is the great cotton-tree, which is -considered sacred by the natives, no doubt on account of its strange -appearance, due to enormous, thin, buttressing roots. There are flowers -everywhere; water-lilies are common in the swamps, and lovely epiphytic -orchids bloom upon the forest trees. - -11. The fauna is especially interesting because it presents an ancient -facies, more like that of a bygone age than of the present, In fact Sir -Harry Johnston refers to it as being of the Miocene type. There are at -least a dozen species of apes and monkeys, among which the most -interesting is the chimpanzee; there are many species of bats of all -sizes, some being insectivorous and others eating fruits; there are a -variety of wild cats, including the leopard, and the natives make a -specialty of killing them for their spotted skins; two species of -mongoose are found; the red river hog is abundant; four species of -manis, with curious overlapping scales, able to roll themselves up into -a ball something like an armadillo, are among the curious forms; the -most interesting animal in the fauna perhaps is the water chevrotain, a -creature of no great size, but which presents a curious intermediate or -connecting form between the pig and camel on the one side and the deer, -giraffe, and antelope on the other; true antelopes are numerous in many -species, some of which are dainty little creatures; the buffalo, perhaps -the most dangerous animal of Africa, occurs; elephants are still found, -and ever since the traders first visited the Grain Coast, ivory has been -to some degree exported; the most famous of Liberian animals, however, -is the pygmy hippopotamus, just like the larger species, but weighing -perhaps only four hundred pounds when fully grown. - -12. Bird-life, too, is abundant. There are naturally great numbers of -water birds, both swimmers and waders--such as egrets and other herons, -ibis, and the strange finfoot; hornbills are common; eagles and vultures -occur; one of the commonest and most striking of the birds is the black -and white crow; brilliant of plumage is the plantain-eater, but the -parrots of the country are dull and inconspicuous. Of reptiles there are -plenty. The python is the largest snake, and grows to a length of thirty -feet; there are many species of serpents, including ten which are -poisonous; lizards are common, among them the chameleon with its varying -color and its strange, independently movable eyes; crocodiles are common -in all the rivers. There are fish in plenty, but the most curious -certainly is the little bommi fish which comes out of the water, jumps -about upon the bank, and even crawls among the branches and bushes near -the water; in appearance and movement it is so like a frog that one at -first does not realize that it is in reality a fish. - -13. While beasts, birds, and reptiles are varied and numerous, it is -surprising how inconspicuous they are. In fact, unless one is really -hunting for these creatures, he may rarely see them. One might spend -months in Liberia and upon returning home declare that forest and stream -were almost without inhabitants. There are, however, forms of life which -are very much in evidence. Insects and other invertebrate forms abound; -no one can overlook them. The termites or white ants are everywhere. -Sometimes they build their enormous hillocks of clay out in the open -country; these are great constructions which rise to a height of six, -eight, or ten feet and which, within, present a complicated system of -passages and tunnels; in the heart of this great nest the queen lives -immured in a clay cell. Another species of the white ant enters houses -and works destruction; books, papers, wood, all may be destroyed. This -sort dislikes exposure to the sunlight and constructs tunnels to protect -themselves from it. Of true ants there are many species, among which of -course the driver is the most famous; it travels in droves of millions, -running in a continuous black line perhaps an inch in breadth and many -rods in length; they are scavengers and clear everything within their -path; their bite is painful, and one must look out for their moving -column when he is upon the trail; they swarm upon and kill small animals -which they encounter and clean their skeletons before they leave; when -they enter houses people are wise to vacate and leave them to clean out -the place. The famous jigger is a recent importation into Liberia, as -into Africa generally; it burrows into human feet, causing an -intolerable itching; ensconced, it develops a sack of eggs, round and of -considerable size; unless this is removed, the eggs hatch and the young -burrow out into the sole of the foot; when itching is felt, search -should be made for its cause and the insect, sack and all, carefully -removed with a needle; serious injury to the feet may result if jiggers -are neglected. When one walks over the trail during rainy weather, he -sees great quantities of earth-worms of enormous size, even two feet six -inches or three feet in length. Scorpions and centipedes are not -uncommon. We have not even suggested the wide range and diversity of -insect-life, but have simply mentioned samples of the more conspicuous. - -14. The human population of Liberia consists of the Americo-Liberians, -who live in a number of small settlements along the coast and upon some -of the more important rivers, and the aborigines. The truly native -population consists of many different tribes, each with its own -language, territory, government, and life. These tribes linguistically -form three or four groups. Delafosse, our best authority in regard to -Liberian populations, recognizes four such groups; Sir Harry Johnston -recognizes three. The four divisions of Delafosse are Kru, Mandingo, -Gola, Gbele--Sir Harry Johnston’s are Kru, Mandingo, and Kpwesi. We have -already suggested that the tribes are many and diverse; within his Kru -group Delafosse names eighteen tribes. The black populations of Africa -are usually divided into three great divisions--true Negroes, Bantu, -Negrillos (Pygmies and Bushmen). The Liberian tribes are true Negroes -and are to be distinguished from the Bantu populations of Congo Belge -and southern Africa. Most of the native tribes are pagan. In the western -half of Liberia, however, Mohammedanism has taken hold of the great -tribes of Mandingo and Vai. Among all these natives the tribal -organization and government remain in full force, although most of them -recognize the sovereignty of the Republic; native dress, arts, and -industries remain; among the pagan tribes polygamy is common; domestic -slavery still exists; witchcraft is recognized and the ancient ordeals -are practiced. - - -POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY.--1. The name Liberia was suggested in 1824 by -Robert Goodloe Harper, of Baltimore, Maryland, and has reference to the -fact that the colony was established as a land of freedom; the capital -city, Monrovia, was also named on his suggestion in honor of the -president of the United States at that time, James Monroe. The Republic -of Liberia is divided for administrative purposes into four -counties--Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, and Maryland. These are named -in order from west to east. The portion of Montserrado County lying -around Cape Mount forms a territory with Robertsport as its capital and -chief city. - -2. It is difficult to learn reliable facts regarding the population of -Liberia. Sir Harry Johnston made a careful estimation of the number of -Americo-Liberians, listing each of the settlements and stating their -probable number of inhabitants. He found the total to be 11,850 -persons--or in round numbers 12,000; he estimated that there were 30,000 -natives who had been more or less in contact with the white man and knew -something of English or some other European language and of -civilization; he estimated the total of untouched native population at -2,000,000 persons. Delafosse, an exceptionally cautious observer, claims -30,000 civilized inhabitants. Gerard raises the citizen mass of the -Republic to 80,000 persons, of whom 20,000 are Americo-Liberians and -60,000 are natives who have submitted themselves to the laws of the -country. It is certain that Sir Harry’s estimate of the number of -interior natives is at least double the reality; so far as the other -elements of population are concerned, he is probably somewhat near the -facts, although it is likely that his number of 12,000 Americo-Liberians -is an underestimate. - -3. Most of the Americo-Liberian settlements are on the coast, although -there are a number along the St. Paul’s River and a few upon some of the -other rivers. There are four cities in the Republic, with mayor and -common council; Monrovia, Grand Bassa, Edina, and Harper. The townships -are Robertsport, Marshall, River Cess, Greenville, Nana Kru, Cavalla. In -order to reduce the expense of the government service, the Liberian -government has limited the number of open ports where foreigners may -trade. The open ports at the present time include the cities and -townships above mentioned and also Manna, Nifu, Sasstown, and Fishtown. -The remaining ports are open for trade to Liberians but not to foreign -traders. They are, Little Bassa, Tobakoni, New Cess, Trade Town, Grand -Kulloh, Tembo, Rock Cess, Bafu Bay, Butu, Kroba, Beddo, Pickanini Cess, -Grand Cesters, Wedabo, Puduke, Garawé. - -4. We reproduce Sir Harry Johnston’s table.[A] It appears to have been -carefully made and deserves consideration. We happen to have another set -of figures, however, which we can compare with his; we quote them from -Ferguson’s Handbook of Liberia. In May, 1907, an amendment to the -Constitution was submitted to the popular vote; 6579 votes were cast. -Voters must be males of at least twenty-one years and owners of -property; the population represented by them would surely be at least -three times this number--which gives a minimum of 19,737. These figures, -however, can not be depended upon without qualification, because no -doubt “natives” were among the voters; in fact, when matters of -importance, upon which public opinion is actively aroused, are voted on, -the “brother from the bush” is mustered to the polls in considerable -numbers. We copy the numbers voting at different settlements in column -parallel to Sir Harry Johnston’s figures. Curious discrepancies occur, -as for instance, cases where a larger number of votes were cast than Sir -Harry’s figure, which is supposed to give the total number of -population. - - [A] SUMMARY OF POPULATION--AMERICO-LIBERIANS - - ==================================================== - Montserrado County-- (Johnston) (Ferguson) - Robertsport 400 76 - Royesville 50 57 - St. Paul’s River Settlements-- - New Georgia 200 36 - Caldwell 100 109 - Brewerville 200 170 - Clay-Ashland 400 484 - Louisiana 100 81 - New York 50 - White Plains 300 - Millsburg 250 17 - Arthington 300 54 - Careysburg 400 688 - Crozierville 100 109 - Bensonville 150 115 - Robertsville 150 - Harrisburg 250 89 - --------- - 3250 - Settlements on the Mesurado River-- - Barnersville } 31 - Gardnersville } 200 - Johnsonville } 215 - Paynesville } 387 - Monrovia } 2500 106 - - Junk River Settlements-- - Schieffin and Powellville 225 - Mount Olive 150 - Marshall 125 55 - Farmington River and Owen’s - Grove 300 14 - --------- - 800 - Grand Bassa County, Grand - Bassa Settlements-- - Little Bassa 50 - Edina 250 494 - Hartford 50 74 - St. John’s River 350 - Upper Buchanan 400 1298 - Lower Buchanan 600 310 - Tobakoni 50 - --------- - 1750 - - Coast: Grand Bassa County-- - Grand Bassa to River Cestos 150 - On River Cestos 50 - - Sinoe County, Sinoe Settlements-- - Sino River 50 - Lexington 100 63 - Greenville 350 156 - Philadelphia 125 - Georgia 125 - -------- - 750 - Kru Coast-- - Nana Kru } - Setra Kru } - Nifu } 150 - Sass Town } - Garawe } - - Maryland County, Cape Palmas and Lower Cavalla-- - Rocktown 100 - Harper 900 256 - Philadelphia 100 - Latrobe 50 - Cuttington 100 - Half Cavalla 50 - Hoffmann 50 - Middlesex 50 - Jacksonville 75 - Bunker Hill 25 - Tubman Town 100 - New Georgia 25 - Hillierville 25 - --------- - 1650 - Scattered in Interior - Kelipo, Maryland County } - Boporo Region } 150 - Upper St. Paul’s, etc., etc.} - --------- - 11,850 - - Owing to the use of different names, and the use of - the same name in different ways, a complete - comparison is impossible. - ---------------------------------------------------- - -5. As vital statistics for Liberia are rare, and it is interesting to -know how immigrants survived the acclimating fever, we subjoin a table -taken from the African Repository.[B] It is interesting in various -ways. The large number of deaths, nearly one-half the total of -immigrants, is not strange in view of the fact that a large part of the -persons sent were well on in years, or worn out through service. Such, -and small children, were especially liable to die under the new -conditions. Under the circumstances, the number of removals (presumably -returns to the United States) is not large. Most interesting of all, -however, is the column of viable births. How would it compare with the -present? The impression the visitor receives is that the -Americo-Liberian population is barely holding its own--if it is doing -that. - - [B] POPULATION MOVEMENT FOR LIBERIA (EXCLUSIVE OF MARYLAND) FROM 1820 - TO 1843 - - Year Arrivals Deaths Removals Births, Pop. - Liv. - 1820 86 15 35 -- 36 - 1821 33 7 8 -- 54 - 1822 37 14 5 3 75 - 1823 65 15 8 6 120 - 1824 103 21 8 3 200 - 1825 66 21 3 6 248 - 1826 182 48 6 3 379 - 1827 234 29 14 6 576 - 1828 301 137 24 12 638 - 1829 247 67 25 20 813 - 1830 326 110 25 20 1,024 - 1831 165 83 12 30 1,117 - 1832 655 129 83 13 1,573 - 1833 639 217 122 44 1,917 - 1834 237 140 31 33 1,016 - 1835 183 83 32 48 2,132 - 1836 209 145 13 47 2,230 - 1837 76 141 6 58 2,217 - 1838 205 185 12 56 2,281 - 1839 56 135 10 55 2,247 - 1840 115 180 6 40 2,216 - 1841 86 100 9 78 2,271 - 1842 229 91 15 35 2,429 - 1843 19 85 2 29 2,390 - ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ - - -SOCIETY.--1. In considering the society of Liberia, and the problems -with which the Liberian government has had to deal, it is necessary to -sharply distinguish the different elements of which it is composed. We -have already indicated them, but it will be well here to clearly -separate them. We may first recognize immigrant and aboriginal -populations. The immigrant population, as we use the term, includes -negroes who have come from the United States, from the British West -Indies, or from South America, and their descendants; this class also -includes a number of recaptured Africans and their descendants. The -first settlers were of course American freed-men from the United States. -They and their descendants have always formed the bulk of the Liberian -population. Immigration from the United States has never entirely -ceased, although in these latter days the new-comers have been people -who were born in freedom. There is a very considerable number of -so-called “West Indian Negroes” in Liberia; ever since the foundation of -the Republic there has been a small but rather steady influx of such -individuals. Occasionally immigrants have also come from South American -colonies and from various British colonies and settlements along the -coast of West Africa; all of these new-comers are included under the -general term of Americo-Liberians, even though they may have had no -relation to America. During the early days of Liberia it was customary -to send Africans who had been captured on slaving ships by American war -vessels to Liberia for settlement; these individuals were known as -recaptured Africans, and it was customary to settle them in places by -themselves; although such recaptured Africans rapidly acquired the -improvements of civilization and showed themselves industrious, -enterprising, and progressive, they were generally looked upon with more -or less contempt by the other settlers. The aboriginal population may be -divided into three quite different groups. The coast natives, Kru and -others, have long been in constant contact with white men and have -acquired considerable knowledge of the outside world; they are -constantly employed by steamers both as crews and in loading and -discharging cargoes. In the western half of the Republic Mohammedan -influence is strong; the Mandingo, most of the Vai, and considerable -numbers of such tribes as the Gola are Mohammedans; the influence of -Mohammedanism is spreading and the presence of this element is destined -to have its effect upon the nation. The third element of the native -population is the interior natives living the old tribal life. Having -thus called attention to the different elements which mingle in Liberian -society, it will be understood that our further discussion in this -section has reference only to the civilized Liberians. - -2. The Liberian settlements generally consist of well built houses -arranged along broad, straight streets. The style of architecture is, as -might be expected, influenced by the plantation houses of our southern -states before the war. It was natural that the freed-men, when they had -a chance to develop, should copy those things with which they were -familiar. Towns, houses, dress, life--all were reproductions of what was -considered elegant in the days before removal. Of course Monrovia, as -the capital city, is the best representative of the development. It is a -town of perhaps 7,000 inhabitants; it is sharply divided into two -divisions, a civilized quarter upon the summit of a ridge some 290 feet -in height; here live the Americo-Liberians and the European residents. -The buildings are for the most part rather large constructions of one -and a half or two stories; the houses have large rooms with high -ceilings and are generally supplied with balconies and porches. Krutown, -lying along the water’s edge on the seacoast and fronting the interior -lagoon, consists of large, rectangular native houses closely crowded -together, and its narrow streets swarm with people. Five minutes’ walk -takes one from the Executive Mansion in the heart of the civilized -quarter to the heart of Krutown. - -While on the streets of Monrovia one may see a startling range of -clothing, due to the fact that there are pagan natives, Kru boys, -Mohammedans, and Americo-Liberians, all jostling and elbowing each -other. The Americo-Liberian dresses very much like civilized people in -our ordinary country towns. There are of course differences in wealth, -and one may see all grades of dress. On all public occasions men of -prominence appear in the regulation dress of our southern states. Sir -Harry Johnston says that “Liberia is the land of the cult of the -dress-suit.” Nowhere else have I ever seen so large a number, -proportionally, of dress-suits, frock-coats, and stovepipe hats as in -Monrovia upon Sundays or days of celebration. - -3. All speak English, and though Sir Harry does not like their English, -it is far better than might be expected, though there are indeed -colloquialisms. All who meet you give friendly greetings. At first it is -something of a shock to have the children as they pass say “Mawnin, -paw,” or address one as “daddy,” but one soon becomes accustomed to it. -On the whole, the life of the people is that of simple country folk. -They are well satisfied with their condition and take life easy. They -love to sit on the porch and chat with passers. On the whole, it must be -admitted that they lack energy. The number who really think, lead, -direct, control, is very small. There is, as among our own colored -people here at home, something of over-elegance in both speech and -manner. While a very large number of them read, few indeed have even a -moderate education. - -4. Sociability is largely developed. They love to gather upon every kind -of pretext. There are practically no places of public amusement. In 1831 -there was a public library with twelve hundred volumes in the city of -Monrovia; to-day there is no public library or reading-room in the -capital city. Lodges are numerous and the number of secret organizations -is very large. There are eight or ten Free Masons Lodges; the Grand -United Order of Odd Fellows has sixteen lodges and upwards of three -hundred members; the United Brothers of Friendship have lodges at ten of -the most important towns and The Sisters of the Mysterious Ten--which is -the female branch of the order--has four temples; the Independent Order -of Good Templars too is represented. Literary societies and lyceums are -from time to time organized, but usually have a short existence; one, -however, at Cape Palmas, seems to have outlived the usual period. A -respectable Bar Association has been in existence for several years, has -annual meetings, and prints its proceedings. - -5. There is little of what could be called literary activity in the -Republic. One sees some books, but there are no book-stores; the number -of individuals who have modest private libraries must be very small. It -is true, however, that a considerable number of men can write remarkably -well. The public documents of the Republic have always been well worded -and forceful. The messages of successive presidents to the legislature -have shown extraordinary ability. One who follows the dealings of -Liberian officials with foreign governments is constantly impressed by -the fact that in deliberation they show judgment, in diplomatic -procedure extraordinary skill. It is certainly no unjust discrimination -to emphasize the literary power of such men as Ex-President Arthur -Barclay, Chief Justice J. J. Dossen, Ex-Secretary of State F. E. R. -Johnson, and Judge E. Barclay, a poet of no mean ability. Oratory is -inherent in the race and the number of individuals who can deliver a -public address of merit on the celebration of Independence Day or other -occasion is very large. Such orations are often put into print, and a -considerable library might be made of this kind of production. -Comparatively few have written seriously on public questions or on -history. Occasionally something in this line is printed--Karnga’s _Negro -Republic on West Africa_, and Branch’s _Sketch of the History of -Arthington_ are samples. The one notable literary man whom Liberia has -produced is Edward Wilmot Blyden, who died a year ago; his name is known -wherever the English language is read and his contributions upon negro -subjects were many and important. - -6. NEWSPAPERS.--When we were in Monrovia in October and November, 1912, -no newspaper was printed in the capital city. At that time six -periodicals were published at different places in the Republic. They -were: _The Living Chronicle_, _The Silver Trumpet_, both printed at Cape -Palmas; _The African League_, at Grand Bassa; _The Gazette_ (official) -and _Liberia and West Africa_, at Monrovia. Three of these publications -were missionary enterprises, one was an official monthly publication, -and one was an actual newspaper appearing monthly. This, _The African -League_, was conducted by J. H. Green, an American negro from Little -Rock, Arkansas; it began in the United States and is now in its -fifteenth volume; it was removed to Liberia at the beginning of its -fourth volume, which was printed in Monrovia in 1902; it is now -conducted at Buchanan, or Grand Bassa. _The African League_ is a live -sheet and discusses the questions of the day with considerable -independence. Newspapers in Liberia have a hard time and usually -maintain a brief existence; so true is this that persons are extremely -cautious about subscribing by the year to any publication for fear that -it will end after the publication of the first few numbers; for this -reason it is more customary to buy single copies than to subscribe for a -definite term. Still worse than this, it is far more the custom for -Liberian readers to borrow newspapers than to buy them; nowhere perhaps -does a single copy of a periodical go so far. All of this makes editing -and publishing an uphill task. - - PERIODICALS OF LIBERIA - - In the course of reading, rummaging and inquiry, I have secured a lot - of fragmentary information regarding Liberian periodicals. I present - the matter here because taken together it is more in quantity and more - definite than I have been able to find anywhere in print. I make this - note in the hope that it may bring me information to correct and - extend the list. - - 1829 _The Liberia Herald._ John B. Russwurm was the first editor. - Hilary Teague and Edward Wilmot Blyden (1851) edited it at - times. Whether it was continuously published, I do not know. It - was sometimes, perhaps always, aided by the government. - 1830 _Liberian Star._ - (1832) _The Amulet._ - (1839) _The African Luminary._ - (188-) _The Observer._ - 1898 _The Liberia Recorder_--1906. Last editor, N. H. B. Cassell. - 1898 _Liberia and West Africa._ (Vol. XIV in 1912.) Published by the - Methodist Episcopal Mission, at the College of West Africa. - Perhaps at first _The New Africa_. - ---- _The Weekly Spy._ } - ---- _The Baptist Monitor._ } - ---- _The New Africa._ } All between - ---- _The Living Chronicle._ } 1898 and - ---- _The Cape Palmas Reporter_; monthly. J. J. Dossen.} 1902. - ---- _The Youth’s Gazette_ (student paper, } - College of West Africa). } - 1902 _The African League_: Monrovia, monthly; later Buchanan, semi- - monthly. J. H. Green. Began publication in the United States; - the fourth volume at Monrovia. - 1903 _The Monrovia Weekly._ - ---- _The National Echo_ (governmental). - (1905) _The Liberia Bulletin._ - (1905) _Liberia Gazette._ - ---- _The Agricultural World_, Monrovia. P. O. Gray. - (1907) _The Monrovia Spectator._ - 1907 _The Silver Trumpet_, Cape Palmas, quarterly. S. D. Ferguson, - Jr. - _The Liberia Register_, Monrovia. John L. Morris. - 1911 _The Guide, Monrovia_, monthly. F. Wilcom Ellegor. - 1912 _Liberia Official Gazette_, Monrovia, monthly. - ---- _Christian Advocate._ - ---- _Cavalla Messenger._ - ---- _Sons of Cape Palmas._ - - Parenthesis indicates that the periodical was printed at least during - the enclosed date. - -7. The importance of education in the Black Republic is by no means -overlooked, but it has always been difficult to raise the money to -conduct schools. The office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is a -Cabinet position. In 1912 ninety-one schools were under his direction. -There are many mission schools in the Republic, some of them of high -grade, and all of them doing a useful work. Liberia College has had an -existence of a half century, and most of the men of prominence in the -later history of the Republic have received instruction within its -walls; it has received a partial endowment from private American -sources, but is also assisted by financial aid from the government. As -education is one of the most serious problems facing the Republic, it -will be discussed under a separate heading, and further comment may be -delayed. - -8. The Liberians are a very religious community; the Bible is read with -old-fashioned devotion; Theology is of the orthodox and rigid type; -Sunday is a day of rest and religious duty, and Sabbath desecration -approaches the dangerous. There are churches in all the settlements, and -in Monrovia and the other cities several denominations are represented. -The Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist, -Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran denominations are represented -either by independent churches or by mission work. The emotional nature -of the negro is well known, and the religion which ministers to them in -Liberia is emotional to a high degree; revivals are common--in fact they -recur probably at annual intervals--and are accompanied by all the -displays of extravagant and explosive demonstration which once were -common among the negroes of our southern states and earlier among white -populations in the north. Conviction of sin and the attainment of glory -are the two chief ends sought in these reviving efforts. - -9. Some facts in regard to the history of churches in Liberia may prove -of interest. The first church established was Baptist in 1821. It had -been organized in this country among emigrants about to sail to the land -of hope; in its membership was the famous Lott Carey, who served as -leader and preacher. The denomination has had a varied history in -Liberia; it spread rather rapidly and at one time was widely developed; -it suffered some decline thereafter, but still has several -congregations; it is strongest in Montserrado and Bassa Counties; it -maintains a flourishing Sunday school in Monrovia. - -In 1825 the famous Basle Mission undertook an establishment in Liberia, -several missionaries having been sent out from Switzerland. Considerable -correspondence took place between the officers of the Mission Society -and the Colonization Society, and some of the missionaries visited the -United States before going to Liberia; these Swiss missionaries suffered -much from disease and death; the effort was continued for some time, but -eventually the work was transferred to Sierra Leone, and Liberia was -left unoccupied. - -The Methodist Episcopal denomination entered Liberia in 1832. It has -continued in active work from that date until the present time; the -present missionary bishop for Africa is Joseph Crane Hartzell, whose -residence is Funchal, Madeira, and whose field includes Liberia, -Angola, and Madeira on the west coast, and Rhodesia and Portuguese -Africa on the east coast. A resident bishop (colored) is maintained at -Monrovia, who is at present Isaiah B. Scott, a native of Kentucky, -educated in the United States. The work is full of life and much headway -is making. The Report of 1912 announces work at 49 different stations in -four districts--Bassa and Sinoe, Cape Palmas, Monrovia, Saint Paul River -Districts. There were 15 foreign missionaries, 3 other foreign workers, -45 ordained and 86 unordained native preachers, 4317 members. One -College, 1 High School and 29 elementary schools were reported, with a -total of 63 teachers and 1882 scholars. The work is well sustained and -$11,576 was contributed during the year in the direction of -self-support. The first missionary sent into this field was Melville B. -Cox, who lived but a few months after his arrival. It is an interesting -fact that this Liberian mission is the first foreign mission of the -Methodist Episcopal church. - -The first Presbyterian missionary to Liberia, John B. Pinney, organized -a church in the colony in 1833; its first building was dedicated in -1838; a Presbytery was organized in 1848, but was soon dissolved for -lack of a legal quorum; it was organized again in 1851, when there were -three churches in the country--Monrovia, Greenville, Clay-Ashland; the -work was at first a purely mission work, especially directed towards the -aborigines; there were many deaths among the early missionaries, and in -1842 the policy was established of sending only colored preachers; white -men, however, were sent again in 1849. The mission maintained churches -and schools, including the Alexander High School at Monrovia. The work -was continued under considerable discouragement, both white and black -missionaries dying in considerable numbers, until 1899, when it was -abandoned by the mother church. Presbyterianism, however, did not die, -but has continued under local direction and with self-support up to the -present. It is reported that, in 1904, there were ten clergymen, nine -churches, 450 members, and 437 scholars on its lists. From an historical -sketch put out by the Presbyterian Board, we quote the following: “In -1894 the Board of Foreign Missions resolved that its wisest policy in -regard to the Liberian church would be to commit their support to the -zeal and devotion of their own members. In pursuance of this resolve the -amount of aid was gradually diminished, until in 1899 the entire -responsibility was given over to the Presbytery of West Africa. The -latest report shows that the work has not fallen off in consequence. -There are now fifteen churches with about 400 members. This little flock -of Liberian Presbyterians greatly need the prayers of Christians in -America, that they may be kept faithful and pure, and use aright their -exceptional opportunities for mission work among the pagan tribes.” A -very pious prayer, but it would be interesting to know how genuinely the -American Presbyterians feel aught of interest in, and sympathy with, -“this little flock.” It is possible that, if the flock is to “use aright -its exceptional opportunities for mission work among the pagan tribes,” -an occasional expression might be a stimulus to them. - -The Protestant Episcopal Church began its work with a little school for -natives in the Cape Palmas District in 1836. The work has prospered -notably, and Bishop Ferguson in his latest annual report reported 26 -clergymen, 25 lay readers, 46 catechists and teachers, of whom 21 were -native Africans; he had 479 baptisms in the year, of whom 423 were from -heathenism. The present number of communicants is 2404, two-thirds of -whom are native Africans; the mission maintained twenty-two day schools -and nineteen boarding schools with an attendance of 1210 in the one, and -643 in the other. The work of this mission is approaching the point of -self-support. - -The Lutherans began their work in Liberia in 1860. It has been largely -educational work; it centers at the Muhlenburg Boys’ School, which, in -1911, reported 145 boarding pupils, and 13 day pupils; at the Girls’ -School in Harrisburg there were 61 boarding pupils and 17 day pupils; -the mission maintains three schools in the interior, with a total of 71 -boarding and 6 day pupils. One of the strong features of their work is -that they encourage the boys to labor. “In vacation time they remain in -the schools and put in their time on the farm, picking coffee, cutting -and clearing land; some of them also worked in the work-shops and in -other ways around the mission, rowing the boats and making themselves -generally useful. The Girls’ School carries out similar plans of -education for the girls.” This mission attempts to aid in its own -support by actual production; the proceeds of its coffee sales during -the year of 1911 were something like $1,700, $1,000 of which amount was -used in the installation of a water-power plant. The mission sets an -example in advanced methods which can be helpful to the Republic at -large; in reporting work, they say: “Until a few years ago, our coffee -was all hulled by an old-fashioned mill consisting of two flat stones -similar to the burrs of the old flour mills with which our parents were -familiar. This was crude and slow, though it did its work fairly well. -The chief objection to its use was the large number of grains which were -broken. Five or six years ago a large iron mill was installed, which -effected a great saving both in time and expense, and turned out coffee -in more marketable condition. An improved fanning machine, differing -from the grain fanners in America only in the screens used, was put in -beside the huller. By this machine we can grade the coffee -satisfactorily as to size of grain desired.” If only Liberian planters -had equally kept pace with the treatment of their coffee harvest, the -market would not have suffered so severely as it has. The policy of this -mission is to locate a married couple as missionaries at interior points -separated from each other by considerable distances; these places are to -be stations and head-quarters within populations estimated at about -150,000 persons; it is a capital plan and should exercise wide -influence. In connection with the mission a store is conducted which not -only maintains itself, but leaves a profit of some hundreds of dollars -yearly; a tailor-shop, shoe-shop, a blacksmith-shop, and a doctor’s -office, are also maintained, which not only care for themselves, but add -somewhat to the income. On the whole, the work and plans of this mission -are markedly practical. - -The last mission in order of establishment is the African Methodist -Episcopal Church Mission, founded under Bishop Turner. It has been -successful under the direction of Bishop Turner, Bishop Moore, and -Bishop Shaffer. Its superintendent is the Rev. L. C. Curtis; it has five -church buildings, 16 ordained and 3 unordained preachers, 3 missionary -teachers, 501 members. It has an industrial school with 100 acres of -land on the St. Paul’s River. It is the only one of all the missions -which originates with colored men and which is carried through without -white assistance. - - -GOVERNMENT.--1. The Declaration of Independence of Liberia was adopted -on July 26, 1847. It is a human document of extraordinary interest. As a -basis for it, the declarers state their case in the following words: “We -the people of the Republic of Liberia, were originally inhabitants of -the United States of North America. In some parts of that country we -were debarred by law from all rights and privileges of men--in other -parts, public sentiment, more powerful than law, ground us down. We were -everywhere shut out from all civil offices. We were excluded from all -participation in the government. We were taxed without our consent. We -were compelled to contribute to the resources of the country, which gave -us no protection. We were made a separate and distinct class, and -against us every avenue of improvement was effectually closed. Strangers -from all lands, of a color different from ours, were preferred before -us. We uttered our complaints, but they were unattended to, or met only -by alleging the peculiar institution of the country. All hope of a -favorable change in our country was thus wholly extinguished in our -bosoms, and we looked about with anxiety for some asylum from the deep -degradation.” The whole document is well worth reading. - -2. The Constitution was adopted on the same day, which date is -celebrated annually as the birthday of the nation. The document is -largely patterned after our own, but presents some interesting points of -difference. Among these, three deserve special mention. Slavery is -absolutely prohibited throughout the Republic. Citizenship is limited to -negroes or persons of negro descent; in the original Constitution the -wording was, that it was confined to “persons of color,” but, as curious -questions gradually arose in regard to who should be considered “persons -of color,” an amendment was adopted, changing the expression to “negroes -or those of negro descent.” The ballot is cast by male citizens, -twenty-one years of age, and owning real estate. - -3. This Constitution remained without amendment for sixty years. In the -beginning the term of president, vice-president, and representatives had -been fixed at two years, and that of senators at four; experience -demonstrated that these terms were too short and a vigorous agitation to -lengthen them took place. The Liberians are a conservative people and -look back with pride to the doings of the “fathers”; very strong feeling -was aroused at the suggestion of changing the wording of the sacred -document which they had left. In time, however, sufficient sentiment was -developed to lead to the submission of amendments at the election of -1907; the amendments were carried by a vote of 5112 to 1467. By these -amendments the term of office of president, vice-president, and -representatives was extended to four years and that of senators to six. - -4. The flag of the Republic has six red stripes with five white stripes -alternately displayed longitudinally; in the upper angle of the flag, -next to the staff, a field of blue, square, covers five stripes in -depth; in the centre of the field is a lone white star. - -5. The great seal of the Republic bears the following design:--a dove on -the wing with an open scroll in its claws; a ship under sail upon the -ocean; the sun rising from the water; a palm-tree, with a plough and -spade at its base; above, the words: _Republic of Liberia_; below, the -national motto: _The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here_. - -6. The government of Liberia consists of three co-ordinate branches--the -Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. The executive branch consists of -the President, Vice-President, and a Cabinet of seven members. The -Legislature consists of two houses--the Senate and the House of -Representatives. The judicial branch consists of a Supreme Court with a -Chief Justice and two Associates, and Circuit Courts under the -supervision of the Supreme Court. The President, Vice-President, and -Congressmen are elected; all other officers of state are appointed by -the President, subject to the approval of the Senate. - -7. The President and Vice-President are elected by the voters for a -period of four years. The President’s Cabinet consists of seven -members--Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of the -Interior, Secretary of War and Navy, Postmaster-General, -Attorney-General, Superintendent of the Department of Education. These -officers have the usual functions connected with such positions. The -Vice-President is President of the Senate.[C] - - [C] The present President of the Republic is Daniel Edward Howard. He - is the third “native son” to hold that office--the first having been - President Johnson. President Howard’s Cabinet consists of the - following members: Secretary of State, C. D. B. King; Secretary of the - Treasury, John L. Morris (son of the Secretary of the Interior); - Secretary of the Interior, James Morris; Secretary of War and Navy, - Wilmot E. Dennis; Postmaster-General, Isaac Moort; Attorney-General, - Samuel A. Ross; Superintendent of the Department of Education, - Benjamin W. Payne (educated in the U. S.). The Vice-President is - Samuel G. Harmon, of Grand Bassa, whose father was vice-president in - 1876. - -8. The Legislature consists of the Senate and the House of -Representatives. The Senate consists of eight members, two from each -county; they are elected for a term of six years. The House of -Representatives at the present time includes fourteen members, -apportioned as follows: Montserrado County, four; Grand Bassa County, -three; Sinoe County, three; Maryland County, three; Cape Mount -Territory, one. Notwithstanding its small size, this Legislature has as -broad a range of matters to consider as any legislative body elsewhere; -thirty-two committees deal with matters ranging from foreign affairs and -commerce through military and naval affairs, native African affairs, and -pensions, to engrossing and enrolling. Naturally in such a multiplicity -of committees--most of which consist of five members--ample opportunity -is found for the development of political ability among the members; it -seems, however, as if membership on twenty-two committees, a case of -which occurs in the present standing committee roll, was over-ambition -or over-loading. In case of necessity the President, Vice-President, and -Cabinet officers may be impeached. Impeachment must originate in the -House of Representatives; the trial is made by the Senate, over which at -the time the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides. - -9. The judicial branch of the government consists of the Supreme Court, -with a Chief Justice and two Associates, and of Circuit Courts with -rotating judges under the supervision of the Supreme Court. All judges -are appointed by the President. The Supreme Court holds two sessions -annually; the Circuit Courts hold quarterly. - -10. Mr. George W. Ellis, for a number of years secretary of our -legation at Monrovia, and exceptionally well informed regarding -Liberian affairs, states that the political authority of the President -is exercised in the counties and territories by a governor appointed -by the Executive, who is called Superintendent. In the interior the -President is represented by a Commissioner, who presides over each -commissioner-district, and who associates with himself the native chiefs -in the control or government of the native peoples in his district. In -some instances this Commissioner has judicial functions, from which an -appeal lies to the Quarterly and Supreme Courts. The authority of the -Commissioner is supported by a detachment of the Liberian Frontier -Police Force, with head-quarters at the Monrovia barracks. - -11. In the matter of lesser courts there are Quarterly, Probate, and -Justice courts, for each of the counties and territories. The judges can -only be removed for cause, the President suspending, and his suspension -meeting the approval of the Legislature. Monrovia recently abolished the -Justices of the Peace and established a Municipal Court with a special -judge, whose tenure of office is during good behavior. - -12. Politics is in great vogue. The Liberians have never liked to work. -Since the establishment of the colony, agriculture even has had but -slight attractions for the people. It is not strange, all things -considered. The ancestors of these people used to work hard in the -fields before they went over there; one reason they went was that they -wanted to escape field-labor. They had always been accustomed to see -their masters live in ease, without soiling their hands with toil; when -they became their own masters, they naturally wanted to be like the men -to whom they had been accustomed to look up with respect. Trade has -always been in high repute. It was easy for the new-comers to trade with -the natives of the country and rapidly acquire a competence. So far as -work was concerned, there were plenty of “bush niggers” to be had -cheaply. There is, however, another way of escape from manual labor -besides trade--that is professional life. Everywhere people who do not -wish to work with their hands may seek a learned profession; it is so -here with us--it is so there with them. The Liberians would rather be -“reverends” or doctors or lawyers than to work with their hands. Of all -the professions, however, law seems to be the favorite. The number of -lawyers in Liberia is unnecessarily large, and lawyers naturally drift -into politics; they aim to become members of Congress or judges of the -Supreme Court or members of the Cabinet or President of the Republic. It -is unfortunate that so many of them are anxious for that kind of life; -but they are skilled in it, and we have nothing to teach them when it -comes to politics. - -13. Ellis says: “. . . the most notable characteristic of Liberian -government is the existence practically of only one political party. The -reasons for this no doubt are many, but important, if not chief among -them, is the economic depression which followed the decline in the price -of Liberian coffee. Coffee was the overshadowing industry of the -Republic. The Liberian planters had invested all the capital they had in -the coffee industry, and when coffee went down in the early nineties, -the different Liberian communities were thrown into such a paralysis of -hard times that they have not recovered to this day. Disheartened and -financially distressed, formerly strong, self-sustaining, and -independent, Liberian planters one after another abandoned their -plantations and transferred their time and attention from coffee and the -farm to politics and office-seeking. And while something is due to the -ability of the administrations to undermine opposition by capturing its -capable leaders through the charm of political preferment, something due -to the smallness of the civilized population and the disposition of -voter and leader alike to be on the winning side, yet, economic -depression is at the foundation of the one-party system which now -obtains in Liberia.” - -14. Still there has ever been a nominal division into parties. Again we -quote from Ellis: “Thus after the adoption of the Liberian constitution -the people divided themselves into two parties under the same names as -those which obtained at the time in the United States--the Republican -and the Whig parties. For some time the Republican Party has ceased to -exist in Liberian politics. The opposition to the Whig Party has been -for the most part unorganized, without wise and resourceful leaders, and -without funds adequate to compete with the dominant Whig administrations -in national campaigns. But like the present Republican Party of the -United States, the Liberian Whigs have met all the Liberian difficulties -during the past thirty years or more. The Whigs had been progressive, -and inspired by wise and distinguished statesmen, the Liberian Whigs -have repeatedly addressed themselves with success to the Liberian -voters. Opposition to the Whig Party in Liberia at the polls seems now -to have little or no chance of success, so that nomination on a Whig -ticket is equivalent to election.” - -15. All this is true, but after all, at the last election there was a -considerable awakening of party spirit; it was a bitter political -contest. The cry of fraud was loudly raised; seats in Congress were -challenged by more than half the total number of membership; the -question was seriously asked how an investigation would be possible on -account of the lack of unimplicated to conduct it. This outburst of -feeling and this cry of fraud, came at a bad moment; the nation was -appealing for our financial assistance; it was feared that a bad -impression might be produced by the condition of disharmony; under this -fear, personal feeling was for the time suppressed and the demand for -investigation dropped. - -16. We have already said that the Liberians are skilled in politics and -that we have but little to teach them. They know quite well what graft -means. In fact, graft of the finest kind exists and has existed among -the native Africans from time beyond the memory of man; if the -Americo-Liberians could have escaped from our own republic without -ideas in this direction, such would quickly have been developed through -contact with their native neighbors. Unfortunately there is considerable -opportunity for graft in the black Republic. The actual salaries of -public officers and congressmen are very small. Important concessions -are, however, all the time being demanded by wealthy outside interests. -English, German, French, American promoters have always something to -propose to that little legislature, and they never come with empty -hands. One of the greatest dangers which the nation faces is found in -these great schemes of exploitation offered from outside. The natural -resources of the country are very great; but they should be, so far as -possible, conserved for the benefit of the people and the nation. The -temptation to betray the nation’s interest for present personal -advantage is always very great. - - -ECONOMICS--1. We have already called attention to the attitude of the -Americo-Liberian toward manual labor and have shown that it is, on the -whole, natural under the circumstances. Where there are sharp contrasts -between the elements of society, as there are in Liberia between the -Americo-Liberians, the Vai, the Kru, and the “Bush Niggers,” there is -bound to develop more or less of caste feeling. This was inevitable with -people who had themselves come from a district where caste was so marked -as in our southern states. The natives have never been considered the -full equals of the immigrants nor treated as brothers; they are “hewers -of wood” and “drawers of water”; they are utilized as house servants. It -is convenient to be able to fill one’s house with “bush niggers” as -servants, and the settlers have done so from the early days of -settlement. Why indeed should one himself work where life is easy and -where money is quickly made through trade? This feeling of caste showed -itself in various curious ways--thus the colonists soon fell into the -habit of calling themselves “white men” in contrast to the negroes of -the country. - -2. For the present and for some time still the chief dependence of the -country is necessarily trade in raw products. Wealth must come from palm -nuts and oil, piassava, rubber, and the like. In such products the -Republic has enormous wealth. These can only be secured from the -interior through native help. In order that this kind of trade develop, -it must be stimulated by legitimate means. At present it is not as -flourishing as it might be. The natives are not steady workers; they -bring in products when they feel like it or when they have a pressing -need of money; trails are bad, and transportation of raw products for -great distances is hardly profitable. Yet, if the country is to develop, -this production must be steadily increased. - -3. Ultimately Liberia must depend on agriculture. With a fertile soil, a -tropical climate, abundant rainfall--its possibilities in the direction -of agricultural production are enormous. This industry will be the -permanent dependence of the country. It must be the next in order of -development. Serious development of manufacturing appears remote. -Agriculture has always been neglected; Ashmun pleaded with the natives -to go into it and prepared a little pamphlet of directions applicable to -the local conditions; friends have begged the people ever since to pay -less attention to trade and more to cultivation; all in vain. It is -true, however, that ever since the days of early settlement, there has -been some attention given to the matter of field culture. There was a -time when there were extensive plantations of coffee and fields planted -with sugar-cane. For a time these plantations were successful, but hard -luck came; foreign competition arose, careless and wasteful methods were -pursued, and a paralysis seems to have fallen upon the industry. Sons of -those who once were successful planters have moved into Monrovia and -entered politics. In the old days there were native villages in the -vicinity of the capital city; then bullocks were constantly to be seen -in the Monrovian market and fresh meat was easily secured; to-day the -native towns have retreated into the interior, and Monrovia depends upon -the steamers for fresh meat supplies. - -4. Through the over-emphasis placed upon trade, there has grown up a -needless importation of foreign articles. It is not only meat that is -brought in from other lands; there was a time when the making of -shingles was a fairly developed industry--to-day corrugated roofing -comes from the outside world; one of the chief foods of the Liberians is -rice--it is also one of the chief crops among the native tribes--the -native rice is of most excellent quality--yet the rice eaten by -Americo-Liberians is imported from foreign countries. There are many -articles which might as well or better be produced in Liberia, -furnishing employment and a source of wealth for many of the population, -which to-day are imported in poorer quality and higher prices from -outside. - -5. There is a widespread feeling that Liberia has great mineral wealth. -No doubt a part of this is justified; much of it, however, is merely due -to the fact of ignorance regarding the interior of the country. There -are surely gold and copper; there is iron, no doubt, in abundance; we -have already mentioned the possibility of diamonds. Under such -conditions it is natural that men throughout the whole Republic are ever -dreaming of making lucky finds. Anything found anywhere, which chances -to have lustre, is considered precious and leads to hopes of sudden and -enormous wealth. This widespread expectation of always finding a bonanza -is certainly unfortunate for any population; it is unfortunate for -Liberia, but just enough of actual mineral wealth will always be -discovered to keep it vigorous. It would be well indeed for the black -Republic if it were lacking completely in mineral wealth. It is likely -that the discovery of valuable deposits will harm the country far more -than help it. Such discoveries are certain to enlist rapacious foreign -capital and to lead to constant interference and ultimate intervention. -If white men in Dutch South Africa were unable to resist the aggressions -of avaricious English miners, what chance can the small black Republic -stand? The very day I wrote this passage, I received a letter from a -well-informed Americo-Liberian. He closes with these words: “I am told -that the English have opened up a gold mine in the rear of Careysburg on -the St. Paul’s River. This is the last settlement on the river, thirty -miles inland. Of course, it is by grant of the legislature, but all -based on fraud, as I am told. The yield, I learn, is very great, of -which Liberia sees and knows nothing. The whole thing is guarded by an -English force.” I have no means of knowing how much truth there may be -in this statement of my correspondent. Just such things, however, do -occur, will occur, and such things are fraught with danger. - -6. It is common to speak in terms of pessimism regarding the economic -conditions of Liberia. This has been true for years. In 1881, Stetson -spoke as follows in his _Liberian Republic as It Is_: “This condition of -hopeless bankruptcy is fraught with danger to the existence of the -Republic. The cords which bind her to England are being drawn closer and -closer, her exports go largely to England, her imports are from England, -her loans are from England, and what few favors she has to grant, or are -received of her, are to English capitalists; notably a charter recently -given to an English company for a railroad extending two hundred miles -back from Monrovia, the capital, and designed ultimately to connect that -port with the head-waters of the Niger. English influence and gunboats -may at any moment settle the question of the future of Liberia.” It will -be seen that this was written after the time when Liberia solicited her -first loan from England--the notorious loan of 1870. - -7. Thirty years have passed since then. England has encroached, but she -has not yet absorbed the Liberian Republic. Meantime, while conditions -are far from satisfactory, they have improved; England still has large -relations with Liberia, but there has been a wise development of common -interests with Germany since 1870. To-day Germany has greater shipping -interests, greater trade interests, greater prospects than has Britain. -Germany may some time become a menace, but certainly for the present she -is a safer friend for Liberia than England. So far as the present -financial circumstances in Liberia are concerned, a few figures may be -quoted. For the ten years, from 1893 to 1903, the receipts of the nation -amounted to $2,243,148, and the expenses to $2,171,556; an average -annually of something like $225,000 of income, $217,000 of outgo. In -1905 receipts were $357,000 and expenditures $340,000. In 1911 the -income rose to $443,255 and the estimated outgo was probably $481,954. -These figures are very far from discouraging, and there is no reason why -they should not be notably increased by judicious management. - -8. We reproduce a little table of the receipts from customs. It will -well repay careful examination. - -It will be seen that during the short space of time represented by this -table the receipts in customs have more than doubled. By fair dealings -with the natives of the interior and by the improvement of roads, this -income can be greatly multiplied. - -9. It is hardly to be expected, in a population such as that with which -we are here dealing, that there should be a large development in postal -service. The statistics of the four years, from 1907 to 1910 show us the -general movement of postal matter. The total amount is by no means -insignificant and a fair growth is evident. - -POSTAL STATISTICS - - ARTICLES 1907 1908 1909 1910 - - Letters: ordinary 100,979 95,186 94,481 104,313 - Letters: registered 9,052 9,768 9,421 10,458 - Postal cards 15,142 10,877 15,821 18,386 - Parcel post 2,888 3,539 2,332 2,895 - Samples 254 299 269 385 - ------- ------- ------- ------- - General movement 128,315 119,669 122,324 136,437 - -10. The Republic is now in telegraphic connection with the outside -world. Gerard tells us that “the _German-South-American Telegraph -Society_, with a capital stock of 30,000,000 marks, has recently laid a -cable at Monrovia which will place the negro capital hereafter in rapid -communication with the civilized world. Up to this time telegraphic -messages addressed to Liberia were delivered at Freetown, and there were -entrusted to the ordinary postal service, upon the semi-monthly -mail-boats conducting business between Sierra Leone and the Grain Coast. -Constructed by the North German Marine Cable Factory of -Nordenham-am-Weser, the cable, destined to draw the little Guinean -Republic from its isolation, starts from Emden, passes under sea to the -island Borkum, connects at Teneriffe, in order then to reach Monrovia, -from whence it is finally directed to Pernambuco, the terminal point of -the line. On the other hand, the _South American Cable Co._ of London, a -French society with a French director and supported by French capital, -has obtained a concession with a view to the establishment of a -submarine cable connecting Conakry (Guinea) with Grand Bassam (Ivory -Coast), touching at Monrovia, and it is interesting to notice in passing -that there has been arranged, in connection with this matter, between -Germany and France a friendly relationship permitting the German cable -to touch at Brest, allowing the French installation to be accomplished -through the German cable, and obliging the two rival companies to have -similar tariffs and giving each of them the right of using the apparatus -of the other in case of the breaking of its own connection. It is also -to the French government that the exclusive right has been given of -establishing a _wireless telegraph station_ which will connect Monrovia -with the Eiffel Tower via Dakar and Casablanca, while posts, constructed -at Conakry, Tabou, and Cotonou will give origin to radio-telegraphic -connections between Liberia, French Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and -Dahomey; the importance of this project, to-day in course of execution, -will escape no one, since one will understand that there is question -here of installing the Marconi system in Madagascar and at Timbuctu, and -of thus enclosing the whole black continent in a network of rapid -communication of which France alone will have control.” - -All three of these enterprises have been successfully carried through, -and to-day Liberia is in easy connection with every part of the -civilized world. It is a notable step forward. - -11. Five lines of steamers make regular stops upon the coast of Liberia. -Chief of these is the great Woermann Line, of Hamburg. Two regular -sailings weekly in both directions touch at Monrovia. Next in importance -are the British steamships controlled by Elder Dempster and Co. They -have a combination consisting of the African Steamship Co. and the -British African Steam-Navigation Co. These boats make two weekly -sailings from Liverpool and one monthly sailing from Hamburg. Nor are -these the only landings made by these lines at Liberian ports. It is -probable that the Woermann Line makes three hundred calls annually, and -the Elder Dempster Lines two hundred and fifty, at Liberian ports. A -recent arrangement which, if given fair attention, promises a notable -development, has been entered into between these two companies, whereby -every two months a boat sails from New York to Monrovia and return; The -English and German lines alternate in supplying this steamer. Besides -these two lines of chief importance, three other lines make stops at -Monrovia--the _Spanish Trans-Atlantic Co._, of Barcelona, _Fraissinet -and Co._, of Marseilles, France, and the _Belgian Maritime Co. of -Congo_, from Antwerp. - -12. Considering the dangers of its coast, the light-house service of the -Republic is far from satisfactory. The old light-house at Monrovia, for -years a disgrace, has been replaced by a more modern apparatus; at Grand -Bassa a light-house was erected at the private expense of Mr. S. G. -Harmon, a successful Liberian merchant, now the Vice-President of the -Republic; at Cape Palmas a good light-house has been erected, visible at -all times to a distance of six miles--this cost about $9000 and was a -gift from the French authorities. It is somewhat doubtful whether it was -good policy to accept a gift from a neighbor, who has made definite -efforts to crowd Liberians out of the Cavalla River, which forms the -natural boundary between the Grain Coast (Liberia) and the Ivory Coast -(French). - -13. The whole west coast of Africa has for centuries depended only on -foreign trade. Portuguese, Dutch, French, English, Germans, have all -played their part. Most of these nations still have interests in that -portion of the world. So far as the Liberian Republic is concerned, -representatives of foreign houses have numerous trading-posts upon its -coast. The house of A. Woermann has factories at Monrovia, Cape Mount, -Bassa, Sinoe, and Cape Palmas. J. W. West (Hamburg) is established at -Monrovia, Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, and Sinoe. Wiechers and Helm are at -Monrovia and Cape Palmas. Wooden and Co. (Liverpool), Patterson and -Zachonis (Liverpool), Vietor and Huber, C. F. Wilhelm Jantzen (Hamburg), -and the American Trading Co. (established only in 1911), are among those -who trade in Liberia. - -14. A number of development companies have at different times been -formed with the intention of exploiting the black Republic. Many of -these have been fraudulent enterprises and have come to nothing; some, -started in good faith, have failed; a few--a very few out of many--have -developed promisingly. The English _Liberian Rubber Corporation_ has a -farm of 1000 acres with 150,000 rubber-trees already planted; this was -begun in 1904 and has now reached the period of yielding; in 1912 it was -expected that it would prove a paying proposition. _The Liberian Trading -Co._ (English) are exporting mahogany and other valuable woods. They are -opening commercial houses in different parts of the country and seeking -concessions from the government to open roads. _The Liberian -Development Co._ (English) discovered gold and diamonds in 1908 and are -now importing heavy machinery to work their mines, together with -materials for a railway to them, and have already laid part of the -railway; this is probably the company to which my correspondent, already -quoted, refers. One of the latest of the development companies is the -_Liberian-American Produce Co._, which was chartered in 1910 by the -national legislature with the approval of the president of the Republic -for a period of sixty years. It was given large and varied powers, among -them being the right to build for itself or for the government, roads, -bridges, harbor-improvements, railways, etc.; and the company was -granted a concession of a hundred square miles with the privilege of -taking up this land in any sized blocks, anywhere in the country by -simply filing in the State Department a description of the lands thus -taken up. The company has already selected four square miles of land -containing mineral deposits, and plans to start active operations in -trade, agriculture, and mining. - -15. As the subject of the financial outlook of the Republic will come up -again for consideration, we are here only completing our descriptive -picture of the Republic. She has long been in debt; her resources have -been mortgaged; her customs-houses have been in the hands of receivers. -She has recently consolidated all her debts, foreign and domestic, and -has secured a loan through the kind offices of the United States of -$1,700,000. This loan has been guaranteed by the customs-house receipts, -and the customs-service is now under the direction of an international -receivership. - - - - -HISTORY - - - Africa is the Land of Black Men, and to Africa they must and will - come.--JOHN KIZELL. - - Tell my brethren to come--not to fear--this land is good--it only - wants men to possess it.--DANIEL COKER. - - -1821-1828. - -The American Colonization Society was founded in Washington in December, -1816. To it Liberia is due. On the 23rd of December, 1816, the -legislature of Virginia requested the governor of the state to -correspond with the President of the United States “for the purpose of -obtaining a territory on the coast of Africa, or at some other place not -within any of the states, or territorial governments of the United -States, to serve as an asylum for such persons of color as are now free, -and may desire the same, and for those who may hereafter be emancipated -within this commonwealth.” A few days after this a meeting was held at -Washington to which persons interested were invited. Bushrod Washington -presided; Mr. Clay, Mr. Randolph, and others took part in the -discussions which ensued and which resulted in the organization of the -American Colonization Society. Judge Washington was chosen president, a -board of twelve managers were selected, together with seventeen -vice-presidents from various states. The object of the Society was -clearly set forth in the first and second articles of its constitution. -“Article 1. This society shall be called The American Society for -Colonizing the Free People of Color of the United States. Article 2. The -object to which attention is to be exclusively directed, is to promote -and execute a plan of colonizing (with their consent) the free people of -color residing in our country, in Africa, or such other place as -Congress shall deem most expedient. And the Society shall act to effect -this object in co-operation with the general government and such of the -states as may adopt regulations on the subject.” - -We do not desire in the least to minimize the good, either of the intent -or result, of the American Colonization Society. It is, however, only -just to say that it was not a purely benevolent organization. Its -membership included different classes. Of this Jay says: “First, such as -sincerely desire to afford the free blacks an asylum from the oppression -they suffer here, and by their means to extend to Africa the blessings -of Christianity and civilization, and who at the same time flatter -themselves that colonization will have a salutary influence in -accelerating the abolition of slavery; Secondly, such as expect to -enhance the value and security of slave property, by removing the free -blacks; and Thirdly, such as seek relief from a bad population, without -the trouble and expense of improving it.” As a matter of fact, the -American Colonization Society was largely an organization of slave -holders. Judge Washington was a southern man; of the seventeen -vice-presidents twelve were from slave states; of the twelve managers -all were slave holders. Through a period of years the American -Colonization Society and the Abolition Societies of the United States -waged a furious conflict. The real purpose of the organization was to -get rid of the free blacks at any cost, and the attitude of its members -toward free blacks was repeatedly expressed in the strongest terms. -Thus, General Harper, to whom the names Liberia and Monrovia were due, -said: “Free blacks are a greater nuisance than even slaves themselves.” -Mercer, a vice-president of the Society, spoke of them as a “horde of -miserable people,--the objects of universal suspicion,--subsisting by -plunder.” Henry Clay, an original member of the Society and for many -years vice-president, said: “Of all classes of our population, the most -vicious is that of the free colored--contaminated themselves, they -extend their vices to all around them.” Again Clay said: “Of all the -descriptions of our population, and of either portion of the African -race, the free persons of color are by far, as a class, the most -corrupt, depraved, and abandoned.” And yet these excellent gentlemen -repeatedly stated that in sending free black men to Africa, they were -actually combatting the slave trade and Christianizing the natives. Clay -himself said, in the same speech in which he referred to the free blacks -as “corrupt, depraved, abandoned.” * * * “The Society proposes to send -out not one or two pious members of Christianity into a foreign land; -but to transport annually, for an indefinite number of years, in one -view of its scheme, 6,000, in another, 56,000 missionaries of the -descendants of Africa itself, to communicate the benefits of our -religion and the arts.” Stripped of all pretense, the facts were that -the free blacks of the day were not wanted in America, and that they -must somehow be got rid of; accordingly they were dumped upon the -African west coast. - -This idea of recolonizing black men into Africa is not a new one; as far -back as 1773, at which time slavery was common in New England, Dr. -Samuel Hopkins became convinced of its wickedness and, with Dr. Stiles -(afterwards president of Yale College) made an appeal to the public in -behalf of some colored men whom he was preparing to send to Africa as -missionaries. The Revolutionary War interfered with his plan. In 1783 -Dr. Thornton, of Washington, proposed a colonization scheme and -organized about forty New England colored men to go to Africa; his -scheme failed for lack of funds. The British Sierra Leone Company in -1786 organized its colony at Sierra Leone for freed blacks. When Thomas -Jefferson was President, he made application to the Sierra Leone Company -to receive American negroes, but his request failed of effect. From 1800 -to 1805 the project of colonization was again discussed. Very -interesting was the work of Paul Cuffy, born in New Bedford, Mass., of -negro and Indian parents; he was a man of ability, gained considerable -wealth, and owned a vessel; he induced about forty persons to embark -with him for Sierra Leone in 1815; they were well received and settled -permanently in that colony. Paul Cuffy had larger schemes of -colonization and planned to transport a considerable number of American -negroes to Africa, but died before his plans were realized. - -In 1818 the Society sent Samuel J. Mills and Ebenezer Burgess to seek a -suitable location for the colony. Samuel J. Mills was the young man to -whom the work of foreign missions of the United States was largely due; -after he graduated from college, he planned to establish a colony in the -West; he became interested in a seminary for the education of colored -men, who should go to Africa as missionaries, at Parsippany, N. J. Mills -and Burgess went by way of England, where they called upon various -persons of prominence in the hope of receiving information and advice -which might be of use to them. They sailed from the Downs, England, in -February, 1818, and were in Sierra Leone before the end of March; they -examined the conditions there with interest and then, in company with -John Kizell and a Mr. Martin, went farther down the coast; they reached -Sherbro Island on the first of April and decided to found the settlement -there. - -This John Kizell, who was with them as adviser and friend, was a black -man, a native of the country some leagues in the interior from Sherbro. -His father was a chief of some consequence and so was his uncle. They -resided at different towns; and when Kizell was yet a boy he was sent by -his father on a visit to his uncle who desired to have the boy with him. -On the very night of his arrival the house was attacked. A bloody battle -ensued in which his uncle and most of his people were killed. Some -escaped, the rest were taken prisoners, and among the latter was Kizell. -His father made every effort to release him, offering slaves and ground -for him; but his enemies declared that they would not give him up for -any price, and that they would rather put him to death. He was taken to -the Gallinhas, put on board of an English ship, and carried as one of a -cargo of slaves to Charleston, S. C.--He arrived at Charleston a few -years before that city was taken by Sir Henry Clinton. In consequence of -the General’s proclamation, he, with many other slaves, joined the royal -standard.--After the war he was remanded to Nova Scotia from which place -he came to Africa in 1792. Kizell had established a small colony of -colored people on Sherbro Island. He had prospered in trade, built a -church, and was preaching to his countrymen. - -Having accomplished the purpose of their journey, the commissioners -started again for the United States. On the voyage Mills died. - -On March 3, 1819, the Congress of the United States passed an act which -was of consequence to the cause of African colonization. It provided -that the President of the United States should have authority to seize -any Africans captured from American or foreign vessels, attempting to -introduce them into the United States in violence of law, and to return -them to their own country. It provided also for the establishment of a -suitable agency on the African coast for the reception, subsistence, and -comfort of these persons until they could be returned to their -relatives, or provide for their own support. From the time of the -passage of this act the government and the Society worked in practical -co-operation. - -The first shipment of colonists took place in February, 1820, from New -York, by the ship _Elizabeth_ which had been chartered by the -government. It carried two agents of the United States Government--Rev. -Samuel Bacon and John P. Bankson; Dr. Samuel A. Crozer was sent as agent -of the American Colonization Society; 88 emigrants accompanied them, who -had promised in return for their passage and other aid of the -Government, to prepare suitable accommodations for such Africans as the -Government might afterwards send. The expedition went at first to Sierra -Leone, thence to Sherbro Island, landing at Campelar, the point chosen -by Mills and Burgess for settlement. The place was badly selected. -Practically the whole company suffered frightfully from fever. Bacon, -Bankson, and Crozer, all died, together with many of the colonists. - -A second party was sent out in 1821 in the _Nautilus_, a vessel -chartered by the United States Government. It carried two agents of the -government--J. B. Winn and Ephraim Bacon--and two agents of the -colony--Joseph R. Andrus and Christian Wiltberger. Some emigrants -accompanied them. On their arrival at Sierra Leone, the emigrants were -left at Fourah Bay, while Bacon and Andrus went on down the coast in -search of a suitable situation for settlement. - -In this search they went as far as Grand Bassa. Soon after they returned -to Sierra Leone, Mr. and Mrs. Bacon were invalided home; shortly -afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Winn died of fever; thus Wiltberger was left -alone in charge of the settlement, until Dr. Eli Ayres arrived as chief -agent of the Society in the autumn. Wiltberger visited Sherbro, and -finding the conditions of the settlers serious, he took them with him -back to Fourah Bay, Sierra Leone. In December, Capt. Robert F. Stockton, -of the _Alligator_, came to the coast with orders to co-operate so far -as possible with the agents. Leaving Wiltberger in charge of the -colonists at Fourah Bay, Ayres and Stockton made an exploration of the -coast. On the 11th they reached Mesurado Bay, and being pleased with the -appearance of the district, they sought a palaver with the native -chiefs. Making their way through the jungle to the village of the most -important chief, they found hundreds of people collected; negotiations -were at once begun for land at the mouth of the Mesurado River, upon -which a settlement might be made. The business was not conducted -without excitement and some danger, but Stockton appears to have been a -man of parts, and finally a contract was drawn up and signed by six -kings, with their marks, and by Ayres and Stockton. The territory -secured included all of the cape, the mouth of the river, and the land -for some distance into the interior, although the boundaries were left -indefinite. - -There was a mulatto trader living in this district, by the name of John -S. Mill. His friendship was of importance to the enterprise in those -early days. Mill was an African by birth, the son of an English merchant -who owned a large trading concern on the coast; he had enjoyed a good -English education; he was himself the owner of the smaller of the two -islands at the mouth of the Mesurado River, and this island was -purchased from him for the use of the colony. - -Land having been secured, measures were at once taken to remove the -colonists from Fourah Bay to Cape Montserrado. Some of them refused to -leave, and remained in Sierra Leone, becoming British subjects. It was -January 7, 1822, when the colonists under the leadership of Agent Ayres -reached their new home. It was soon learned that King Peter had been -condemned by the people for the sale of the land, and that the natives -desired that the colonists should leave; the vessel, however, was -unloaded and preparations for building houses were made. On account of -the threatening attitude of the natives, a palaver was held. There was -considerable opposition, but the colonists persisted in their efforts. -The month of February was a sickly time, and little was done toward -settlement. About the middle of February more settlers came from Fourah -Bay, and the place was crowded and in bad condition. Agent Ayres was -absent in Sierra Leone, when an incident occurred which might have had -serious results for the infant colony. The colonists at this time were -living on Perseverance Island. A small vessel, prize to an English -schooner, with thirty slaves on board, put in for water at the island. -Her cable parting, she drifted ashore and was wrecked. It was the custom -of the coast to look upon wrecks as legitimate booty for the people upon -whose shore they occurred. King George at once sent his people to take -possession of the vessel and the goods, but they were met with -resistance by the crew and were repulsed. While the natives were -preparing to renew the attack, the Captain sent for help to the colony -agent. Though no white man was there in charge, help was promised. A -boat was manned and sent to his relief; a brass field piece on the -island was brought to bear upon the assailants who were put to rout, -with two killed and several wounded. The crew and slaves were brought -safely to the land, but the vessel went to pieces and most of the stores -and property were lost. The natives were very angry. The next day they -resumed the attack, and the British soldiers and one colonist were -killed. - -On returning from Sierra Leone, April 7, Ayres found the colony in -confusion and alarm. The natives had received only a part of the -purchased goods for their land. They now refused to receive the balance -and insisted on returning what they had received and annulling the -transaction. To this the agent would not give consent. They invited him, -therefore, to a conference, seized him, and held him until he consented -to take back the articles already paid. They insisted that the colonists -should leave, but agreed to permit their staying until a purchase could -be made elsewhere. Under these circumstances, Agent Ayres appealed to a -chief named Boatswain who, after hearing the complaint, decided in favor -of the colonists and ordered that the goods should be accepted and the -title given. In his decision he said that the bargain had been fair on -both sides and that he saw no grounds for rescinding the contract. -Turning to King Peter, he remarked: “Having sold your country and -accepted payment, you must take the consequences. * * * Let the -Americans have their lands immediately. Whoever is not satisfied with -my decision, let him tell me so.” To the agents he said: “I promise you -protection. If these people give you further disturbance, send for me; -and I swear, if they oblige me to come again to quiet them, I will do it -by taking their heads from their shoulders, as I did old King George’s, -on my last visit to the coast to settle disputes.” - -By the 28th of April the whole colony of immigrants had come from Sierra -Leone. Dissatisfied with Perseverance Island, they had moved over on to -the higher land of Cape Montserrado and taken formal possession of it. -This led to great excitement. There was a palaver at which many kings -and half kings were present. Difficulties, however, were still pressing. -The rainy season had begun; the houses were not fit for occupancy; fever -was prevalent and both agents were suffering; provisions and stores were -scanty--almost exhausted; it was realized that hostility on the part of -the natives was but slumbering. Dr. Ayres, discouraged, determined to -abandon the enterprise and to remove the people and the remaining stores -to Sierra Leone. Wiltberger opposed this project, and the colonists also -rejected it. A small number indeed accompanied Dr. Ayres to Sierra -Leone. The remainder resolved to suffer every hardship, remained, and by -July had their houses in fair condition. Soon, however, Wiltberger felt -compelled to return to the United States. There was no white man to -leave in charge of matters, and a colonist, Elijah Johnson, was -appointed temporary superintendent. - -It is at this point that Jehudi Ashmun came to Liberia. He was a -remarkable man, and to him the colonial enterprise owes much. He was -born April 21, 1794; he studied at Middlebury College and Vermont -University; in 1816 he was principal of the Maine Charity School; in -1818 he married Miss C. D. Gray, at New York City; resigning his -principalship on April 7, 1819, he removed to Washington where, for -three years, he edited the _Theological Repository_; he here thought -seriously of entering the ministry; he wrote the _Life of Samuel Bacon_, -who had died for the sake of the colonial enterprise; in 1822, June -20th, he embarked upon the brig _Strong_, at Baltimore, having been -employed to accompany a cargo of returned Georgian slaves. Mrs. Ashmun -accompanied him; they were 81 days upon the voyage; on August 9th they -arrived at Cape Montserrado. When Ashmun arrived, a small spot had been -cleared, about thirty houses had been constructed in native style, -together with a storehouse too small to receive the supplies which had -been brought; the rainy season was at its height; the settlers already -on the ground were barely supplied with shelter; for the new-comers no -provision had been made; though the whole country was hostile, there -were no adequate means of defense; the total population of the -settlement, including the new-comers, did not exceed 130 persons, of -whom thirty-five only were capable of bearing arms. - -It was a desperate situation; the erection of a storehouse and of a -building to shelter the recaptured Africans was at once begun. The -people and the goods were transferred as rapidly as possible from the -vessel to the shore. On September 15th, less than six weeks after their -arrival, Mrs. Ashmun died of fever, and on December 16th Ashmun himself -was taken down and for two months his life was in doubt; it was not -until the middle of February, 1823, that he was able to resume his -duties. - -Between the time of Mrs. Ashmun’s death and Ashmun’s illness, troubles -with the natives reached their culmination. Fortunately the danger had -been foreseen and preparations made. Defensive operations began on -August 18th. The plan included the clearing of a considerable space -around the settlement in order to render concealment of the natives -difficult; the stationing of five heavy guns at the angles of a triangle -circumscribing the whole settlement, each angle being on a point -sufficiently commanding to enfilade two sides of the triangle and sweep -the ground beyond the lines; guns to be covered by musket proof; -triangular stockades any two of which should be sufficient to contain -all of the settlers in their wings; the brass piece and two swivels -mounted on traveling carriages were in the center to support the post -suffering heaviest attacks;--all to be joined by a paling carried quite -around the settlement. Upon inspecting the matter of the force, it was -found that there were only twenty-seven native Americans able to bear -arms, when well. On November 7th it was found that an assault had been -ordered within four days. Picket guards were set; no man was allowed to -sleep before sunrise; patrols of natives were dispersed through the wood -in every direction. Trees were felled in order to render approach more -difficult. On Sunday, the 10th, it was reported that the enemy were -approaching, crossing the Mesurado River a few miles above the -settlement. Early in the night from 600 to 900 of them had assembled on -the peninsula half a mile west, where they encamped. The attack itself -was made at early dawn; it was vigorous, and at first the enemy had the -distinct advantage; had they pressed it instead of delaying for looting, -they would perhaps have won the day; as it was, the settlers recovered -themselves and gained the victory. The number of the hostile dead could -only be estimated; it could hardly have been less than 200 persons; the -colonists had some dead and several wounded. The entire force of the -settlers at the moment of the combat was thirty-five individuals of whom -six were native youths not sixteen years of age; of this number only -about one-half were actually engaged in fighting. Lott Carey and Elijah -Johnson were notable for bravery in this defense. Attempts were made to -bring about a treaty of peace with the enemy; these efforts were -ineffective, and it was well known that a new attack might be expected. -Nothing could be secured in the way of supplies from the surrounding -country; all were put upon an allowance of provisions; the ammunition on -hand was insufficient for an hour’s defense; it was impossible to know -anything about the movement of the enemy, as there were no natives left -in the settlement. Seven children had fallen into the hands of the -native foe. November 23rd was observed as a day of humiliation, -thanksgiving, and prayer. Two days later a passing steamer was able to -give some relief in stores. On the 29th Capt. Brassey, aided with stores -and by his influence, which was considerable, tried to bring about a -peace with the hostile chiefs. It was in vain; the enemy had planned -destruction that very night, but delayed the attack on account of his -presence with his vessel. Guard was kept the night of the 29th, the -30th, December 1st; the attack was made at 4:30 in the morning of the 2d -from two sides. How many were in the attacking force is not known, but -there were more than in the first great battle; the battle lasted for -more than an hour and a half and was most obstinately conducted; the -loss of the enemy, though considerable, was less than in the preceding -battle; one of the gunners of the colonists was killed. Conditions were -so desperate that a renewal of the battle the following day might have -proved fatal to the settlers. A seeming accident brought deliverance. An -officer on watch, in the middle of the night, is said to have been -alarmed by some slight noise; on hearing it, he discharged several -muskets and a large gun. At that moment the schooner _Prince Regent_ was -passing; the well known Major Laing was aboard, and a prize crew of -eleven seamen commanded by Midshipman Gordon; they were on their way to -Cape Coast Castle, but, hearing midnight cannon, anchored in order to -investigate with morning’s light; when they found the condition of -things, Capt. Laing intervened in behalf of the colonists and brought -about a truce; the chiefs agreed to refer matters of dispute, which -might thereafter arise, to Sierra Leone for settlement. Midshipman -Gordon and his eleven men were left behind to assist the colonists in -case of need, and a plentiful supply of ammunition was given them. -Gordon was a great favorite with the settlers; he was, however, -together with his companions, quickly taken down with fever, and within -four weeks he and seven out of his eleven men were dead. - -We have already stated that seven children of the colonists had been -captured by the enemy. Ashmun tells us: “Two of the captured children -have been given up in consideration of a small gratuity. Five are still -in the hands of the natives; for their relief a very extravagant ransom -was demanded which it was steadily resolved not to pay . . . redeeming -trait . . . in their treatment of these helpless and tender captives. It -was the first object of the captors to place them under the maternal -care of several aged women, who, in Africa, as in most countries, are -proverbially tender and indulgent. These protectresses had them clad in -their usual habits and at an early period of the truce, sent to the -colony to inquire the proper kinds of food, and modes of preparing it, -to which the youngest had been accustomed. The affections of their -little charges were so perfectly won in the four months of their -captivity as to oblige their own parents, at the end of that time, -literally to tear away from their keepers several of the youngest amidst -the most affectionate demonstrations of mutual attachment. This event -did not occur until the 12th of March, when their gratuitous redemption -was voted almost unanimously in a large council of native chiefs.” - -We have referred to Elijah Johnson. He was an extraordinary man. His -parentage is quite unknown; June 11, 1789, he was taken to New Jersey; -he had had some instruction, gained perhaps in New York; by religion he -was a Methodist and had studied for the ministry; he had had some -experience in military life in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts; -he had fought in the war of 1812 against the British; he came to Africa -with the first colony of emigrants in 1820; in 1822 he was one of the -founders of the settlement at Cape Montserrado; when Ayres proposed the -abandonment of the enterprise, he vigorously opposed him, and his -influence had much to do with holding his fellow colonists; to the -British captain who, on the occasion of a difficulty, offered to quell -the trouble with the natives if he be given ground for the erection of a -flag, Johnson is said to have replied, “We want no flagstaff put up -here, that will cost us more to get it down than it will to whip the -natives.” When Wiltberger left the colony entirely to itself, it was -Johnson who was put in charge; his son, born in Africa, became President -of the Republic; Elijah Johnson died March 23, 1849. - -March 31, 1823, the United States ship, _Cyane_, Capt. Spencer, reached -Cape Montserrado. Finding the colonists in bad condition, the Captain -supplied their wants; he repaired the agent’s house, commenced and -nearly completed the Martello tower--for defense; after three weeks’ -assistance so much fever had sprung up among his crew that he was -obliged to depart, sailing for the United States. He, however, left -behind as helper, Richard Seaton, his chief clerk. Seaton assisted -Ashmun and the colonists so far as he could but was himself stricken by -fever and died in June. On May 24th the _Oswego_ arrived with sixty-one -new colonists; the agent, Dr. Ayres, who seems to have thought better of -matters, returned by this vessel. About this time, however, the whole -community was rife with intrigue and rebellion; the settlers were -dissatisfied with their situation; they were particularly dissatisfied -with the distribution of land about which misunderstanding had arisen. -The steps Ayres took for bringing about peace were not successful, and -in December he left again for the United States. - -It was on February 20, 1824, that the official names of Liberia for the -colony and Monrovia for the settlement on Cape Montserrado were adopted -on recommendation of General Harper. Previous to this time the -settlement had been known by the name Christopolis. Things at -Christopolis had been going badly. Even Ashmun could no longer get on -with the settlers; perhaps it would be as true to say that even the -settlers could not get on with Ashmun. However that may be, on March -22nd he issued a farewell address in which he expressed his feelings in -regard to the disaffected, and on April 1st he embarked for the Cape -Verde Islands. There is no reason to believe, so far as I know, that he -had any intention of returning again to his field of labor. He had had a -most unsatisfactory and disagreeable correspondence with the Society, -and his tenure of office with them was vague and unsatisfactory; they -had refused to recognize some of his official acts and conditions could -hardly have been more disagreeable than they were at the moment. - -Rev. R. R. Gurley had been ordered by the Society to visit Africa and -investigate conditions at the colony. On July 24th the _Porpoise_, which -was carrying him to Monrovia, put in at Porto Praya where Ashmun was -stopping; he went on board to meet Gurley, and there they had their -first conversation over the state of affairs; Ashmun consented to return -to Monrovia and assist Gurley in getting a general knowledge of -conditions. Together they reached Monrovia on August 13th; Gurley stayed -until August 22nd; the two men went over the details of the situation, -held consultations with the settlers, and drew up a plan of government -more definite than had before existed, and which the discontented -settlers agreed to accept. - -After Gurley had departed conditions at the colony greatly improved; the -new laws and the participation of the colonists in their own government -had an excellent effect; every one appeared loyal and all united to -advance the common interests. New lands were acquired in the -neighborhood of Grand Bassa, New Cess, Cape Mount, and Junk River. In -1826 difficulties arose with the slave traders at Trade Town, about 100 -miles south from Monrovia. Ashmun had remonstrated against their -operations. In reply the French and Spanish traders proceeded to -strengthen themselves; the traders were organized and some 350 natives -were under their command. Ashmun decided to take vigorous action against -them. On April 9th the Columbian war vessel, _Jacinto_, arrived at -Monrovia with orders to co-operate with Dr. Peaco, the United States -Government agent, and Mr. Ashmun; on April 10th Ashmun and thirty-two -militia volunteers embarked upon the _Jacinto_, and the _Indian Chief_ -(Capt. Cochrane), and sailed for Trade Town where they arrived on the -11th, finding the Columbian vessel _Vencedor_, there, ready to assist -them. The three vessels united in the attack, attempting to make a -landing on the morning of the 12th; the surf was breaking heavily over -the bar and the passage was only eight yards wide with rocks on both -sides. The barges, full of armed men, were in great danger; the Spanish -force was drawn up on the beach within half a gunshot of the barges; the -two barges with Captains Chase and Cottrell were exposed to the enemy’s -fire and filled with surf before reaching the shore; their crews, -however, landed and forced the Spaniards back to the town. The flagboat -with Ashmun and Capt. Cochrane and twenty-four men was upset and dashed -upon the rocks; Ashmun was injured; some arms and ammunition were lost. -Capt. Barbour, observing the difficulties encountered by the other -boats, ran his boat on to the beach a little to the left of the river’s -mouth, and landed safely. The town was captured; the natives and -Spaniards took to the forest, and from behind the town poured in shot at -frequent intervals; the contest continued through two days; more than 80 -slaves were surrendered, but no actual adjustment of the difficulties -was arrived at. At noon of the 13th, preparations were made to leave; -the slaves were first embarked, and in the middle of the afternoon, the -town having been fired, the officers took to the boats; before the -vessel sailed the fire reached the ammunition of the enemy, and 250 -casks of gunpowder were exploded; Trade Town was wiped out, and the -victorious party returned to Monrovia. It was indeed only a temporary -solution of the difficulty; by the end of July slaving vessels were -again at Trade Town, a battery had been constructed, and preparations -made to resist any force that might in future be sent against it. - -On August 27, 1827, the _Norfolk_ arrived with 142 recaptured slaves; -this was the largest shipment of the kind so far sent. The policy was -adopted of settling such Africans in settlements by themselves at a -little distance from Monrovia, on lands well suited to agriculture; it -is remarkable how readily these poor creatures took advantage of the -opportunities offered them; they were industrious, established neat -settlements, cultivated fields, and were anxious to learn the ways of -the “white man”; as, however, they represented different tribes, -occasional difficulties arose among them through tribal jealousies, and -adjustment was necessary at the hands of the civilized colonists. - -Ashmun’s health had long been bad; the injuries he suffered in the -attack at Trade Town had been somewhat serious; he had, moreover, been -subjected to a constant strain of anxiety, together with responsibility; -he had been doing the work of several men; his condition finally became -critical, and he decided that he must leave the colony. Whatever feeling -might have existed at one time against him, he was now a much loved man; -in losing him, the colonists felt as if they lost a father; he embarked -on March 25th for the United States; he reached his native land in a -condition of extreme exhaustion and weakness; on August 25th he died at -New Haven, Conn. There was no white man in the colony at the time when -Ashmun left to whom he could turn over the leadership of the settlement; -he accordingly placed affairs in the hands of Lott Carey. - -Lott Carey was a remarkable black man; he was born a slave near -Richmond, Va., about 1780; in his early manhood he was rather wild; in -1804 he went to Richmond where he worked for a tobacco company; -becoming converted in 1807, he joined the Baptist Church; he learned to -read and write, and preached among his people; he was well considered by -his employers and earned $800 a year as a regular salary, besides -frequently making additional sums by legitimate outside labor; by -carefully saving his money, he raised $850, ransoming himself and two -children; his wife had died in 1813; becoming interested in African -missions, he took to preaching, organized a missionary society, and -through it raised contributions for the cause; he had married again, and -learning of the Liberian scheme, early becoming interested, and decided -to go to Africa; on January 23, 1821, he left Richmond for the colony; -he was a most useful man--active in church work, interested in school -affairs, instructing the recaptured Africans, aiding in the care of the -sick and suffering; he had been of the disaffected, but after -difficulties had been adjusted, was a firm friend and supporter of -Ashmun. When left in charge of the colony, he actively pushed on in -every line of progress, dealing fairly with the natives, arranging for -defense, encouraging development, etc. In June, when three suspicious -Spanish vessels stood off the harbor, he lost no time in dealing with -them, ordering them away at once. Trouble, however, was arising with the -natives. A factory belonging to the colony at Digby had been robbed; -satisfaction had been demanded and refused; a slave trader was allowed -to land goods in the very house where the colony goods had been; a -letter of remonstrance to the trader was intercepted and destroyed by -the natives. Lott Carey called out the militia and began to make -arrangements for a show of force; on the evening of November 8th, while -he and several others were making cartridges in the old agency-house, a -candle caught some loose powder and caused an explosion which resulted -in the death of eight persons; six of these survived until the 9th, Lott -Carey and one other until the 10th. With his death the settlement was -left without a head. Shortly before that sad event, however,--on -October 28, 1828, a new constitution and laws, suggested by Ashmun -shortly before his death, had been adopted by the Colonization Society -and been put into operation. It was in every way an advance upon the -previous efforts to organize the administration of the colony, and it -may be said to mark a period in the colonial history. - - “Instead of repenting that I am here, although I was well treated in - Georgia, I would not return to live in the United States for five - thousand dollars. There is scarcely a thinking person here but would - feel insulted, if you should talk to him about returning. The people - are now turning their attention to the cultivation of the soil, and - are beginning to live within their own means.”--S. BENEDICT. - - -1828-1838. - -Richard Randall, the newly appointed agent, arrived at Monrovia on -December 22, 1828. He found the Digby incident still unsettled. King -Brister (or Bristol) had been threatening. Randall thought it best, -however, not to pursue active warfare and attempted to adjust matters -without fighting. He was a man of excellent ideas, devoted to his -duties, active and energetic. He was imprudent, however, in caring for -himself, and died on April 19th, having been in the colony only about -four months. He was succeeded by Dr. Mechlin who had come out with him -as physician in December. Mechlin remained as agent for some years, -although, on account of bad health, he was obliged to return once during -that period to the United States. It was during his agency that the -first printing press was erected in Monrovia, in 1830, and the first -newspaper, _The Liberian Herald_, was printed with J. B. Russwurm as -editor. It was in 1830 that Mechlin took his furlough to the United -States; he was at first relieved by Dr. J. W. Anderson who died on April -12th, having been in Liberia less than two months; upon his death, the -vice-agent, Anthony D. Williams, took charge until the return of Dr. -Mechlin. Mechlin negotiated several treaties with native chiefs and -increased the land holding of the colony through purchase; he visited -Grand Bassa and negotiated for land around Cape Mount; it was during -his administration that the Dey-Golah War took place. He seems to have -been a well-meaning man, and certainly accomplished something, but there -was considerable dissatisfaction with his administration, and when he -left, it was questioned whether he was a good financier and used -judgment and economy in administering money matters. - -One of the most exciting incidents in the history of Liberia was the -Dey-Golah War of 1832. Hostilities had been threatened against the -colony by King Bromley, but he died before serious difficulty occurred. -It was soon found that the Deys and others were combining; deeds of -violence were practiced against the colonists and recaptured Africans; -captives had been taken by King Willy; a messenger was sent to demand -their release, but the letter was torn up and the messenger told to -inform the agent that they would seize and hold every colonist they -could find. The next day the enemy, standing on the river bank opposite -Caldwell, blew war horns, fired muskets, and challenged the colonists; a -body of recaptured Africans, 100 in number, was sent against them; -finding a large force gathered, they were driven back, and one man was -killed. The enemy barricaded their own town, and sent word that, if the -colonists did not promptly meet them in the field, they would attack -Caldwell and Millsburg; the Golah were acting with the Dey in this -affair. Mechlin left Monrovia on June 20th, with the regular militia and -volunteers, eighty in all; they had a large field piece with them; at -Caldwell they were joined by seventy volunteers and militia, and 120 -recaptured Africans; all were placed under Capt. Elijah Johnson. One -day’s march from Caldwell brought the force to Bromley’s town which they -took without trouble, camping there for the night; the next day they -advanced over an exceedingly difficult road--seven hours being required -for ten miles’ progress; after mid-day the recaptured Africans, who were -in advance, were engaged with the enemy; the field piece was brought up -until only twenty-five or thirty yards from the barricaded town. A few -firings forced the enemy to abandon their position; under cover of the -field piece, the colonists now rushed forward and cut through the -barricade; the field piece was advanced and the town captured, the enemy -escaping in the rear. In this engagement Lieutenant Thompson, of the -colony force, was killed and three men wounded; of the enemy fifteen -were killed and many wounded. The captured town was burned and also -Bromley; the force returned to Caldwell for the night and then to -Monrovia. Lieutenant Thompson was interred with the honors of war. -Messengers promptly arrived from Kings Willy and Brister; Mechlin -demanded that the kings themselves appear in person at Monrovia; -Brister, Sitma, Long Peter, and Kai appeared; Willy sent New Peter as -his representative; they agreed to the terms offered and a treaty of -peace was signed. - -It was also during Mechlin’s agency that the colonization of Maryland in -Africa began. In 1831 Dr. James Hall with 31 colonists from the Maryland -Colonization Society stopped at Monrovia; they had been sent out to -locate a settlement where the colonists should devote themselves -exclusively to agriculture (refusing trade) and should be devoted to -temperance principles; they were not received with cordiality by the -people at Monrovia, and no particular inclination was shown to aid them -in securing a site for their purposes; Dr. Hall, therefore, left them -temporarily at Monrovia, while he returned to the United States for -advice and further supplies; he returned in 1833 with 28 new colonists; -taking those who were at Monrovia, all sailed farther down the coast -until, at Cape Palmas, they found a location to their satisfaction; they -landed there, engaged in negotiations with the native chiefs, and -founded what was at first known as Maryland in Africa; it was entirely -distinct from the settlements under the direction of the American -Colonization Society. - -About this time there was a tendency for local branch organizations of -the American Colonization Society to be formed and to undertake their -own settlements, although these were not considered to be actually -independent of the mother society and of the people at Monrovia. -Considerable settlements had been made in the neighborhood of Grand -Bassa. Among these, one of the most promising was Edina which was laid -out upon a tongue of land upon the north side of the St. John’s River; -it was named Edina from Edinburgh, Scotland, citizens of which had -contributed quite liberally to the funds of the American Colonization -Society. After Edina was founded, a neighboring settlement was made -through the efforts of the Pennsylvania Young Men’s Colonization -Society--an organization of Friends; it was organized with the idea that -agriculture should be the chief interest; that trade as a means of -income should be forbidden; that temperance and sobriety, involving a -pledge of abstinence, should be demanded; and that war and resistance -should be forbidden. Non-resistance and peace-principles, however, were -not in place at that time and region; in 1835 this little colony was -wiped out of existence by a brutal attack on the part of natives -instigated by a slave trader who feared that the presence of the -colonists would interrupt his trade. Joe Harris and King Peter, -brothers, were the active agents of destruction; for several days their -people spied upon the settlers, informing themselves whether any arms -were in the place; there was one gun only there; the assault took place -at night, and about 20 persons, mostly women and children, were killed; -the agent Hankinson and his wife were rescued by a Kruman who concealed -them; those who escaped were taken to Monrovia and cared for; the -authorities at Monrovia took immediate action, marched an armed force -against the aggressors, put them to flight, and destroyed their towns; -King Peter and Joe Harris agreed to forever abandon the slave trade, to -give free passage from the interior through their country, to rebuild -the settlement, and return the property; a better spot was selected and -a new settlement made. - -When Mechlin returned to the United States, Rev. John B. Pinney, who was -already in Liberia as a missionary, succeeded him. He found everything -in a state of confusion and dilapidation; himself a man of vigor, he -acted promptly and made notable improvements; he attempted to give -agriculture its proper position as the fundamental interest of the -community; he purchased fertile lands in the interior for cultivation; -he emphasized the claims of Liberia to lands lying behind Cape Mount; he -adjusted difficulties between the Congoes and Eboes, recaptured -Africans; had he remained long in office, he might perhaps have -accomplished much. He, however, left Liberia at the end of 1834 for -home. Dr. Ezekiel Skinner took his position; at the time of Pinney’s -retirement he was the colonial physician. His labors were arduous and -multiform; in performing them he suffered repeated exposures which -brought on a serious fever under which he was reduced so low that he was -obliged to return to the United States, leaving Anthony D. Williams as -agent in his place. - -Williams, in fact, seems to have been agent at intervals from the time -of Randall’s death until he gave way to Thomas Buchanan in 1839. -Inasmuch as most authorities speak of him as if he were a white man, it -may be well to raise the question. Late in November, 1836, Rev. Charles -Rockwell, chaplain of the United States Navy, was in Liberia. In his -_Sketches of Foreign Travel_ he says: “Mr. Williams, who has for years -been the acting-governor of Monrovia, took the lead in entertaining us -and in doing the honors of the place. He was from Petersburg, Va., -where, if I mistake not, he was once a slave. He has a peculiarly -modest, sedate, gentlemanly deportment, and during his repeated visits -to the United States has, by his intelligent and good sense, justly -secured the esteem and confidence of those with whom he had intercourse. -He came to Africa as a clergyman of the Methodist Church, and for a -year or more was engaged in the self-denying work of a missionary among -the natives at a distance of 150 miles in the interior. Under the title -of vice-agent, he has for years been head (actively) of the colony, and -as far as I could learn, has so discharged the duties of his office as -to secure the confidence alike of his fellow citizens and of the society -from which he received his appointment.” When, in 1839, he gave up the -agency to Thomas Buchanan as Governor of the newly established -Commonwealth of Liberia, the Board of the Colonization Society expressed -itself as well satisfied with his long services; but it was their -opinion “that the time had not yet arrived when the interests of the -colony would permit it to remain permanently under the direction of a -colonist.” It would seem as if these two quotations amply establish the -fact that Williams was a colored man; we have thought it worth while to -raise the question, inasmuch as his services were serious, and if -rendered by a black man, deserve special recognition. - -With the year 1836 there arrived in Africa a man of great ability and -extraordinary energy, Thomas H. Buchanan; he was sent out as the agent -of the New York and Pennsylvania Societies to take charge of their -settlements at Bassa Cove; these settlements recognized the superior -authority of Monrovia and the American Colonization Society; but it was -deemed better that they should have a special superintendent in charge -of them. It is well enough to notice that, at this time, there were -three totally different associations at work within the area of what now -is Liberia, besides Maryland; there was the original settlement of -Monrovia on Cape Montserrado with extensions in the direction of Cape -Mount and the Junk River; this district included Monrovia and several -villages around it; “the people were not much given to agriculture; they -were shrewd at driving trade and better liked to compete for some -gallons of palm oil or sticks of camwood than to be doing their duty to -their fields and gardens;” politics and military concerns occupied -considerable of their attention, and they were called upon to adjust -claims with the neighboring settlements. Secondly, there were the Bassa -Cove villages; there were several of these in the neighborhood of the -St. John’s River; they depended mainly upon agriculture and trade; they -encouraged temperance and desired peace. Third, there were interesting -settlements in Sinoe along the Sinoe River upon its rich agricultural -lands; Greenville was a flourishing town; the settlers in this vicinity -came from Mississippi, and their region was known as Mississippi in -Africa. - -Just as the New York and Pennsylvania Societies engaged a special -governor to take charge of their settlements, so the Mississippi Society -sent out a special governor to take charge of Mississippi in Africa. The -appointment was of special interest in the person of I. F. C. Finley. -Governor Finley was a son of the Rev. Robert Finley, to whom the -organization of the American Colonization Society was in reality due. In -September, 1838, Governor Finley left for Monrovia on business as well -as for his health; making a landing in the neighborhood of the Bassa -Cove settlements, he was robbed and murdered by the natives on September -10th; it is believed that the motive to this murder was the desire for -gain, as the Governor had considerable money upon his person. The murder -led to disturbance between the settlers at Bassa Cove and the natives -who were implicated; one or two of the latter were killed, several -wounded, and some houses were destroyed. - -One rather interesting incident in connection with the Bassa settlements -was the experience of Louis Sheriden. He was a colored man of some means -from North Carolina, who came to Liberia in February, 1838; he at first -planned to settle at Bassa Cove, but on visiting the settlements and -examining the laws of their government, he was dissatisfied and refused -to take the oath required of those who became citizens, saying that he -had “left the United States on account of oppression and that he would -not subject himself to arbitrary government in Africa”; he finally -decided to locate at Bexley, six miles from Bassa Cove; he took a lease -of 600 acres and soon had more than a hundred men in his employ; his -intention was to develop an extensive sugar and coffee plantation, but -he died before his plan could be realized. - -An interesting man in this period, although but indirectly connected -with the colony, was Theodore Canot; he was born in Florence in 1803 and -had a life of excitement and adventure; in 1826 he became a slave -trader; he finally located with Pedro Blanco at Gallinhas, and was sent -by him to New Cess; he was a witness of the Finley murder; after Blanco -retired from the slave trade, Canot, being hard pressed by the British -officers, decided to abandon the business also. He finally retired to -New York, where he met with Brantz Mayer, who wrote a book which -purported to be autobiographical material supplied by the old -adventurer. Canot not infrequently came into contact with the Liberian -authorities. He must have known the whole colonial experiment better -than almost any other white man. Of Liberia he says: “Nevertheless, the -prosperity, endurance, and influence of the colonies are still problems. -I am anxious to see the second generation of colonists in Africa. I wish -to know what will be the force and development of the negro mind on its -native soil--civilized, but cut off from all instruction, influence, or -association with the white mind. I desire to understand, precisely, -whether the negro’s faculties are original or imitative, and -consequently, whether he can stand alone in absolute independence, or is -only respectable when reflecting the civilization that is cast upon him -by others.” - -As was to be expected, considerable feeling arose between the four -separate colonies--Liberia, Bassa Cove, Mississippi in Africa, and -Maryland. Thus, in May, 1838, Anthony D. Williams wrote: “I regret to -say, our neighbors of Bassa Cove and Edina seem to entertain the most -hostile feelings toward the colony and everything connected with it. -They have manifested such a disposition as will, if continued, lead to -serious difficulties between the settlements. The policy which the -colonizationists are now pursuing is assuredly a bad one and will -inevitably defeat the object they aim to accomplish. Nothing can be -conceived more destructive to the general good than separate and -conflicting interests among the different colonies, and this consequence -will certainly follow the establishment of separate and distinct -sovereignties contiguous to each other.” This was felt to be a serious -problem; after due consideration, an effort was made to more strongly -unite the colonies outside of Maryland; a new constitution was -accordingly drawn up by Professor Greenleaf, of Harvard College, the -name “Commonwealth of Liberia” was adopted, and Thomas Buchanan, who had -been governor of the Grand Bassa settlements, was appointed governor of -the newly organized commonwealth. We have already referred to him as a -man of vigor and enthusiasm; it is seldom indeed that Liberia has had an -equally capable director. - - “It is not every man that we can honestly advise, or desire to come to - this country. To those who are contented to live and educate their - children as house servants and lackeys, we would say _stay where you - are_; here we have no masters to employ you. To the indolent, heedless - and slothful, we would say, tarry among the flesh-pots of Egypt; here - we get our bread by the sweat of our brow. To drunkards and rioters, - we would say, come not to us; you never can become naturalized in a - land where there are no grog-shops and where temperance and order is - the motto. To the timorous and suspicious, we would say, stay where - you have protectors; here we protect ourselves. But the industrious, - enterprising, and patriotic, of whatever occupation, or - enterprise--the mechanic, the merchant, the farmer, and especially the - latter, we would counsel, advise, and entreat, to come over and be one - with us, and assist us in this glorious enterprise, and enjoy with us - that to which we ever were, and to which the man of color ever must be - a stranger, in America.” - - -1838-1847. - -Governor Buchanan had scarcely come to power when he was forced to take -vigorous action against the slave traders at Trade Town; he assumed the -right of jurisdiction over the entire territory along the Little Bassa -seaboard; he ordered a trader, who had been there established for some -months, to leave within a given time or suffer the confiscation of his -entire property; the man had received two similar orders from Anthony D. -Williams, but had treated them with contempt; to Buchanan’s order he -returned a courteous reply; he promised obedience, but asked delay until -a vessel should come to take his goods; this was granted on condition of -his desisting entirely from slave trading in the meantime. About this -time an English trader established a regular trade factory at the same -place; he put some goods ashore in charge of a native agent; Buchanan -ordered him off under threat of seizing his goods; he treated the -messenger rudely and refused obedience. Meantime the slave trader had -been negotiating with native kings for their protection; he added to his -stores, extended his barracoon, and paid no attention to remonstrance. -On the 18th of April, without previous announcement, Buchanan ordered a -military parade at 7 P. M.; he stated the facts, declared his intention -of proceeding in force against Trade Town, and called for forty -volunteers who were soon secured; the next day he sent to New Georgia -for twenty-five volunteers--they sent him thirty-five. He then chartered -two small schooners, and sent them, together with the government -schooner _Providence_, with ammunition, by sea to join the land forces -for co-operation; on Monday, the 22nd, at 9 A. M., the land force took -up the march under Elijah Johnson; in despatching his soldiers, the -Governor told them that they were not out for war and plunder, but to -sustain a civil officer in the discharge of his duty; he urged them to -conduct themselves in an orderly manner with obedience and discipline. -When the force actually started, about 100 men were in line. The fleet -found bad winds and currents; after thirty-six hours’ struggle in trying -to make Trade Town, it reappeared at Monrovia. The case looked -desperate, as the men sent overland had little ammunition or food. At -this moment Sir Francis Russell arrived and placed the fast _Euphrates_ -at the disposition of the government; arms and ammunition were at once -loaded, Buchanan went in person, and the next morning they were at -anchor in front of Little Bassa. The battle was already on; the -barracoon, a circular palisade ten feet high, enclosed some half-dozen -native houses, from which firing was going on; the opening in the forest -was about 150 yards from the shore; it was difficult to know what to do, -as it was impossible to recognize which was the friendly party; the -_Euphrates_, well known as a slaving vessel, would be mistaken; the -landing-party would be fired upon by its friends; an American seaman -volunteered to perform the dangerous feat of carrying a letter to the -shore; Elijah Johnson, seeing a white man landing from the canoe, made a -sally with his forces to destroy him; his real character was only -recognized when the natives were on the point of knifing him; Johnson’s -party rushed out and saved him. As soon as his messenger was ashore, -Buchanan started with two boats for the beach; the terrified Kru, whom -they met in canoes before landing, told them that the woods on both -sides of the path were lined with natives and the woods behind alive -with them; when their boat was about fifty yards from the beach, a party -of five or six came out to attack the new-comers; Buchanan stood and -fired into them and they scattered. In landing, his canoe was capsized -and he was nearly drowned. Huzzas greeted the relieving party; the -defense was vigorously resumed; the houses outside of the barracoon, -fifteen or twenty in number, had given cover to the natives; Buchanan -ordered them to be destroyed, which was promptly done. Johnson with a -party of thirty or forty was then ordered to drive the enemy from their -forest shelter; this he did, and the axe-men felled trees so as to clear -the space around. The enemy kept firing all day, scattering whenever a -rush was made; Buchanan himself led two such charges. The Krumen were -now employed in loading the property which had been seized by the -government party, a task which continued through the day under the -protection of the soldiers. The next morning firing was renewed from a -dozen places at once; a pursuing party set out; Johnson led on; he was -twice wounded and also three of his men, though not seriously. As -ammunition was almost gone, Buchanan hurried in the _Euphrates_ to -Monrovia, where he arrived late at night; the next morning forty -additional volunteers were taken on board, together with two field -pieces, 14,000 ball cartridges, etc., etc. The vessel met with contrary -winds and was delayed. As they neared their destination a large brig was -seen apparently making for the anchorage ground; it was believed to be a -brig of the English trader whose factory had been destroyed; the decks -of the _Euphrates_ were cleared for action and a six-pounder made ready. -The brig turned, however, and was soon out of sight. On landing, -Buchanan found that there had been no fighting since he left; messengers -were sent out to the native chiefs, Prince and Bah Gay, demanding -instant surrender of the slaves, who, on the appearance of the force, -had been turned over by the slavers to the natives; the captured goods -were finally all loaded, the wounded were sent on board, and everything -was prepared for the return; though the chiefs failed to turn in all the -slaves, some were surrendered. As the main objects of the expedition had -been gained, the party returned to Monrovia. - -From 1838 to 1840 there had been war between the Dey and Golah tribes in -which the Golah gained the advantage. The Dey suffered so much that -their remnant took refuge in the colony. A number of them were living on -the farms of colonists near Millsburg; suddenly Gatumba, a Golah chief, -burst upon them, wounding four dreadfully and carrying twelve into -slavery; the entire number would have been killed or captured had not -the colonists, hearing guns, appeared and rescued them. The attackers -fled. Notice was sent to Governor Buchanan, and he at once hastened -thither; he prepared for difficulties and kept strict watch; a letter -was sent to Gatumba, demanding an explanation and requesting a palaver -at Millsburg; an insulting reply was returned; Gatumba intimated that he -was prepared for battle, did not intend to attack the Americans, but -would not permit their interference. Returning to Monrovia, Buchanan -assembled his principal officers, laid the matter before them, and -proposed attacking Gatumba’s colony before he should attack Millsburg. -His officers thought it best to send another message to the chief; five -messengers were sent, were fired upon, and three of them were taken -prisoners. Several days passed when, on March 8, 1840, Gatumba burst -upon Heddington and would have murdered everybody in the place had they -not in a measure been prepared. The battle took place at the house of -Missionary Brown; two Americans from Caldwell were living with Brown at -the time; a desperate attack was made at daybreak by from 300 to 400 -men; against them were three black Americans sheltered by the house; all -had guns and considerable ammunition; the attack was frightful, and the -numbers great; the battle continued for almost an hour, and the -ammunition was nearly gone; Gotorah, a notable cannibal, at the head of -his best warriors, made a rush and came within ten feet of the door; -Harris, handed a loaded gun by a town native, poured a heavy charge into -the advancing leader, who fell hideously mangled; his fall caused panic -and flight to his followers. The battle over, notice of the event was -sent to Buchanan, who was at Little Bassa; hastening to Heddington, he -found the place fortified in preparation for a second attack; the people -above the settlement were in alarm; Gatumba was reported to be preparing -for vengeance. Buchanan determined upon immediate attack on Gatumba’s -town; with 200 men, arms, ammunition, and a week’s provisions, they were -to start in boats for Millsburg. Rumors of an approaching hostile force -delayed their departure; but, on the second day, embarcation was made -and Millsburg reached; from there the line of march was taken by 300 men -with a piece of artillery; sixty of the party were Kru carriers and -forty were native allies, so that the really effective force consisted -of some 200 men; the cannon was dragged for six miles with great labor -and was then abandoned; the rain was falling in torrents when, at two -o’clock, they reached a ruined walled town which had at one time been -destroyed by Gatumba; as some huts still stood and the site was high, a -camp was made. The next day the line was formed again and, in spite of -the flooded trail and swollen streams, the party continued to Gatumba’s -town. As they neared, an attack upon them was made from ambush and -Capt. Snetter fell mortally wounded; the men rushed forward and -dislodged the enemy; the music struck up, and a lively advance was made; -for nearly six miles they were exposed to shooting from the thick -forest, but rushed on; the town was found well barricaded; Buchanan ran -up with his aids, Col. Lewis and Gen. Roberts, to the margin of the open -field, where he found Johnson vigorously engaged with the people of the -town and with an ambush; the third company now came up and joined the -combat. Such was the vigor of their attack that the enemy, taken with -panic, rushed from the town by a rear gate into the forest; the Liberian -forces entered in triumph. By this victory the strength of Gatumba was -completely prostrated. - -During Buchanan’s administration a serious difficulty arose with the -mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The superintendent of its -interests at the time was the Rev. John Seyes; he was a man of -considerable ability and force of character, but was highly opinionated; -the mission had found that trade goods was the best means of remitting -from their treasury in America to their stations in Africa; it was the -ruling of the colony that goods necessary for carrying on the work of -missions should be admitted free of duty; a difference arose between -Governor Buchanan and Mr. Seyes in reference to the goods being -introduced by the mission for trading purposes with natives--Buchanan -holding, very justly, that free admission should be granted only for -supplies for the personal use of missionaries. The undutiable goods -introduced by the missionaries enabled them to undersell the colonial -merchants, who had to pay the regular fees. The Governor was firm in his -attitude and demanded that all goods which were to be used for trade -purposes should pay their duties; the Colonization Society stood behind -the Governor in his course; the community, however, was rent in -twain--great excitement prevailed--and there were practically two -parties, the Seyes people and the government supporters. - -In 1840 it was evident that there was destined to be serious trouble -with English traders settling in the neighborhood of the Mano River. On -account of threatening complications, Buchanan sent an agent to England -to inquire as to the purposes of such settlers and the attitude of the -British Government in the matter. On September 3, 1841, Buchanan died at -Bassa Cove. His death was a serious loss, but fortunately the man was -ready who was competent to take up his work and carry it through to a -successful conclusion. - -This man was Joseph Jenkin Roberts, who was appointed Governor by the -Colonization Society and who held the office for six years; at the end -of that time the Society itself severed its relation to the settlements. -Roberts was a mulatto; he was born in Virginia, in 1809; he went to -Liberia in 1829 and at once engaged in trade; he was at the head of the -Liberian force in its war against Gatumba. His six years of governorship -were on the whole successful ones, although it was at this time that -difficulties began with France. In 1842 the French Government attempted -to secure a foothold at Cape Mount, Bassa Cove, Butu, and Garawé; this -occurrence caused considerable anxiety, but the matter seemed to be -finished without serious results; long afterwards this attempt was made -the basis of claims which troubled the Republic. Roberts recognized the -importance of strengthening Liberian titles to territory; he pursued an -active policy of acquiring new areas and strengthening the hold of the -Commonwealth upon its older possessions. John B. Russwurm was at this -time the Governor of Maryland; Roberts consulted with him in regard to -public policy, and between them they agreed upon the levying of uniform -6 per cent ad valorem duties upon all imports. During his governorship -Roberts visited the United States; he was well received and made a good -impression; as a result of his visit, an American squadron visited the -coast of West Africa; difficulties, however, were brewing; Roberts found -the English and other foreigners unwilling to pay customs duties; they -took the ground that Liberia was not an actual government and had no -right to levy duties on shipping and foreign trade. On account of its -failure to pay duties, the _Little Ben_, an English trading boat, was -seized; in retaliation the _John Seyes_, belonging to a Liberian named -Benson, was seized and sold for £2000. Appeals were made to the United -States and to the Society for support; the United States made some -inquiries of the British Government; the American representations, -however, were put modestly and half-heartedly; to them Great Britain -replied that she “could not recognize the sovereign powers of Liberia, -which she regarded as a mere commercial experiment of a philanthropic -society.” It was clear that a crisis had been reached; the Society of -course could do nothing; the American Government was timid in its -support; if Liberia was to act at all, she must act for herself. -Recognizing the situation, in 1846 the Society resolved that it was -“expedient for the people to take into their own hands” the management -of their affairs, and severed relations which had bound Liberia to it. -The Liberians themselves called for a constitutional convention, which -began its session the 25th of June, 1847; on July 26th the Declaration -of Independence was made and the Constitution of the Liberian Republic -was adopted. The flag consisted of eleven stripes, alternately red and -white; the field, blue, bore a single white star. It is suggested that -the meaning of the flag is this: The three colors indicate the three -counties into which the Republic is divided; the eleven stripes -represent the eleven signers of the Declaration and the Constitution; -the lone star indicates the uniqueness of the African Republic. - - Moreover, here is a wonder such as Solomon in all his wisdom conceived - not of, when he said, “there is nothing new under the sun.” Here on - Africa’s shores, the wilderness to which our fathers came but as - yesterday, in ignorance, penury and want,--we have builded us towns - and villages, and now are about to form a Republic--nay, nor was it - thought of by the wise men of Europe and America.--H. J. R. - - -1847-1913. - -The election was held in October, and Joseph Jenkin Roberts, the -Governor of the Commonwealth, was elected to the new office of President -of the Republic. One of his earliest acts was to visit Europe in order -to ask the recognition of the new nation by European countries. The -first to recognize the Republic was Great Britain; France was second. As -it may be interesting to know just what powers have so far recognized -Liberia as a nation, the list is presented in the order of their -recognition, the date of recognition being placed within -parenthesis:--Great Britain (1848); France (1852); Lubeck (1855); Bremen -(1855); Hamburg (1855); Belgium (1858); Denmark (1860); United States -(1862); Italy (1862); Sweden and Norway (1863); Holland (1863); Hayti -(1864); Portugal (1865). - -Of Roberts, Mr. Thomas, in his _West Coast of Africa_, says: “We called -on President Roberts and family. Mrs. and Miss Roberts are most -intelligent and interesting personages, speak English and French -fluently, and are, in all respects, well bred and refined. I suppose -that they have colored blood enough in them to swear by, but they might -travel through every State in the Union without ever being suspected of -having any connection with the sable progeny of Ham. Miss Roberts is a -blue-eyed blonde, having light brown hair and rosy cheeks; yet she is a -genuine African in the know-nothing sense of genuineness, having been -born in the woods of Liberia. The Ex-President is tall and well -proportioned, colorless in complexion--hope the reader can tolerate a -paradox--but plainly indicating his African extraction by a very kinky -head of wool, of which, his friends say, he is very proud. We have -spoken of his official character. In intelligence and moral integrity he -is a superior man, and in the interview of that morning displayed much -of that excellence in conversation and elegance of manner that have -rendered him so popular in the courts of France and England. The best -evidence of his practical good sense was displayed in a visit, which he -made a few years ago, to his colored relatives and his white friends in -his native state of Virginia. In every circle he knew his place, and -conducted himself in such a manner as to win great favor among bond and -free.” - -It was while he was in London, in 1848, that Mr. Roberts, at a dinner -given by the Prussian Ambassador, met Lord Ashley and Mr. Gurley, and -received from them promises of assistance for purchasing the land in the -neighborhood of the Gallinhas River. He was well treated everywhere; he -was received by Queen Victoria upon her royal yacht in April; the -British Admiralty presented the Republic with a war vessel, the _Lark_; -he was returned to Monrovia on the British war-ship _Amazon_. Roberts -was re-elected president for two subsequent terms, holding office until -the end of 1855. During his administration there were a number of -disorders among the natives which needed settlement; thus, in 1850, the -Vai, Dey, and Golah were quarreling; this was during the absence of the -President. In March, 1853, Roberts, with 200 men, went to the region of -Cape Mount in order to quiet the disturbance. The Grando War, in Grand -Bassa, called for vigorous action, and Chief Grando continued to give -trouble at intervals from 1850 to 1853. On the whole, the Roberts -administrations were successful, and the country was greatly -strengthened under his direction. - -If Roberts was a mulatto, so light that he might easily have passed for -a white man, his successor, Stephen Allen Benson, was black enough. This -is amusingly brought out in an incident given by Thomas, which no doubt -has some basis in fact, if it is not literally true. Thomas claims to -quote a conversation between Capt. White of Virginia, while walking -through Monrovia, and a former slave whom he had known as “Buck” (now -“Col. Brown”). The Captain asked, “Which of the candidates for the -presidency are you going to vote for?” “Oh, Benson, sir.” “Has not -Roberts made you a good president?” “Oh, yes.” “He is a very smart man,” -continued the Captain, “and much respected abroad. I think you had -better vote for him.” “That’s all true”--Colonel becomes quite -animated--“but the fac’s just this, Massa White; the folks say as how we -darkies ain’t fitten to take care o’ oursel’s--ain’t capable. Roberts is -a very fine gentleman, but he’s more white than black. Benson’s _colored -people all over_. There’s no use talking government, an’ making laws, -an’ that kind o’ things, if they ain’t going to keep um up. I vote for -Benson, sir, case I wants to know if we’s going to stay nigger or turn -monkey.” - -Stephen Allen Benson was born in Maryland, in 1816; he removed to -Liberia in 1822; he was captured and held by the natives for some little -time; he was inaugurated President in January, 1856. During his -administration Napoleon III presented the Republic with the _Hirondelle_ -and equipment for 1000 armed men. During his administration there were -various troubles with the coast natives, especially in the neighborhood -of Cape Palmas; in the month of January, 1857, the difficulty was so -serious that the very existence of the colony and the American -missionaries at Cape Palmas were threatened. A force of Liberian -soldiers under Ex-President Roberts was sent upon an English war steamer -to their relief; the arrival of so considerable a force awed the -natives and led to a palaver; the natives promised submission and an -indemnity for the destruction they had caused. - -The independent colony of Maryland in Liberia had had a fairly -successful existence. Their first governor, J. B. Russwurm, died in -1851. He was succeeded by McGill, and he by Prout. At the time of the -Grebo War, J. B. Drayton was Governor. Largely as a result of this -trouble it was decided that Maryland should join with the other colonies -and become a part of the Republic; this annexation took place February -28, 1857, ten days after the ending of the Grebo War. - -A curious incident took place in 1858. The French ship, _Regina Coeli_, -arrived on the Kru Coast, and the Captain treated with Kru chiefs for -men to be shipped as laborers; the men supposed that they were shipped -for a trip along the west coast, as usual, to serve as seamen; learning, -however, that their destination was the West Indies, they became alarmed -and believed that they were to be sold into slavery; the Captain was -still on shore, treating with the chiefs; the men mutinied, seized the -ship, and killed all the white crew except the doctor; they then -returned to shore and left the ship without a crew; had she not been -noticed by a passing English steamer, she would no doubt have been -wrecked; she was taken into a Liberian port. The French Government -investigated the matter, but it was clearly shown that the Liberian -Republic was in no way responsible for the incident. - -In 1860 troubles with British traders in the region of the Mano River -began; these are so fully discussed in another place that we need not -present the facts here. - -A great deal of trouble was encountered by the Republic in preventing -smuggling by foreign ships; as it was impossible to adequately man all -the ports along the coast with customs-officers, a law was passed -naming certain Ports of Entry at which only it was permitted for foreign -boats to trade; this rendered the detection of illegal trade and -smuggling easier. - -In 1864 Daniel Bashiel Warner became President. He was a native of the -United States, born April 18, 1815. It was during his administration -that the Ports of Entry Law was passed; it was also during his term that -an immigration of 300 West Indian negroes took place; among those who -came at that time were the parents of Arthur Barclay, later prominent in -Liberian politics; Arthur Barclay himself was a child at the time. - -In 1868 James Spriggs Payne became President. He was a clergyman of some -literary ability; he was author of a small treatise upon political -economy; during his first administration he sent Benjamin Anderson on an -official expedition to the interior. Anderson penetrated as far as -Musahdu, an important town of the Mandingo; Payne served a second term, -but not immediately following his first; after him were President Roye -and President Roberts; it was in 1876 Payne was inaugurated a second -time. - -In 1870 Edward James Roye, a merchant and ship-owner, became President -of the Republic; he was a full negro; he represented the “True Whig” -party. His administration is notable for the turbulent character of its -events. It was under him that the famous loan of 1871 was made. Before -he became President, an effort had been made to amend the Constitution -in such a way as to make the presidential term four years instead of -two; the amendment was not carried; when, however, his term of office -neared its end, he proclaimed an extension of his period for two years. -Public dissatisfaction with the loan and a feeling of outrage at this -high-handed action aroused the people so that they rose against him; in -the strife several lives were lost; the President’s house was sacked; -search was made for him and one of his sons was caught and imprisoned; -in the effort to escape to a British steamer standing in the harbor, it -is said that he was drowned. Roye’s deposition took place October 26, -1871. A committee of three was appointed to govern the nation until a -new election could be held; these gentlemen were Charles B. Dunbar, R. -A. Sherman, and Amos Herring. - -In this moment of public excitement and disorder the people looked to -their old leader, and Joseph Jenkin Roberts was again elected to the -presidency; this was his fifth term. His time was largely devoted to -bringing about calm and order; Benjamin Anderson, in 1874, made a second -expedition to Musahdu; in 1875 there was a war with the Gedebo (Grebo) -of some consequence. - -After President Payne’s second administration Anthony W. Gardner became -President; he was inaugurated in 1878. It was under his administration -that the difficulties with England culminated, and Liberian territory -was seized by British arms. In 1879 took place what is known as the -“Carlos incident;” the German steamer, _Carlos_, was wrecked at Nana -Kru; the natives looted the vessel and abused the shipwrecked Germans -who had landed in their boats; the Germans were robbed of everything -they had succeeded in bringing to shore with them and were even stripped -of their clothing; they were compelled to walk along the beach to -Greenville. The German warship, _Victoria_, was immediately despatched -to the point of difficulty; she bombarded Nana Kru and the towns about; -she then proceeded to Monrovia and demanded £900 damages on behalf of -the shipwrecked Germans; the Government was unable to make prompt -settlement and eventually paid the claim only under threat of a -bombardment and with the help of European merchants in Monrovia. It was -under President Gardner’s direction that the Liberian Order of African -Redemption was established; the decoration of the order consists of a -star with rays pendent from a wreath of olive; upon the star is the seal -of the Republic with the motto, THE LOVE OF LIBERTY BROUGHT US HERE. -Gardner was re-elected twice, but finally, in despair on account of the -misfortune which his nation was suffering, resigned his office in -January, 1883; at his resignation the Vice-President, A. F. Russell, -took the chair. - -In 1883 there were two other difficulties with wrecked steamers. The -_Corisco_, a British mail steamer belonging to the Elder Dempster -Company, was wrecked near the mouth of the Grand Cesters River; the -passengers and crew took to the boats, but were plundered by the natives -when they landed; the ship itself was also plundered; the Liberian force -punished the Grand Cesters people for this deed, and the British -Government treated the matter in a friendly manner. About the same time -the _Senegal_ was wrecked upon the Liberian coast and plundered by the -natives. It must be remembered, in connection with such events as these, -that it has always been recognized along that coast, that the natives on -the beach are entitled to whatever wreckage occurs upon their shores; it -is very difficult to disabuse the native mind of this long recognized -principle and to teach them that they must leave wrecked vessels -unpillaged. It will be remembered that a difficulty of this same kind -took place when the first settlers were living on Perseverance Island. -In September, 1912, while we were in the interior of the Bassa country, -a German boat of the Woermann Line was wrecked in front of Grand Bassa; -although this occurred within sight of one of the most important -settlements in the Republic, the natives put out in their canoes and -took from the sinking ship all its contents. - -In 1884 Hilary Richard Wright Johnson became President of the Republic. -He was the first “native son” to hold the office. He was the child of -the oft-mentioned Elijah Johnson, one of the first settlers. Hilary was -born at Monrovia, June 1, 1837; he graduated from the Alexander High -School, on the St. Paul’s River, in 1857; for seven years he was the -private secretary of President Benson; in 1859 he became editor of the -_Liberian Herald_, continuing to be so for two years; in 1861 he was -elected to the House of Representatives; in 1862 he visited England and -other countries with President Benson; he was Secretary of State under -President Warner, and Professor of English and Philosophy in Liberia -College; in 1870 he was Secretary of the Interior under President Roye, -but resigned his office on account of difference of opinion with him; -during the provisional government and during President Roberts’ final -administration he was Secretary of State; he became President in 1884 -and served eight years; after he left the presidential chair, he was for -some time Postmaster-General; he died at Monrovia in 1900. It was in -President Johnson’s administration that the boundary dispute so long -pending with Great Britain was settled, the Mano River being recognized -as the limit of Liberian territory; through a very considerable part of -his time of service efforts were being made toward adjusting the -unfortunate affairs connected with the loan of 1871; at the very close -of Johnson’s term of office trouble with the French began by their claim -on October 26th of the Cavalla River boundary. - -Joseph James Cheeseman was the next President, being inaugurated in -1892. He was born in 1843 at Edina, and was trained for the ministry by -his father; he was ordained as pastor of the First Baptist Church in -Edina in November, 1868. He was a man of energy; in 1893 he found the -third Gedebo War upon his hands; he secured two gunboats--the _Rocktown_ -and the _Gorronama_--to patrol the coast for the prevention of -smuggling; during his administration the use of paper currency was -abolished and gold payment established. He was twice re-elected and died -in office in the middle of his third term, November 15, 1896. The -Vice-President, William David Coleman, took the presidency and, at the -close of his filling of the unexpired term, was elected to the -presidency. - -William David Coleman was a resident of Clay-Ashland. His term was -rather troubled; his interior policy was unpopular; he quarreled with -his legislature; and finally resigned in December, 1900, under threat of -impeachment. As there was no vice-president at the time, the Secretary -of State, G. W. Gibson, succeeded to his office. It was during President -Coleman’s administration that Germany offered, in 1897, to take over -Liberia as a protected territory; the offer was refused, but certainly -is interesting. Germany has watched with some concern the constant -encroachments of Great Britain and France upon Liberian territory and -sovereign rights; having no territorial boundary herself, she is unable -to pursue their methods; she is watching, however, and unless, as some -suspect, there is an actual understanding between Great Britain and -France, as to the eventual complete division of the Republic between -them, it is certain that, when the German Government thinks Liberia’s -neighbors are going too far in their land piracy, she herself will take -a hand and grasp the whole Republic. Such at least is a possibility not -infrequently suggested. - -Garretson Warner Gibson was born in Baltimore, Maryland, May 20, 1832; -he was but three years old when he went with his parents to Cape Palmas; -he was educated under Bishop Payne and became a teacher in the mission -school at Cavalla; in 1851 he went to the United States for the purpose -of studying, returning to Cape Palmas two years later. In 1854 he was -made deacon by Bishop Payne, the first ordained in the African field; he -later became priest and preached and taught through a period of years -until 1858, when he came to Monrovia to open up a church. He occupied a -variety of political offices, but under Gardner, Cheeseman, and Coleman -was Secretary of State; on the resignation of Coleman he filled out his -term, and was himself elected President for the period from 1902 to -1904. He was three times president of Liberia College and was always -interested in educational affairs; in 1908 he was a member of the -commission which visited the United States; he died at Monrovia April -26, 1910. - -In 1904 Arthur Barclay became president. We have already stated that he -was a native of the West Indies, having been born at Barbados in 1854; -he was of pure African parentage; his parents took him with them to -Liberia in 1865; graduating from Liberia College in 1873, he became -private secretary to President Roberts; after filling various minor -offices, he became, in 1892, Postmaster-General, in 1894, Secretary of -State, and in 1896, Secretary of the Treasury. He served two terms of -two years each; during the second of these terms the Constitution was -amended and the term of office of the President extended to four years; -in 1908 President Barclay entered upon his third term of office, this -time for the longer period. Arthur Barclay is a man of extraordinary -ability; he has for years been the acknowledged leader of the Liberian -bar; many of the most important incidents of Liberian history occurred -within his period of administration; most of them, however, are -connected with the vital problems of the Republic and their discussion -will be found elsewhere. - -The present executive of the Liberian Republic is Daniel Edward Howard. -He assumed office January 1st and 2nd, 1912; at his inauguration one day -was given to the native chiefs, a new feature in inauguration, and one -to be encouraged. In his inaugural address President Howard laid -particular stress upon agriculture, education, and the native policy. He -is the third “native son” to hold the presidential office. His father -was Thomas Howard, who for years was chairman of the Republic. Of him -Ellis says: “Comparatively a young man, Secretary Howard is a natural -leader of men. Frank, honest, and decisive, he may be truly described as -the Mark Hanna of Liberian politics. He received his education at -Liberia College and in the study and management of men. Proud of his -race and country, he is to my mind today the strongest single factor in -the Liberian Republic. He has large influence with the aboriginals -because of his ability to speak fluently a number of native tongues, and -he is usually relied upon to settle the native palavers and -difficulties. He is chairman of the National True Whig Committee, and -for years has been keeping in touch with, and commanding the great -forces of his party. It is said of him that to his friends he is as true -as steel, and that he does not know what it is to break a promise.” - -President Howard has an able Cabinet, liberal views, and the courage of -his convictions. - -Of men not actually in the present government, but of commanding -influence and significance, two must be mentioned. No clear -understanding of the present trend of Liberian affairs is possible -without some knowledge of their personality. Here again we quote from -Ellis: “Secretary Johnson is the grandson of Elijah Johnson, the -historic Liberian patriot, who by his wisdom and courage saved the -infant colony of Liberia from early extirpation; and the son of the late -Ex-President Hilary Johnson, one of Liberia’s notable public men. -Secretary Johnson is proud and dignified in his bearing, scholarly in -his attainments, and fluent in his speech. For years he has acknowledged -no superior, and has been recognized as a close competitor of President -Barclay at the bar. He has enjoyed extensive foreign travel and has had -a varied public experience. He has served on two important foreign -missions, and at different times has been Postmaster-General, -Attorney-General, and is now Secretary of State.” It will be seen of -course from the contents of these quotations from Ellis that his article -was written just before Barclay’s administration ended. There is no man -in Liberia who has a more complete grasp upon Liberian problems than F. -E. R. Johnson. At the time of the visit of the American Commission to -Monrovia, he presented for their study and examination a defense of the -Liberian position, which was masterly. - -Of Vice-President Dossen--now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court--Ellis -says: “He is a man of magnificent physique and splendid intellectual -powers, aggressive and proud in spirit, ready and forceful in language, -he has enjoyed a useful public record. For ten years he was Associate -Justice of the Supreme Court and compiled the publication of the Supreme -Court Decisions. He served as envoy extraordinary to France and to the -United States, and now presides with becoming dignity over the -deliberations of the Liberian Senate.” It was a matter of serious -disappointment to us, that we were unable to meet John J. Dossen when in -Liberia; he is certainly one of the best men in Liberian public life -today; much is still to be expected from him. - - - - -PROBLEMS - - - I have heard men express preferences. They have made mention of whom - they desire to rule over them if the worst should come upon us - nationally. Some are rampant after American associations; some are - enamoured of the English; some would have the Germans, others the - French. Personally I indulge no such predilections. They argue an - abandonment of hope; they display a lack of vitality; they are an - absolute admission of incapacity and of failure. For my part I am a - _Liberian_ first and last and my desire is that Liberia should endure - till the heavens fall, that this country be controlled by Liberians - for Liberians. But I also desire that these Liberians be tolerant; - that they be prescient; that they be energetic, industrious, and - public-spirited; that they be courageous in shouldering their national - responsibilities; that they be liberal and that they become a great - and glorious people, unanimous in sentiment, united in action, - abounding in all the virtues which make a nation powerful, perpetual - and enduring.--E. BARCLAY. - - -BOUNDARY QUESTIONS. - -The most pressing and ever urgent question which the Republic has to -face is the protection of its frontier against aggression; Liberia has -two powerful neighbors, both of which are land-hungry and are -continually pressing upon her borders; she has already lost large slices -of her territory and is still menaced with further loss. - - -FIRST BRITISH AGGRESSION. - -Shortly after his election to the presidency of the Republic, President -J. J. Roberts visited Europe. He was well received both in England and -France. On one occasion, in 1848, when he was dining in London with the -Prussian Ambassador, the conversation dealt with the difficulties which -the Liberian settlers had with the native chiefs along the Gallinhas -River; these hostilities were kept alive by slave traders who had their -trading stations near the river’s mouth; these difficulties had -generally been incited and directed by a chief named Mano. Among the -guests who were present at the dinner were Lord Ashley and Mr. Gurney; -it was suggested that an end might be put to these difficulties and the -anti-slavery cause advanced, if Liberia would purchase this territory; -considerable interest was aroused by the suggestion, and through Lord -Ashley’s effort the necessary money was raised for consummating the -purchase. On his return to Liberia, President Roberts entered into -negotiations which extended from 1849 to 1856, by which the land was -gradually acquired; the area secured stretched from the Mano River to -the Sewa and Sherbro Island on the west. Through the annexation of this -territory, Liberia’s domain extended from Cape Lahon to the eastward of -Cape Palmas, west to the border of Sierra Leone, a distance of 600 -miles. This acquisition of territory was attended with considerable -difficulty; the influence of traders, of slavers, and even of England -herself was thrown in the way of the negotiations--so Commodore Foote -tells us. Nor did the acquisition of the territory put an end to the -difficulties in that region. In the year 1860 John Myers Harris, an -English trader, had established himself in the country between the Mano -and Sulima Rivers and refused to acknowledge Liberia’s authority; as he -was conducting a flagrant trade in contravention of Liberian laws of -commerce, President Benson sent a coast guard to seize two schooners, -the _Phoebe_ and _Emily_, which had been consigned to him; the seizure -was made between Cape Mount and Mano Point, clearly Liberian territory. -It is curious that this seizure was made by a Liberian government -vessel, the _Quail_, which had been a gift to the Republic from Great -Britain. We have, then, a vessel, contributed through British sympathy, -operating within an area secured through British philanthropy, against -law-breaking indulged in by British subjects. The captured schooners -were taken to Liberia and were held for legal adjudication; under the -orders of the Sierra Leone Government, the British gunboat, _Torch_, -appeared at Monrovia, and seized the two schooners by force on December -17; at the same time the commander of this gunboat demanded from the -Liberian Government a penalty of fifteen pounds per day for nineteen -days’ detention. Shortly after these events, President Benson, on his -way to England for public business, visited the government of Sierra -Leone and tried to adjust the difficulties which had arisen; he was, -however, referred to London. At about this time part of the disputed -territory was annexed by Sierra Leone to her own area. While in London, -Benson took up the matter with the British Government. Lord Russell -acknowledged the territorial rights of Liberia to extend from the coast -east of Turner Point (Mattru) to the San Pedro River on the east, thus -admitting the point for which Liberia contended. This decision was by no -means satisfactory to the troublers in Africa. Harris agitated the -matter in dispute. Backed by Governor Hall of Sierra Leone, he and -neighboring traders protested against the concession Russell had made. A -commission was therefore appointed and met at Monrovia April 25, 1863, -continuing in session until May 4, when it adjourned without decision. -The British Commissioners examined the title deeds held by Liberia and -were inclined to recognize some of these and to refuse others; they -objected to Liberia’s possessing any territory beyond the Mano River, -and proposed that river as the boundary. The Liberian Commissioners -demurred, urging the validity of the deeds they showed and proposing -that the Sherbro should be their northwest boundary; they asserted a -good title to the territories known as Cassee, Gumbo, and Muttru. The -British Commissioners based their claims upon letters from the chiefs of -the territories involved and on statements which they asserted had been -made by them. The Commission broke up without a settlement, as the -Liberians held strictly to the concession which Lord Russell had -previously made. London, however, yielding to the colonial pressure, -regretted that no solution had been reached, and claimed that it was -“justified in view of the facts” in only recognizing Liberia’s -sovereignty over Sugaree. The closing episode in this exchange of views -was the sending of a letter by Dr. Blyden, who was then Secretary of -State for the Republic, which ran as follows: “The President is equally -grieved that the oral statements of barbarous and heathen chiefs on a -subject affecting the prosperity of a rising Christian state should be -regarded by Her Majesty’s Government as entitled to more weight than the -statements of Christian men supported by written documents and by the -known local conduct of the chiefs towards the Liberian Government since -the cession of their territories until very recently.” - -As might be expected, the troubles did not cease. Traders continued to -smuggle; local chiefs continued to harass; shipping continued to bid -defiance to Liberian laws; vessels continued to be seized; threats -continued to be made. Harris began to act almost as if he were an -independent chief within this territory; there were various tribes about -him, and some of them were inclined to resist his exactions; disputes -with him aroused the Vai to undertake reprisals; Harris organized the -Gallinhas peoples in an attack upon the Vai; the Liberian Government -sent forces in 1869 to aid the Vai, who were loyal to them. The -Gallinhas natives were defeated, fled, and in their rage turning on -Harris, destroyed one of his factories; this of course gave him a basis -for new claims for damages. On this military expedition some property -had been destroyed or confiscated. Thus new difficulties grew up; there -were occasional seizures, retaliatory threats, demands for damages, -shows of force. Naturally, the hostile chiefs living in the Mano -District, encouraged by the unsettled conditions, raided and destroyed -Liberian settlements; things presently were critical, and in 1871 -another expedition was despatched by the Liberian Government into Mano -and Sulima; property was destroyed, including powder and goods belonging -to British owners; the usual demands for damages were made, and these -demands known as the “Mano River Claims” were pending until 1882. - -Between the constant pushing of the “Harris Claims” and the “Mano River -Claims,” things finally came to a head in December, 1878. A new -commission was then appointed which met in 1879, first at Sierra Leone, -then at Sulima; Commodore Shufeldt, of the American navy, was chosen as -an arbitrator between the two contestants. The “Harris Claims” by this -time amounted to some 6000 pounds. The conduct of Great Britain on this -occasion was supercilious. The Liberian Commissioners, after reaching -Sierra Leone, were kept waiting for three weeks before the British -Commissioners made their appearance; the commissioners examined the -title deeds of the Liberian Government and took oral testimony of -witnesses favorable to and hostile to the Liberian claims. The Liberians -claimed the territories known as Sugaree, Mano, Rock River, and Sulima; -the British Commissioners took the ground that no such countries were in -existence. The meeting was rather stormy; Shufeldt reduced the “Harris -Claims” to £3000, but the British Commissioners were not inclined either -in this matter or in others to abide by the decision of the umpire; -finally the Commission broke up without accomplishing any good results. -The British claimed that Sierra Leone should undertake the protectorate -of the whole country as far as the Mano River, as they said Liberia was -unable to maintain order west of that point. “Undoubtedly they were -unable to fight British traders, since every time they used force, -marine or military, the said traders were able to command the armed -interference of the Sierra Leone Government.” The matter was again -referred to London; nothing final was there done. - -Matters reached a crisis when, on March 20, 1882, Sir Arthur Havelock, -governor of Sierra Leone, with four gunboats appeared before Monrovia -and demanded that the Republic should pay an indemnity of £8,500 to -settle all outstanding claims, and that it should accept the Maffa River -as a boundary. The Liberian Government yielded to these insistent -claims. They promised to pay the indemnity, admitted the Maffa River as -a temporary boundary, and agreed to receive from Great Britain a money -payment in return for what she had expended for the purchase of the -disputed territory. Before the Liberian Government yielded, she set up a -statement of her own position which was just and dignified. As soon as -the action of the government was known at Monrovia, Havelock having -returned to Sierra Leone, violent hostility arose; the Senate rejected -the treaty; the Liberians asked that the whole matter be submitted to -arbitration. On September 7, Sir Arthur Havelock again appeared with -gunboats, demanding immediate ratification of the treaty. Liberia again -raised her defense: “If the contested territory was British, why did the -British Government claim from Liberia an indemnity for acts of violence -amongst the natives which had taken place thereon? If, however, Liberia -acknowledged her responsibility, as she had done, and agreed to pay an -indemnity, why should she be in addition deprived of territories for the -law and order of which she was held responsible, and which were hers by -acts of purchase admitted by the British Government?” The Senate again -refused to ratify the treaty. Sir Arthur Havelock sailed away; but in -March, 1883, the Sierra Leone Government seized the territories in -question between Sherbro and the Mano River, territories which from -first to last had cost Liberia £20,000. The whole matter was finally -settled by a treaty signed at London, Nov. 11, 1885, whereby the river -Mano was admitted to be the western boundary; a badly defined interior -line was agreed upon; a repayment of £4750 of purchase money was made to -Liberia. - - -THE KANRE-LAHUN AFFAIR. - -The next act of serious aggression on the part of Great Britain grew out -of the bad definition of the interior boundary by the treaty of 1885. -The Mano River had been recognized as the boundary between Sierra Leone -and Liberia. The question now arose as to whether the two parties -enjoyed equal rights of freedom on the river. The Liberian Government -attempted to secure to Liberian traders and to foreigners resident in -Liberia the rights to free navigation on the river without subjection to -the payment of customs dues and other charges to the Sierra Leone -Government. The matter became of sufficient consequence to call for a -commission in the year 1901. Three Liberians, among them Arthur Barclay, -then Secretary of the Treasury (later President of the Republic), were -appointed; the meeting was held in London and led to the following -memorandum of agreement between His Majesty’s Government and the -Liberian Republic. - -1. His Majesty’s Government are prepared to accede to the requests of -the Liberian Government that a British officer should be deputed to -demarcate the Anglo-Liberian Boundary. - -2. They are also ready to lend the services of a British officer for -employment by the Liberian Government in the demarcation of the -Franco-Liberian Boundary whenever the Liberian Government shall have -made an arrangement with the French Government for such demarcation. - -3. The Liberian Government undertakes to repay to His Majesty’s -Government the whole of any cost incurred by them in connection with the -survey and demarcation of the Anglo-Liberian Frontier. - -4. His Majesty’s Government are willing that, in lieu of the Governor of -Sierra Leone acting as British Consul to Liberia, arrangements shall be -made whereby some other British officer shall be Consul in the Republic. - -5. His Majesty’s Government undertakes the survey of the Kru Coast, -provided the Liberian Government will throw open to foreign trade the -native ports on the coast. - -6. With regard to the navigation on the Mano River, His Majesty’s -Government are prepared to permit the Government of the Liberian -Republic and its citizens to trade on that river, provided that it is -not to be considered actual right, and if, in return, the Government of -Sierra Leone is allowed to connect by bridges and ferries the two banks -of the river with any roads or trade-routes in the neighborhood. - -7. The Government of the Liberian Republic have expressed a desire for -closer union with Great Britain: His Majesty’s Government are actuated -by the most friendly feelings toward the Republic; and with the view of -meeting their wishes in this respect, so far as it is consistent with -the declaration made by His Majesty’s government in connection with -other powers, will at all times be ready to advise them in matters -affecting the welfare of Liberia, and to confer with the Government of -the Republic as to the best means of securing its independence and the -integrity of its territory. - -When this agreement was submitted to the Senate of Liberia for -ratification, they made the following amendments: - -Section 1. Amended to read, that the Liberian Government shall depute an -officer or officers to be associated with the British officer in -demarcating the Anglo-Liberian Boundary. - -Section 2. Amended to read, that the Liberian Government shall depute an -officer or officers to be associated with the British and French -officers in demarcating the Franco-Liberian Frontier. - -Section 5. The Senate, not perceiving the advisability of throwing the -coast open for the present, is under the necessity of withholding its -vote in favor of this section. - -Section 7. Amended to read, “One bridge at the place where the Liberian -Customs House is now erected, and one ferry at the place where the -second Liberian Customs House may hereafter be erected; that said bridge -and ferry will be accessible to the citizens of the Liberian Government -without any restrictions or extra toll, or charges, more than is -required to be paid by the subjects of His Majesty’s Government.” - -The British Government left the settlement of the details of that -portion of the agreement which had reference to the navigation of the -Mano River to be settled between the Liberian Government and the -Government of Sierra Leone. The colonial government imposed such -restrictions that no understanding was ever arrived at. However, a joint -commission for the demarcation of the Anglo-Liberian frontier was -appointed and in 1903 proceeded with its work. In due time the boundary -was satisfactorily settled by this commission. This boundary, however, -very soon gave rise to a serious difficulty and to a flagrant -aggression. By the delimitation, the town and district of Kanre-Lahun -fell to Liberia; Colonel Williams, the Liberian Commissioner, hoisted -the Liberian flag at that town which, at the time, was occupied by a -detachment of the Sierra Leone Frontier Force; curiously enough, the -British force was not withdrawn. - -In 1904 the British Government complained to the Liberian Government -that the Kissi were making raids into British territory in consequence -of a war between Fabundah, a chief of the Kanre-Lahun District, and Kah -Furah, a Kissi chief, and asked permission for the entrance of British -troops into Liberian territory for the purpose of repressing the -disorder which, it was said, threatened British interests. The request -was granted; British troops advanced to the Mafisso where they -established a post. In November the British Vice-Consul sent word to the -President of Liberia saying that the chief Kah Furah had been driven out -of the Kissi country, and that the people, at the invitation of the -military authorities, had elected a new chief, and had pledged -themselves not to receive Kah Furah among them again. The Liberian -Government assumed that the matter was at an end and that the British -force had been withdrawn. In 1906 Mr. Lomax, the Liberian Commissioner -for the French frontier, was instructed to proceed to this point; he -reached Kanre-Lahun in December, and found Waladi, a town in Liberian -territory, garrisoned by a Sierra Leone force. While Mr. Lomax was at -Kanre-Lahun, complaints were made against him by the Chief Fabundah and -others. These complaints were examined in the presence of Governor -Probyn, Sir Harry Johnston, Mr. Lamont, and leading military officers, -and Mr. Lomax justified himself completely, except in a single case -where damages of five pounds were suggested and paid. Later on, British -officers sent in complaints that the escort with Mr. Lomax were -plundering the country. It was impossible in such districts and under -such circumstances to prevent some petty thieving. Mr. Lomax, however, -accepted the complaints and paid the damages claimed. With a view to -permanently settling the country under Liberian rule, Mr. Lomax ordered -a local election to be held. Three chiefs were chosen--Fabundah for the -lower section, Gardi for the Bombali section, and Bawma for the Gormah -section. Fabundah, who before had been exercising jurisdiction over the -Bombali, was dissatisfied. The Sierra Leone authorities promised to -support him against the Liberian Government; they placed a frontier -force at his disposal for the purpose of ruining the chiefs who were -favorable to Liberian control or who had received commissions from the -President; efforts to arouse opposition and dissatisfaction were made; -Lomax was hounded from the district; the chief, Gardi, was driven from -the country, his town was plundered, and his brother made a prisoner in -Kanre-Lahun. - -In 1908 attempts had been made in Europe to settle difficulties pending -with Great Britain and France. Mr. F. E. R. Johnson, the Liberian -Secretary of State, who had been sent to arrange these matters, found -conditions threatening. In London the British Government stated that it -had no designs against Liberia, but that they believed the French were -planning encroachment, and that, if Liberia lost territory to France, -Great Britain would find it necessary to take a new piece of territory -contingent to Sierra Leone in her own defense. Matters appeared so -serious that President Barclay was advised to come to Europe himself; he -arrived in London on the 29th of August, accompanied by T. McCants -Stewart, and there met Mr. Johnson. He told the British Government of -his fears regarding further aggression upon Liberian territory and -expressed the desire that Great Britain and America should jointly -guarantee the independence and territorial integrity of the Republic. -The reply was that Great Britain would on no account enter into any such -guarantee; if the Liberian Government obtained a settled frontier with -France, and inaugurated certain reforms, there would be little danger of -any one’s troubling it; if the reforms desired by England were not -undertaken, nothing would save it from the end which threatened. At the -same time London refused to treat of the Kanre-Lahun and Mano River -difficulties until after the troubles with France had been arranged. In -France, as will be shortly seen, the Liberian envoys met with no -success; a treaty was indeed arranged by means of which the Republic was -robbed of a large amount of valuable territory. The envoys were again in -London in September to take up the matters of the Kanre-Lahun and Mano -River negotiations. The British officials now demanded that Fabundah -should come entirely under the jurisdiction of the British Government, -and that the frontier line on the northwest should be so altered as to -place his territory within the British colony; the area thus demanded -contained something like 250 square miles of territory. At no time had -the area actually in charge of Fabundah amounted to any such quantity; -the Liberians demurred at the largeness of the territorial claim--the -British officials themselves stated that they were surprised at its -extent, but insisted upon receiving the entire amount. No decision was -actually reached, the matter being postponed until the delimitation of -the new Franco-Liberian boundary should be achieved. - -Great Britain’s claim to this region was based upon the flimsiest -pretext. It is true that she had had relations with Fabundah before the -boundary had been delimited; it is true that, previous to that date, she -had had a force in Kanre-Lahun; however, when the boundary was actually -fixed, Kanre-Lahun was clearly within Liberian territory, and no -objection whatever was made to the Republic’s taking possession and to -the withdrawal of the Sierra Leone force. When, later on, Great Britain -sent soldiers into the area, it was done on the pretext that intertribal -difficulties in the region threatened British interests; permission was -given as a favor to Great Britain and with the expectation that, as soon -as the difficulty had been adjusted, the British force would be -withdrawn. Such was not the case; once in Kanre-Lahun, it remained -there; Major Lomax was hounded from the country; the Liberian customs -officer, Mr. Hughes, was ordered to abandon his post of duty and to -surrender the customs house to the British commander. This act of -occupation was bad enough; but soon Great Britain demanded that the army -of occupation should be paid by the Liberian Government before it would -evacuate the district; no such understanding had been arranged, and the -claim was unjustified and ridiculous; the frontier force of Sierra -Leone was not increased, nor put to any extra expense in the matter. In -asking for a new boundary line which should cut out Fabundah’s -territory, flagrant injustice was committed; it is true that the -boundary which had been arranged cut the land controlled by the chief; -about one-twenty-fifth of his territory was on the British side, the -remaining twenty-four-twenty-fifths being in Liberia; if a new line were -to be drawn, it should have given the one-twenty-fifth to Liberia and -reduced the Sierra Leone territory. The matter dragged along for months. -December 8, 1909, President Barclay accepted a proposition to exchange -or sell the district in dispute; the legislature refused to accept the -proposition. In May, 1911, however, an agreement was finally arranged; -the British authorities took over the Kanre-Lahun District, an area of -extraordinary wealth and dense population; in return for this valuable -and most needed area, Liberia received a piece of country lying between -the Morro and Mano Rivers, which had formerly been a part of the Colony -of Sierra Leone; this territory is almost without population, densely -forested, and practically worthless. Even so, it is little likely that -the Republic will be left in peaceful possession of it. On some pretext, -in the future, Great Britain will no doubt regain it. - - -THE FRENCH BOUNDARY QUESTION. - -When Maryland was added to the Liberian Republic, it possessed lands -acquired by deeds of purchase and treaties as far east as the San Pedro -River, sixty miles east of the Cavalla; this country was occupied by Kru -tribes, and its eastern boundary practically marked their limit; it was -hence not only a geographical, but an ethnographical boundary. For years -no one questioned Liberia’s right to the whole area, and on maps and in -repeated descriptions of the country its rights were recognized. In -1885, however, the French Government claimed that the French possessions -extended continuously from the Ivory Coast westward beyond the Cavalla -River and Cape Palmas as far as Garawé; at the same time it suggested -certain shadowy claims to Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, and Grand Butu;--in -other words, points at intervals along the whole coast of the Liberian -Republic; these claims were based on agreements stated to have been -drawn up between native chiefs and the commanders of war vessels. In -1891 the French Government officially communicated to Great Britain her -intention of taking possession of and administering the district -mentioned as far as Garawé; she modified her claim, however, in such a -way as to extend her rights only to the Cavalla River. In 1891 a French -commissioner was authorized to treat with Liberia in this matter. He -claimed that the French had deeds to Grand Cesters, dating to 1788, and -to Garawé, dating to 1842; he referred to other shadowy rights and -mentioned treaties which, he asserted, chiefs in the neighborhood of the -Cavalla and San Pedro Rivers had made with French authorities; asked to -produce these documents, he admitted that he did not have them with him. -The French Government asked that Liberia should recognize the right of -France from the Cavalla River to the San Pedro, saying that, if this -recognition were granted, they might not revive their old claims. -Liberia urged that the treaty formed with her by the French Government -in 1852 clearly recognized her rights to the region in question; a -French war map, dated 1882, was shown, on which Liberia’s area was -clearly shown to extend to the San Pedro River; at the same time Liberia -asked that the whole matter should be referred to arbitration. -Arbitration was refused; a treaty drawn up by France was offered for -approval in August, 1892; the Liberian legislature refused absolutely to -ratify it, and the Liberian Government appealed to the United States for -assistance and advice. The country was greatly aroused over the manifest -injustice of its powerful neighbor. Especially in Maryland, feeling ran -high. A printed appeal was issued to the world. In it occurs the -following passage: - -“We appeal to all the civilized nations of the world.--Consider, we pray -you, the situation. Having been carried away into slavery, and, by the -blessing of God, returned from exile to our fatherland, are we now to be -robbed of our rightful inheritance? Is there not to be a foot of land in -Africa, that the African, whether civilized or savage, can call his own? -It has been asserted that the race is not capable of self-government, -and the eyes of many are watching the progress of Liberia with a view to -determining that question. We only ask, in all fairness, to be allowed -just what any other people would require--free scope for operation. Do -not wrest our territory from us and hamper us in our operations, and -then stigmatize the race with incapacity, because we do not work -miracles. Give us a fair chance, and then if we utterly fail, we shall -yield the point. We pray you, the civilized and Christian nations of the -world, to use your influence in our behalf. We have no power to prevent -this aggression on the part of the French Government: but we know that -we have right on our side, and are willing to have our claims to the -territory in question examined. We do not consent to France’s taking -that portion of our territory lying between the Cavalla and San Pedro -Rivers; nor do we recognize its claims to points on our Grain Coast -which, as shown above, our government has been in possession of for so -long. We protest, too, against that government’s marking off narrow -limits of interior land for us. We claim the right to extend as far -interiorward as our necessities require. We are not foreigners: we are -Africans, and this is Africa. Such being the case, we have certain -natural rights--God-given rights--to this territory which no foreigners -can have. We should have room enough, not only for our present -population, but also to afford a home for our brethren in exile who may -wish to return to their fatherland and help us to build up a negro -nationality. We implore you, the civilized and Christian nations of the -world, to use your influence to have these, our reasonable requirements -secured to us.” But neither the official appeal to the United States nor -the unofficial appeal to the Christian nations of the world availed. -France seized the territory and threatened to refuse to recognize rights -beyond Grand Cesters on the seaboard, and Boporo in the interior. After -fruitless remonstrance, the Republic was forced to yield and a treaty -was accepted on December 8, 1892. By it the Cavalla River was recognized -as the boundary between France and Liberia, from its mouth “as far as a -point situated at a point” about twenty miles south of its confluence -with the River “Fodedougouba” at the intersection of the parallel 6° 30′ -north and the Paris meridian 9° 12′ west; thence along 6° 30′ as far as -10° west, with the proviso that the basin of the Grand Cesters River -should belong to Liberia and the basin of the Fodedougouba to France; -then north along 10° to 8° north; and then northwest to the latitude of -Tembi Kunda (supposed 8° 35′), after which due west along the latitude -of Tembi Kunda, until it intersects the British boundary near that -place. But the entire Niger Basin should be French; Bamaquilla and -Mahommadou should be Liberian; Mousardou and Naalah, French. - - -LATER FRENCH DIFFICULTIES. - -Notwithstanding this delimitation, difficulties with the French -continued. In 1895 French posts along the northern border began to crowd -in upon the Republic. The town of Lola, in Liberia, was attacked by -Senegalese soldiers; these were repulsed and two French officers were -killed. Aggressions continued until, finally, in 1903, Liberia begged -that a final delimitation might be arranged, as the old had proved -completely unsatisfactory. In 1904 F. E. R. Johnson and J. J. Dossen -were sent to France to arrange matters. On their way, they called at the -British Foreign Office and asked their aid and interest in bringing -about an understanding. Arrived in Paris, it was quickly found that the -French were planning to possess themselves of all the territory situated -in the basin of the Cavalla and the Upper St. Paul’s Rivers; the British -Foreign Office expressed sympathy, but did nothing more. In 1905 several -efforts were made toward bringing about an agreement. Dr. Blyden was -sent to France, but accomplished nothing; in November Sir Harry Johnston -was asked to treat with the French Government which, however, refused to -recognize him as an official negotiator. In 1907 Secretary Johnson was -commissioned to treat with the French Government, but found its attitude -most hostile and unfriendly. President Barclay himself was summoned to -Europe; taking T. McCants Stewart with him, they joined Johnson, and -interviewed the French officials. A treaty was submitted to them by -which Liberia would be deprived of a large portion of her territory -situated in the richest and most prosperous districts of the Republic. -It was in vain that the Liberian commissioners remonstrated; the French -were inflexible. The English Government had refused to deal with the -commissioners in regard to the British boundary difficulty until they -had come to some arrangement with France. In this unhappy condition of -affairs, the commissioners decided to consult the American Ambassador in -Paris; they asked that the United States should assist Liberia and -prevent her being robbed of so large a portion of her territory, and -should use her influence in bringing the French Government to submit the -whole matter in dispute to arbitration. Ambassador White replied that he -doubted whether the United States would aid Liberia in this crisis; he -advised President Barclay to accept the treaty, urging that, if he -failed to do so, the French would make further encroachments, and the -Republic would meet with greater losses. As the case seemed hopeless, -the commissioners accepted the treaty. It involved the delimitation of a -fixed boundary by an international commission. Liberia engaged two -Dutch officials as her commissioners. They were on hand ready to fix the -boundary in February, 1898, but were kept waiting until May by the -dilatoriness of the French commissioners; in order to have a permanent -boundary fixed, the Republic made great concessions and lost valuable -regions. It was willing, however, to sacrifice much for peace. - -Of course the sacrifice was without result. At the present time the -whole question of the Franco-Liberian boundary is again open, and from -the points urged by the French Government it is evident that it aims at -new acquisition of territory and new restriction of the power of the -little Republic. - - We stand at the threshold of a new era; new political theories are - being advanced; new interpretations are being given to the principles - of international law; larger fulfilments of national obligations are - being required of individual nations; new duties are being thrust upon - us. They cannot be shirked, we must keep pace with world requirements. - Regeneration and reform must be our watchword. The people must see - that they become so. The process must operate from within outwards, or - else influences from without will compass our ruin.--E. BARCLAY. - - -THE FRONTIER FORCE. - -When President Barclay was in London, the British Government demanded -that certain internal reforms should take place in the Republic before -it would discuss a final settlement of either the Mano River or -Kanre-Lahun difficulties. Shortly after the President’s return to -Monrovia, Mr. Braithwait Wallis, Consul-General of Great Britain to -Liberia, issued a memorandum on the subject--apparently under the fear -“lest we forget”. This memorandum, which bears the date of January 14, -1908, occupies four printed pages, and condenses into that brief space -an astonishing amount of venom and insolence. A few quotations will show -its spirit: - -“Your Excellency will remember then being informed that a critical -moment had arrived in the history of the Republic, that however it might -have been twenty or even ten years ago, the time had now gone by when -Liberia could re-enact the part of a hermit kingdom, and that she must -not lose a moment in setting herself seriously to work to put her house -in order, or be prepared at no distant date, to disappear from the -catalogue of independent countries. His Majesty’s Government, as Your -Excellency is aware, have absolutely no designs against either the -independence or the integrity of the Republic. Their only desire is that -a country which, on one of its frontiers, marches with an important -British Colony, and with which not only that Colony, but Great Britain -itself, has large and growing commercial relations, should have such a -stable or effective Government as will conduce to its own prosperity, -and remove any danger of its losing its independence. His Majesty’s -Government do not consider that the Government of the Republic is either -stable or effective. Improvement has indeed resulted from the -appointment of two Customs Officers, and the Customs revenue of the -country has largely developed. But it is also considered as absolutely -essential, if such improvement is to continue and to extend to other -branches of the Government, that the finances of the country be placed, -at any rate for the time being, in the hands of an European financial -expert, and that at least three more European Customs experts be -appointed. And further, no Government can be said to have a stable -basis, when it is without any means of enforcing its authority. His -Majesty’s Government, therefore, considers that it is essential that a -trustworthy police, under European officers, should be at once -established. With regard to the appointment of a financial expert, who -could advise and assist the Secretary of the Treasury, in the financial -affairs of the Country, Mr. Lamont has already been appointed Financial -Adviser to the Republic. He is, however, only so in name, but should now -be made so in actual fact. His Majesty’s Government further consider -that the Liberian judiciary ought to undergo drastic reform.” Mr. Wallis -recapitulates the reforms demanded in the following statement: (a) the -appointment of a financial expert, who will place the finances of the -country on a sound footing, and will advise the Secretary of the -Treasury on financial matters. (b) The establishment of an efficient, -well armed, and well disciplined police force under competent European -Officers; and one that will command the respect of the Powers. (c) The -appointment of at least three more European Customs experts. (d) The -reform of the judiciary. “If the Liberian Government carry out the -reforms herein indicated within SIX MONTHS, counted from the date of -Your Excellency’s return to Monrovia from England, His Majesty’s -Government will on their side be happy to assist in carrying them into -effect in the same way as they have recently been assisting in the work -of re-organizing the Liberian Customs. They will further be happy to -suspend pressing the monetary and other claims which they have against -Liberia, and will endeavor to come to a settlement, on a mutually -satisfactory basis, on the long outstanding question of the navigation -of the Mano River and the trouble on the Anglo-Liberian Frontier.” - -In other words, Great Britain was quite willing to assume the whole -running of Liberian affairs; she would be glad to manage her financial -matters, to train and handle her frontier force, to collect her customs -duties, and manage them, to interfere with, and control her government -completely. She hinted at what she might do if these reforms were not -carried into effect; she ended with a querulous complaint regarding -advantages which German shipping was said to be securing to the -disadvantage of British interests. This truly extraordinary document was -signed in the following highly dignified fashion: - - I have the honor to be, - with great truth and regard - Sir, - Your Excellency’s - most obedient, - humble servant, - BRAITHWAIT WALLIS, - HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S CONSUL. - -One of the cries of the present day internationalism is “effective -occupation”. It is only as a country demonstrates itself able to -protect its borders, and to maintain peace within its limits, that it is -admitted to justly hold its territory; there are some strange features -involved in the expression, but it has a just foundation and is at -present generally accepted. It is true, if Liberia is to be recognized -as an independent nation, she must guard her borders, must prevent her -people from troubling their neighbors, must protect life and property -within her area. There is a stipulation in the French treaty of 1907 in -regard to this matter; if Liberia cannot maintain a frontier force to -protect her boundary, the French claim the right to place their own -forces on Liberian territory for that purpose; the English, in their -demanded reforms, insist upon an adequate and well trained police force -upon the frontier; the demands are not unjust and must be met. In fact, -the frontier force is one of the urgent and crying needs of Liberia. - -While President Barclay was in London, he was approached by Capt. Mackay -Cadell, who had served in the South African War; Capt. Mackay Cadell -desired to be put in charge of the frontier force which it was believed -that Liberia would organize in response to the British demands; he was -not actually engaged by the President, but put in his appearance in -January, 1908, ready for business; his employment was opposed by many, -but finally, largely in order not to offend British susceptibilities, he -was engaged, given the rank of Major--some question has been raised as -to exactly _how_ he came to carry the title captain--and was authorized, -with the help of two British assistants, to organize the frontier force; -he was also given authority to employ ten or more sergeants and buglers -from Sierra Leone; it was naturally assumed that the force in general -would be composed of Liberian natives. Major Mackay Cadell promptly -began active work; barracks were erected upon the edge of Monrovia, and -soon 250 men were enrolled for service. Their uniforms, arms, and -ammunition were bought from Great Britain--so that the whole enterprise -was good for British trade; it is not clear, however, why the caps and -other articles were stamped with the crown and other emblems of His -British Majesty’s service. Matters were going nicely, but it began to be -suspected that a considerable number of the new soldiers were British -subjects, and it was asked whether some of them had not served upon the -Sierra Leone frontier force. These suspicions and doubts led finally to -a protest from the French Vice-Consul who claimed that the force being -organized was actually “a British army of occupation” which the Liberian -Government was permitting to be organized in Liberian territory; he -demanded that an equal number of French officers and of French subjects -be added to the force. The Liberian Government inquired of Major Mackay -Cadell with reference to the matter; he denied that there were any -British subjects on the force, and depending on his answer, the Liberian -Government denied the fact to the French official. Meantime, Major -Mackay Cadell was making himself variously useful to the Monrovia city -government; he undertook without compensation, the command of the city -police force as chief of police; in place of the loyal Kru police, he -put in Mende soldiers from the barracks; he also performed the functions -of street commissioner, tax collector, city treasurer, and other duties -until, finally, the citizens decided to dispense with his free services; -he declined, however, to resign, and presented a large bill as the -condition upon which he would deliver up the city property entrusted to -him. (We quote from Ellis.) On October 27th Major Mackay Cadell was -further questioned in regard to the composition of his force, and a -report was demanded; it was then found that at least 71 out of the -little army of 250 were actually British subjects; more than this, no -doubt many of the Mende at the post, who were classed as “Liberians”, -really came from the portion of that tribe residing on the other side of -the Sierra Leone boundary. While this report was rendered, Major Mackay -Cadell showed constant objection to supervision by the President of the -Republic and to any suggestion of control. The President and his -Cabinet, after meeting and discussing the matter, agreed upon the -dismissal of Major Mackay Cadell, but out of courtesy gave him the -opportunity of resigning his position. - -The French Vice-Consul continued to insist on his demands; understanding -that Capt. Wallis had given his consent to the appointment of French -officers and subjects, the President prepared to make such appointments. -Just at this juncture Capt. Wallis returned from an absence, and at his -own request, on November 13, had a meeting with the President and the -members of the Cabinet, at which he presented to them what purported to -be a communication from the British Government. Some mystery seems to be -associated with this document, but it is understood that its effect was -that, if Frenchmen were appointed to the direction of the frontier -force, and French subjects were enlisted in it, Great Britain would -unite with France to disrupt and divide the Republic. In December the -legislature demanded that the services of Major Mackay Cadell should be -dispensed with. He, however, hesitated to hand in his resignation. The -legislature ordered a complete re-organization of the frontier force -under a Liberian officer, with only two British subjects to be employed -in the whole organization--the two assistant officers whom Major Mackay -Cadell had employed. On February 1 the Major sent in his resignation. -Acting on order of Consul-General Wallis, he turned over the arms and -ammunition in his charge to the Elder Dempster Co., and announced the -fact to the Liberian Government; at the same time Consul-General Wallis -applied for an official guard to protect the property thus placed in -private British hands: the Secretary of State, F. E. R. Johnson, -expressed his surprise that a consul, without consultation with the -proper Liberian authorities, should order property belonging to Liberia -(although payment had not yet been made for it) to be turned over into -private hands, and refused to accept the responsibility of placing a -guard in charge. On February 11, 1909, Major Mackay Cadell sent a -remarkable message to President Barclay, informing him that the native -soldiers were in serious danger of mutiny on account of arrears in -payments; at the same time he sent messages to the two houses of the -legislature, requesting that the men be permitted to appear before them -and state their grievances; he said that, if some redress were not -given, the men could not be blamed for what might be done. Steps were at -once taken for public defense; fortunately some 400 of the militia were -in Monrovia for quarterly drill. After some seventy soldiers from the -barracks had appeared upon the public streets, parading, threatening and -menacing the seizure of the arms and ammunition, a force was sent to -demand the surrender of the camp; at the same time, notice of this was -sent to Consul-General Wallis. Major Mackay Cadell refused to surrender, -making conditions which would involve several days’ delay; his immediate -surrender, however, was demanded, and other militia forces were sent -for. Notice of this new demand was sent to Consul-General Wallis with -the request that he should order British subjects out of the camp; this -he did; Major Mackay Cadell decided to capitulate; the camp was -occupied. At a court of inquiry held to investigate the difficulty, the -British sergeants said that Major Mackay Cadell himself had instigated -the mutiny; that he had selected a certain number of men to insult the -President, to arrest him, and take him to camp. A curious fact in -connection with this whole extraordinary procedure is that, on the 4th -of February, one week before the President of the Republic was informed -of the danger of imminent mutiny, notice of it had been cabled to Great -Britain. It was perhaps by accident that a British gunboat was in the -harbor on the 10th, the day before the outbreak--the name of this -gunboat, by the way, quite appropriately was the _Mutin_. In closing the -account of this strange incident, quotations may be made from the -official report of the American Commission which visited Liberia shortly -afterwards: - -“But if Major Cadell got on very well with his troops, he got on very -badly with the Liberian people and the Liberian Government. He was a man -of indomitable energy, but guileless of tact. His actions on various -occasions affronted the Liberian officials. Through indifference to the -law, or by design, he enlisted a considerable number of British subjects -among the troops, about one-fourth of his men being natives of Sierra -Leone. When called to account for it, he at first denied and afterwards -admitted that some of the men might have been born in Sierra Leone, but -that he supposed them to be residents of Liberia, and therefore, -Liberians. Being called upon to dismiss the British subjects, he -neglected to do so. About the beginning of the present year he began to -complain that his men were not paid, and demanded further supplies from -the Government, though he was very dilatory in presenting accounts for -the money already entrusted to him. The dissatisfaction with Major -Cadell’s conduct in matters of the camp led to the passage of a law by -the Liberian Legislature in January, 1909, re-organizing the force and -dismissing its commander. The President, who had upheld Major Cadell, -offered him an opportunity to resign, but on one pretext or another, he -delayed doing so, and when he sent in his resignation, the Government -could not accept it until his accounts had been adjusted. He remained, -in the meantime, in charge of the command, and on February 11, 1909, -wrote a threatening letter to the President, in which he stated that, if -the demands of the troops for the payment of money due them were not met -within twenty-four hours, he could not be responsible for the -maintenance of peace or for the safety of the President. This remarkable -letter naturally created much excitement in Monrovia, but the situation -was handled with extreme adroitness by the Liberian Government which -demanded that Major Cadell withdraw the British subjects composing his -force, and that he turn over the camp to the Liberian authorities who -would deal with the Liberian subjects. This order was reluctantly obeyed -on the recommendation of the British Consul-General, and it was then -discovered that seventy-one of the enlisted men were British subjects. -Two or three weeks afterwards, after settling up his accounts, whereby -it was revealed that he had involved the Government in a considerable -unauthorized debt, he sailed for England and was soon followed by his -brother officers.” - -Again: - -“On February 4, the British in Monrovia cabled to the Foreign Office -that the lives of foreign residents in Liberia were in danger, and urged -that a gunboat be sent for their protection. . . . On February 10 the -British gunboat Mutin appeared and anchored off Monrovia. On February 11 -and 12 England precipitated the rupture of the Government. But for the -prompt and judicious action of the Liberian Executive, aided by the -American Minister Resident, the following would presently have been the -situation: A British gunboat in the harbor, a British officer in command -of the frontier force, and a large number of British subjects among the -enlisted men, a British official in charge of the Liberian customs, a -British officer in command of the Liberian gunboat _Lark_, a British -regiment in the streets of Monrovia.” - -The fine hand of Consul-General Wallis of course is evident throughout -these events. How seriously he was implicated is suggested in the -following passage from the report of the Commission: “It is most -unfortunate that the Commission has been unable to secure an account of -these events from the principal British actors in them. When we reached -Monrovia, Major Cadell had left Liberia. The British Consul-General was -away on leave of absence. We were the more disappointed in not meeting -the latter, as, before our departure, we had been shown in the State -Department at Washington a despatch of the Ambassador in London, stating -that the British Foreign Office there had instructed its representative -in Monrovia to give the American Commission the fullest information -about Liberian affairs. The acting Consul-General had no knowledge of -the facts, and covered his obvious embarrassment, when asked to explain -some of them, by the plea that he had no inside information.” - -It has been said that the British Government admits that Consul-General -Wallis went beyond his authority. It is, however, significant that he -was not reduced in position; he left Liberia, of course--his usefulness -there having more than ended; but he was transferred to Dakar, Senegal, -the finest consular post in all West Africa. - -As for Major Mackay Cadell, he now poses as Liberia’s real and great -friend; he has, however, changed his name, and is now known as Major R. -Mackay-Mackay. He is associated with the Cavalla River Co., Limited. -This appears to be a strange mixture of a commercial, educational, and -philanthropical character; always, however, primarily exploitative. -Before going to Liberia in connection with his duties with this company, -Major R. Mackay-Mackay traveled in the United States; arrived in -Liberia, he gives the impression that the State Department of the United -States is behind his enterprise, and that Booker T. Washington is deeply -interested in its success. He throws the responsibility for all the past -upon those “higher up”; it seems that personally he always loved Liberia -and was her friend. When he passed through Monrovia on his way down to -the Cavalla, he simply showered advice and benevolence along his path. -An interview with him was published in _The Guide_. He says: “Liberia -can not go on living on loans as in the past. Why should she be -dependent on gold from outside when she has a hundredfold within her own -borders, at the very door? Standing at the street corners, discussing -politics, or waiting for dollar-bills to grow and fall from the trees -around, will not advance the welfare of the Republic, nor attract the -genuine sympathy and co-operation from the outside world. Work! work! -work! that is what Liberia needs; and there are those who are prepared -to create the opportunity, provided all make up their minds to work as -they should. Is manual labor considered a disgrace in other countries? -Why should it be in Liberia?” - -Also: “I am here on a visit and to let Liberia know that she has more -friends than she counts on; and they will increase in proportion to her -efforts to help herself. I for my part will do all I can in my humble -way to preach ‘Liberia regenerated’ to all, and help where I can without -treading on ground other than within my rights as a visitor and friend.” -Most touching, however, is this: “Yes” (there are signs of awakening), -“since my return I see the most wonderful strides made in many -directions, and a keen desire in the citizens of the wider ideas to aid -in their country’s advancement. May it continue. In every season is some -victory won. Let us bury the past with all its errors, sadness, and -regrets.” - -It is sad indeed that humanity is not prone to bury the past; even such -expressions of affection may be received unkindly. What could be more -dreadful, when a man oozes philanthropy from every pore, than to have -such things said of him as the following which appeared about that time -in Green’s paper, _The African League_? - -“Major R. Mackay-Mackay, whose name stinks in the nostrils of all -country-loving Liberians, because of his conduct when in command of our -frontier force, is back in Liberia again, this time at the head of a -company whose procedure thus far has not inspired the strongest -confidence. More is known of this intimacy than the men themselves may -think. The last steamer brought intelligence that an agent of Major -Cadell’s company, the Cavalla River Co., Limited, is now in Sierra -Leone, with 630 natives of that colony who are to be brought to Cape -Palmas soon to serve this company. It is very strange that this company -finds it necessary to employ natives from the colony of Sierra Leone, -when in Liberia is the largest market for unskilled laborers in Western -Africa, supplying, as it does, most, if not all, of that class of labor -employed in the various enterprises in British, French, and German -African colonies. We hope this is no new coup.” - -The Frontier Force has continued in its development. The present plans -involve the organization of a battalion of 600 men under a major; each -of the two companies of 300 soldiers will be under a captain; and each -company will have three Liberian lieutenants; the three chief officers -will be Americans loaned to the Liberian Government by the United -States. The general duties of the force will be those of a constabulary -for the maintenance of law and order throughout the Republic and for the -prevention and the detection of crime; it will also be used as a customs -guard in such numbers and at such places as may be agreed upon by the -Secretary of War and the general receiver of customs. Its estimated cost -for the year 1913 was $86,159.60. The American officers arrived in the -Republic in the spring of 1912. They were Major Ballard and Captains -Brown and Newton. In entering upon their new duties of developing and -organizing the Frontier Force, they had the great advantage of the -advice and interest of Major Charles Young of the United States Army, -who was in Monrovia as military attaché of our legation. We had ample -opportunity of investigating this Frontier Force. It is composed for the -most part of natives fresh from the interior; two hundred of them passed -through our hands for examination and measurement; they were fine -fellows, well built and in good physical condition; few of them -understood English, and among them several languages were represented; -they were proud of their position and anxious to improve; they were -easily led, particularly by officers who treated them with kindness; we -saw two parties of these soldiers started off for service; they made a -good appearance. While we were there--as is true indeed much of the -time--their payments were behind, and they were expressing some -dissatisfaction, but were easily controlled; there is, however, always a -danger of mutiny when the Government is behind in meeting its -obligations to them; I quote from one who was in Monrovia October 10, -1911; he says: “I heard quite an altercation in the street. Upon going -out I saw about 120 men moving through the street in a disorderly mass -toward the office of the Secretary of War. Upon arriving at the office, -there was quite a demonstration and matters looked serious. After a -great deal of persuasion on the part of the Secretary and the one -officer from the camp, the men moved away in the direction of Camp -Johnson. I was informed that the men were demanding their pay.” There is -also great danger of the Frontier Force, when marching through the -interior, looting and destroying the fields and villages through which -they pass; this is so much in the nature of ordinary native warfare that -it must be particularly guarded against; the Frontier Force, however, is -necessary, and it seems to be making a promising development. - - Compare, you say, the present with the past. Where are the schooners - and cutters that were used to be built right here in Liberia, when - nearly every responsible man had his own? Where are the tons of sugar - that used to be shipped to foreign parts by our fathers, and the - barrels of molasses, and the tons of camwood? Where are the financial - men of the country that looked upon the holding of public offices - almost beneath them, who had to be begged to fill the offices? Where - are those who when they (had) made their farms lived off the farms? - Oh, where are the honest, upright and loyal government officials of - 1847? You answer for yourselves. Where are the great Liberian - merchants of Monrovia, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, and Cape Palmas? Gone!--S. - D. FERGUSON, JR. - - -TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSPORTATION. - -Liberia’s very existence depends upon her development of trade. If the -Liberians push forward in this direction, her future may be assured. If, -however, she neglects it, her neighbors, France and England, can not be -expected to permit their opportunity to pass. The area of the Black -Republic is far too rich by nature to be overlooked; if its legitimate -owners fail to develop it, others will do so. - -The past of Liberia was built on trade in wild produce; its immediate -prosperity must depend upon the same source of wealth. For the moment -the trade of Liberia must be in such things as palm nuts, piassava, and -rubber. - -The oil palm has been the most important source of wealth Liberia has. -The tree produces great quantities of nuts, growing in large clusters, -from which an oil is easily extracted, which finds enormous use in soap- -and candle-making. This oil is derived from the stringy, fleshy coating -of the nut; the nuts are thrown into pits dug in the ground, where they -are allowed to ferment for some time; the mass of fermented nuts is -then squeezed in a sort of press run by hand, and the oil is extracted. -This is the primitive, native style of production. The oil may also be -produced by boiling and pounding the nuts and then stone-boiling the -mass in wooden troughs, the oil being skimmed off from the surface of -the water. In Liberia palm oil is chiefly produced in the counties of -Bassa and Sinoe. Liberian oil is not the best quality on the market, as -carelessness in preparation leaves considerable dirt and impurities in -it; it has, however, brought good prices--up to £24.10.0 a ton. Inside -the palm nut is a hard kernel which remains after the oil has been -extracted; this kernel at first was wasted; to-day it is known to yield -a finer oil than the pulp; the idea of exporting palm nut kernels -originated with a Liberian, and the first shipment was made in 1850; -to-day there is a large demand for palm kernels which sell at prices -ranging from $60 to $68 per ton, the oil derived from them selling at -$130 to $133 per ton. - -Second, certainly, in importance, among the raw products exported from -Liberia is piassava; it is the fiber of a palm--_raphia vinifera_. Large -use is made of this extremely resistant fiber for brooms and brushes for -street sweeping and the like; its use, too, was suggested by a Liberian -in 1889; it was first exported in 1890 and for a time brought the -astonishingly high price of from $300 to $350 per ton; as the fiber was -easy to prepare and the trees were plentiful, a rapid development took -place; Liberia was for a long time the only source of supply; -carelessness ensued in the preparation of the fiber, the demand lessened -and the price dropped; it went down to £10 per ton; at present the price -is somewhat better and is stationary at £20. Sir Harry Johnston, from -whom these details are borrowed, says that it is difficult to judge the -quality of raphia, that it shrinks in weight, and that trade in it is -somewhat speculative and uncertain; still, piassava fiber occupies an -important position in the Liberian trade to-day. - -Africa appears to be the continent which presents the greatest number of -rubber-yielding plants; in Liberia the precious exudation is obtained -from some sixteen different kinds of trees and vines, varying as to the -quality and character of rubber yielded. The rubber of Liberia is not -considered of the highest class, but it is of good grade; the natives of -the interior are skilled in its collection; there is no doubt that great -quantities of wild rubber are still to be obtained within the limits of -the Republic and experiments in rubber-planting have already been made -with promise. - -Sir Harry Johnston gives a long list of other natural products which -have been exported from Liberia at one time or another in varying -quantities. There was a time when camwood found a ready market and -formed perhaps the most important element in Liberian trade--of course -with the invention of other dye-stuffs, the use of camwood, annatto, -etc., has practically ceased; the name “Grain Coast” or “Pepper Coast” -was long given to this country on account of the malagueta pepper which -was exported in great quantities--this, too, has ceased to be a product -of practical importance; kola nuts are to some degree exported from -Liberia, and with the ever-increasing use of the kola in America and -European countries, trade along this line should develop; ivory has -always been among the export products of Liberia, though it has never -had great significance; vegetable ivory nuts are produced here and to -some extent form an article of trade--the demand for them in -button-making is large and increasing, and exportation of them may -reasonably be developed; hides and oil-yielding seeds complete the list -of actual native export products. Sir Harry Johnston calls attention to -the fact that the country is rich in ebony, mahogany, and other fine -woods, in copal and other gums, in ground nuts, fruits, and minerals; -these, however, have never been actual materials for export; all are -valuable, however, and trade in them might be developed. - -All of these raw products of natural production are valuable, but that -they shall form an element in trade depends upon the natives. These -things all come from the forests of the interior; if they are to be -traded to the outside world, they must be collected and transported by -the people within whose territory they are found; this dependence is an -uncertain thing. The natives have few needs; in their little towns they -take life easily; they have no sentimental interest in the development -of trade as such nor in the upbuilding of the country; they care -comparatively little for the returns of trade; they will work when -necessary, but only as they please; when they need some money for buying -wives, they will prepare some piassava fiber or dig a pit, ferment some -nuts, and squeeze some oil. When they have enough for the immediate and -pressing necessity, work stops, and with it the supply of oil or fiber -or whatever they may have seen fit to produce. More than this, the -native is little concerned about the quality of his production. So long -as he can sell it and raise the resources that he needs, he does not -care whether the oil is clean, whether the piassava fiber is of good -quality, or whether the rubber contains dirt and stones. Impurity, -however, of products is a very serious matter to the outside world; a -district which neglects quality loses trade. Liberian oil, fiber, -rubber, all are at a disadvantage at present through the carelessness of -the producers. - -It must, then, be the policy of the Liberian Government to encourage, by -every legitimate means within its power, the increase of the production -of the natural resources. Nor is the simple question of production the -whole difficulty. Transportation is quite as important. The product, no -matter how good or how precious, has no value as long as it remains in -the bush. There are different methods of dealing with this matter of -getting the natural products down to the coast settlements. The -simplest and most natural is to let the native bring it out--but the -natives are as little inclined to travel and carry as they are to -produce; they will fetch down their product when they feel inclined--but -the demand from without is constant. Liberians may go into the bush to -bring out the products; there are always little traders who divide their -time between the settlements and the interior; they travel in, sit down -for several days at native towns, trade with the natives for whatever -stuff they have on hand, then have it carried out; such traders are -usually independent men of small means who are trading on their own -account. It is not uncommon for the large trading-houses to hire -agents,--Liberians or natives,--and send them into the interior to buy -up and bring down products. Another method--which, in the long run, will -prove no doubt the most satisfactory,--is to establish here and there in -the interior permanent trading stations, supplied with a fair stock of -goods, to be traded with the natives against their raw products--trading -stations of this kind are already established by the Monrovia Rubber -Company and by various of the great trading-houses. - -In some way or other the Government should adopt a method of encouraging -the natives of the interior to gather, to properly prepare, and to bring -in raw produce; a definite scheme of practical education and -encouragement must be devised. - -While raw products offered by nature have been and are the chief element -in Liberian trade, another element is immediate, and will ultimately be -the chief dependence of the nation. Agriculture, though far from being -in a satisfactory condition, has always contributed material for export. -The country can not forever count upon a supply of raw products. -Gradually the value of the forests will become secondary to that of -produce of the fields. There is no reason why the Liberian coffee should -not be fully re-established in the foreign market. The tree seems to be -a native of the country; Ashmun reported that it was found everywhere -near the seacoast and to an unknown distance back from there. Under -natural conditions, the tree grew often to a height of thirty feet and a -girth of fifteen inches. Coffee berries from wild trees were brought in -by hundreds of bushels to the early settlers by the natives. Plantations -were soon established, and many of them met with great success; in fact, -coffee was once the principal export of the Republic; it was mainly -shipped from Monrovia and Cape Mount; the more important plantations -were located along the St. Paul’s River. Liberian coffee was much -appreciated in the European market; at its period of greatest vogue it -used to bring twenty-five cents a pound; the price has now fallen so low -as eight or nine cents a pound. This decline is due, in part, of course, -to the enormous development of the Brazilian coffee trade; it is, -however, largely due to the carelessness of the Liberian planters, who -had only primitive machinery for its preparation and who neglected -proper care, with the result that the coffee berries reached the market -broken and impaired. It is a delicious coffee, of full flavor, and -improves with age. Sir Harry Johnston claims that about 1,500,000 pounds -are annually produced, and reports that the output is increasing -slightly. At the Muhlenberg Mission School, coffee is cultivated; care -is taken in its preparation, and the price is rising; if the Liberians -will give serious attention to the matter, there is no question that the -old importance of the culture may be restored. It will require improved -methods of cultivation, the use of better machinery, greater care in the -preparation of the berry, and constant attention to proper packing and -handling. - -Discouraged at the fall in price of coffee, some Liberian planters -introduced the culture of cacao, from which our chocolate and cocoa are -derived; this culture has long been successful in some of the Spanish -possessions of West Africa; in Liberia the plant grows well, and the -cacao seems to be of superior quality; it is said that a good price for -it may be received in Liverpool. This culture must be considered as only -in its infancy, but there appears to be no reason why it should not -become of great importance. - -The rubber so far sent out from Liberia has been wild rubber; it would -seem that a wise policy in national development would be to encourage -the establishment of plantations of rubber trees or vines. One such -plantation has already been established by an English company, who hoped -to gather the first harvest of latex in 1912; one would suppose that the -best tree for planting would be the _funtumia_ which is native to the -country and a good yielder; it is chiefly this plant which is being set -out by the Belgians in the Congo colony; the English company in Liberia, -however, claims that their experiments with _funtumia_ were not -encouraging, and the species actually planted is the _hevea_--the one -which yields the famous Para rubber. While coffee, cacao, and rubber -will no doubt be the earliest important plantations to be developed in -the country, other products should not be neglected. Ginger has already -been well tested in the Republic--there have been times when it was -quite an important article of export; sugar-cane grows well, and from -the earliest days plantations of it have yielded something for local -consumption--if capital were available, there seems no reason why -profitable plantations of cane might not be made; cassava has always -been to some degree an article of export in the past,--it is of course -the main food product of the natives--it is the source of tapioca and -other food materials abundantly in use among ourselves. Liberia at -present imports rice from abroad, yet rice of excellent quality is -easily cultivated in the Republic and forms a staple food in native -towns--effort to increase its local production would be good economy -from every point of view; fruits of many kinds--both native and -imported--grow to perfection in Liberia; experiments have been made, -without particular results, in cotton raising--there are species of wild -cotton in the country and experiments with both wild and foreign grades -would determine to what degree culture of this useful fiber might be -profitably carried on. This list of cultivated vegetable products might -be enormously extended; we are only interested here in indicating those -plants which would be important as trade products if their cultivation -were seriously undertaken. In the matter of fruits, we may add a word; -here is the suggestion of a beginning of manufacturing interests in the -country; some of these fruits are capable of profitable canning or -preservation, others might be dried, while still others yield materials -which could be utilized outside; it would seem as if the natural -beginning of manufacturing interests in the Republic would be in the -establishment of factories to deal with these fruits and various derived -vegetable materials. - -It is to be anticipated that there will be a development in mining in -Liberia; it is not an unmixed blessing to a country to possess mineral -wealth; it may be disadvantageous to a little country, of relative -political insignificance and actually weak, to possess great wealth of -this sort. But there are certainly deposits of gold and diamonds in the -Republic; these will in time be known, and their development will be -undertaken. When that time comes, ores and other mineral products will -form an element in national trade. - -Closely associated with the matter of production is the question of -transportation. It is one of the most serious that faces Liberia. - -If produce can not be taken to the coast, it is of no value in the -development of trade. There are practically no roads in Liberia to-day. -As in the Dark Continent generally, narrow foot-trails go from town to -town. The travel over them is always in single file, the path is but a -few inches wide and has been sharply worn into the soil to a depth of -several inches by the passage of many human feet. As long as -transportation is entirely by human carriers, such trails are -serviceable, provided they be kept open. A neglected trail, however, is -soon overgrown and becomes extremely difficult to pass; that a trail -should be good, it is necessary that the brushwood and other growth be -cut out at fairly frequent intervals. Often, however, the chief of a -given village does not care to remain in communication with his -neighbors and intentionally permits the trail to fall into disuse. There -is a feeling too, surviving from old customs, that trails are only -passable with the permission and consent of the chiefs of the towns -through which they run; chiefs have always exercised the right of -closing trails whenever it pleased them; they have expected presents -(“dashes”) for the privilege of passing. If now, large trade is to be -developed in the matter of native produce, it is absolutely necessary -that the trails be kept in good condition and that free passage over -them be granted to all. Much of the energy of the Government must of -necessity be directed toward these ends. At the best, however, there is -a limit to the distance over which produce can be profitably transported -on human backs; there must be very large inherent value in such produce -to warrant its being carried more than a three days’ journey by human -carriers. It is not only the labor involved in the transportation, but -the loss of time which renders this problem important. The richest -resources lie at a great distance in the interior; even with good trails -it is impossible to utilize them. - -In time, of course, the foot-trails must be developed into actual roads; -some other mode of transportation must be devised than that of the human -beast of burden. Horses have never prospered in the neighborhood of -Monrovia; yet there are plenty of them raised and, it is said, of good -quality, among the Mandingo. Serious efforts should be made to introduce -their use as beasts of draft and burden; if, as is likely, these -experiments should come to naught, attempts should be made to use oxen -for hauling produce to the market. Improved trails and roads are of the -highest importance to the Republic for several reasons. (a) For -intercourse: only by means of them can ready and constant intercourse be -developed between the different elements of population; no great -development of trade, no significant advance, can be made without -constant intercourse; it must be easy for the Government to reach and -deal with the remotest natives of the far interior; it is equally -important that peoples of neighboring towns have more frequent and -intimate contact with each other; it is necessary that the members of -different tribes come to know other tribes by daily contact. (b) For -transportation; there is no reason why even the existing trails should -not be covered with caravans carrying produce to the coast. (c) For -protection; at present the movement of the Frontier Force from place to -place is a matter of the highest difficulty; if trouble on the border -necessitates the sending of an armed force, weeks must elapse before the -enterprise can be accomplished; until the present unsatisfactory -condition of trails be done away with, Liberia is in no position to -protect her frontiers. - -The construction by the English of the Sierra Leone Railroad running -from the port of Freetown across the colony through the interior to the -very border of Liberia, was a master stroke of policy; it not only -developed the resources of the British area through which it passed and -carried British products to the sea, but it tapped the richest part of -the Liberian territory; formerly the production of that wealthy and well -populated area found its way to Cape Mount and Monrovia; now it all goes -out through a British port, in British hands. No single work would -better repay an outlay by the Liberian Government than a good road -running from Monrovia up the St. Paul’s River, out to Boporo, and on -through the country of the Mandingo to the region where this British -road ends. Such a road would bring back into Liberia her part of a -trade which has always been legitimately her own. The idea would be to -construct upon such a road-bed a light railroad; such an enterprise -would very probably soon be upon a paying basis. - -With the exception of one or two short stretches built by foreign -companies for their own uses, there are neither roads nor railroads at -the present time in the Republic. In 1912 the legislature granted a -concession to the Cavalla River Company to make roads along the Cavalla -River, to negotiate with the inhabitants of those parts for the -development of the rice industry, etc. At the same session the right was -granted to Wichers and Helm to negotiate a railroad scheme for the -construction of a light railway from White Plains to Careysburg, and -from Millsburg to Boporo, the right was also granted to construct a -railroad from Harper to Dimalu in Maryland County. It is to be hoped -that these three enterprises may all develop; they would mean much for -the progress of the country. - -We have spoken of the exports of Liberia; the imports consist chiefly of -cotton goods, hardware, tobacco, silks, crockery, guns, gun-powder, -rice, stock-fish, herrings, and salt. Most of these items are the -staples which for centuries have maintained the trade of Western Africa. -The total value of this import trade is estimated by Sir Harry Johnston -at about $1,000,000 annually. It is curious that rice should need to be -imported; 150,000 bags, equal to 700 tons are brought in every year; -this rice is used entirely by the civilized Liberians; certainly they -should be raising their own rice or buying it from natives. That salt -should be introduced into a coast district where salt, by evaporation -from seawater might be easily produced, is less strange than would -appear at first sight; the salt from Europe is, on the whole, better in -quality and is more cheaply produced than the local article of Liberia. -The stock-fish is brought from Norway and is especially in demand among -the Kru. Intoxicating drinks do not occur in the list above quoted; Sir -Harry Johnston says that gin and rum are introduced, but that there is -not much drunkenness among the people. Measures are taken to prevent the -introduction of gin among the natives, but a great deal must be -surreptitiously introduced among them; when we were in the Bassa -country, our interpreter’s constant regret was that we had not loaded up -with a large supply of gin which, he assured us, would accomplish much -more with the chiefs of the interior towns than any other form of -trade-stuff. The bulk of the cotton goods taken into Liberia is intended -for trade with the interior natives; the patterns brought vary but -little and are extremely old-fashioned--taste having been long ago -established and the natives being conservative in such things. - -As to the actual volume of trade and its movement, some words are -necessary. Recent figures are supplied in a little table issued by the -Republic in a small pamphlet entitled _Some Trade Facts_; it covers the -period extending from 1905 to 1912. As will be seen, during that period -of time, the customs revenue of the Republic more than doubled. Part of -this favorable result undoubtedly was due to the fact that the -administration of the customs service was for that time largely in the -hands of a British Chief Inspector of Customs. There is no reason why -this encouraging movement of trade should not continue. There is wealth -enough in Liberia, if it can only be properly developed. The resources -are enormous; the difficulties have been in handling them. The Republic -has usually been in financial difficulties; it has been hard work to -make ends meet; but there is no question that with good management and -legitimate encouragement the national income may be more than necessary -to meet all obligations, to pursue conservative policies of development, -and to attract favorable assistance from the outside world. - -STATEMENT OF CUSTOMS REVENUE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA FOR YEARS -1905-1912 - -(1st April-31st March) - - Port 1905-6 1906-7 1907-8 1908-9 - Monrovia $114,098 $129,077 $128,030 - Cape Mount, etc. 38,128 31,901 19,327 - Marshall 11,195 18,412 16,666 - Grand Bassa, etc. 103,494 112,168 105,273 - Sinoe, etc. 30,228 32,784 27,172 - Cape Palmas, etc. 30,603 41,413 48,314 - Kabawana, etc. 166 3,483 1,808 - Rubber Duties collected - in London 7,443 8,614 - -------- -------- -------- -------- - Total $230,580 $327,913 $376,684 $355,208 - - Port 1909-10 1910-11 1911-12 - Monrovia $117,524 $135,916 $144,292 - Cape Mount, etc. 25,907 27,809 36,125 - Marshall 8,211 12,761 23,579 - Grand Bassa, etc. 109,876 118,782 140,457 - Sinoe, etc. 33,960 28,208 31,784 - Cape Palmas, etc. 66,018 78,028 86,615 - Kabawana, etc. 206 1,238 3,841 - Rubber Duties collected - in London 8,725 4,655 4,637 - -------- -------- -------- - Total $370,431 $407,400 $471,335 - -It is interesting to notice with whom Liberia’s trade is carried on. -Britain of course has always led; Germany comes second, Holland third, -and other nations follow. Sir Harry Johnston says that in 1904 the total -value of British trade with Liberia was £112,779, while the total trade -of the British Empire with the Republic was £132,000; the £20,000 -difference represent trade with Sierra Leone and the Gold Coast chiefly. -On the whole it would seem that Germany is crowding Britain and bids -fair to lead. A little table will show this clearly; the first statement -shows the amount of British imports, exports, and entire trade for the -years 1904, 1908, and 1909 in pounds sterling; a second statement shows -the corresponding items for German trade for the years 1908 and 1909 in -marks; a third statement changes the totals figures to dollars at the -rate of five dollars to the pound and four marks to a dollar, which of -course is only approximate. It shows, however, that Germany is actually -crowding her longer established rival. - -(a) BRITISH TRADE WITH LIBERIA (Soler) - - Imports Exports Total - 1904 £60,350 £62,710 £123,060 - 1908 74,348 75,137 149,485 - 1909 69,511 63,500 133,011 - -(b) GERMAN TRADE WITH LIBERIA (Soler) - - Imports Exports Total - 1908 1,177,000 mks. 1,856,000 mks. 3,033,000 mks. - 1909 1,095,000 mks. 2,282,000 mks. 3,377,000 mks. - -(c) ENGLISH AND GERMAN TRADE (1908-1909) - - 1908 1909 - English $747,425 $665,055 - German 758,250 844,250 - - The Liberian nation is to be made up of the Negro civilized to some - extent in the United States and repatriated, and of the aboriginal - tribes. At present it is composed of a small number of civilized and a - large number of aboriginal communities in varying degrees of - dependence. The problem is how to blend these into a national - organism, an organic unity.--A. BARCLAY. - - -THE NATIVE. - -Jore, in his valuable study of Liberia, discusses the question of the -actual number of natives in Liberia as follows: “Messrs. Johnston and -Delafosse have estimated the number of natives of Liberia at 2,000,000 -persons. This figure would appear to-day to be above the actual. In -fact, from serious studies which have been made in French West Africa, -it results that a density of population superior to twelve inhabitants -to the square kilometer, has been found only in Lower Dahomey, -Ovagadougou, in Upper Senegal and Niger, in Lower Senegal, and in a very -restricted part of Middle Guinea. Generally the density remains inferior -to five inhabitants to the square kilometer. But there is no reason to -believe that Liberia is, in its entirety, more populous than our own -possessions in West Africa. In taking the density at the figure 8, one -runs the chance of still finding himself above the reality. Liberia, -having to-day 80,000 square kilometers, its population ought scarcely to -surpass 600,000 or 700,000 inhabitants. In any case, it certainly does -not go beyond 1,000,000 persons.” This estimate seems to us far more -reasonable than any other that has been made. Even thus reduced, the -native population overwhelmingly outnumbers the Americo-Liberian. More -than that, they are at home and acclimated; they enjoy good health and -presumably are rapidly increasing. We have indeed no means of actually -knowing such to be the fact. But the impression gained from observation -is that, while the Americo-Liberians barely hold their own, the Kru, the -Mohammedans, and the natives of the interior are flourishing. Even in -crowded and unsanitary towns, like those which occur upon the borders of -Liberian settlements, the Kru appear to be increasing. Krutown, at -Monrovia, suffers from frightful mortality, but those who live are -vigorous, hardy, and energetic. The houses are crowded close together, -but there are no empty houses falling into ruins and no shrinkage in the -area occupied. The schools (that is, the mission schools of the -Methodists) are crowded with children; the Kru mission chapel -(Protestant Episcopal) is maintained with an energy and interest which -could be found only among a people who were looking out upon life with -the hope and vigor which comes from physical prosperity. So far as the -natives of the interior are concerned, they show every sign of increase. -There are of course abandoned towns and villages in plenty, but the -towns now occupied are filled with people, and children swarm. - -But there are natives and natives. The different natives form distinct -problems--it is not just one simple proposition. The Mandingo and Vai -are Mohammedan populations; they are independent, proud, aggressive; -they are industrious, and their industries render them to a large degree -independent of all neighbors. Their towns and villages are large, -prosperous, and relatively wealthy. Few visitors have ever penetrated -into their country; it is practically unknown to the Liberians. Yet it -is in the highest degree important that the Liberians should know them -thoroughly, should come into close and intimate contact with them, -should co-operate with them in the development and advancement of the -country. In their towns and villages boys are taught Arabic and read the -Koran; it is true--as in so much religious teaching elsewhere--that they -often learn only to repeat the words of the sacred texts without any -knowledge of their actual meaning--many, however, read with -understanding. It is an interesting fact that the Vai have a system of -writing which has been invented by themselves; it is widely known among -them and they are fond of writing letters and making records in their -own script. Momulu Massaquoi, whose name is well known in this country -and in England, is a Vai; he governed a considerable section of his -people as chief through a period of years; he has now for some time been -located at Monrovia, where he ably fills the position of chief clerk in -the Department of the Interior; he is useful to the Government as an -intermediary between it and the Mohammedans of the Republic; although -himself a Christian, both Mandingo and Vai have more confidence in him -than they could possibly repose in a stranger to their customs and -languages. There are various ways in which the Government might proceed -to develop friendly relations with these people. They should encourage -village schools--both religious and secular; in the religious schools, -which should be uncontrolled, the Koran and Arabic would continue to be -the chief subjects taught; in the other schools there should be the -usual subjects taught in the public schools of the Americo-Liberians; -these will best be taught through the Vai language, and charts and -text-books should be printed in the native characters. Mr. Massaquoi has -already undertaken to prepare such text-books. Trade with these peoples -should be encouraged; and developed as rapidly as possible. No -opportunity should be lost to impress upon them that their interests and -those of the Liberians are one, and every effort should be made to gain -co-operation. These peoples occupy that portion of the Republic which is -most in danger of aggression by the British; surely the natural impulse -is for these black peoples, though they be Mohammedans, to unite in -common progress with other blacks rather than with any whites. If -religion is actually a barrier against friendship and co-operation, it -would be as strong against friendship with the British Christians as -against Liberian Christians. There is no question, however, that if the -Government of the Republic will deal justly, amicably, and wisely with -these tribes, they will heartily respond. - -The Kru and related peoples of the coast form a completely different -proposition. They are full of force and vigor; Sir Harry Johnston and -others call them “cheeky”; they are actually awake. They are ready for -progress; they want education; they have for centuries been in contact -with white men and know their strength and weakness; they are strong, -intelligent, industrious, and want work. They have no dainty fears -regarding labor, so that it be paid--but pay they want, and justly. At -the present they form the strongest immediate hope in the Liberian -population. We have said that they want education; as a matter of fact, -they flock into the schools. When Bishop Ferguson was at Cape Palmas, in -1912, four promising-looking native boys walked from Pickaninny Cess, -fifty miles to Cape Palmas. They told him they had heard of the big -school (Epiphany Hall) and desired to attend; that another of their -comrades was coming the following week. The Bishop says: “They are just -the age when the inducement to go down the coast to earn money is -strong; in fact they had already made several trips; but instead of -going again, they had decided ‘to learn book’. I did not have the heart -to turn such applicants off, and so wrote to the Principal to admit them -under special arrangement.” When in Monrovia, I several times visited -the College of West Africa. It is over-crowded and ministers to both -Americo-Liberian and native boys. On one occasion I seated myself in the -midst of the class in fourth grade arithmetic. The recitation was well -conducted and well given. While black-board work was occupying the -general attention, I remarked to a boy at my side, “But you are a native -boy.” “Yes,” he said, “I am Kru--and so is _that_ boy, and _that_ one, -and _that_ one.” As a matter of fact, I was practically surrounded by -them. “Well,” said I, “and how do you native boys get on? Do you do -well?” “Yes, sir,” was the immediate response, “we do well; we do better -than _they_ do.” It was not necessary for me to ask who he meant by -“they.” I answered, “It would sound better if some one else said so.” He -replied, “That may be so; but it is true.” “How does that happen?” I -asked. His reply deserves attention: “We love our country more than they -do, sir.” I am not prepared to assert that they love their country more -than the Americo-Liberians; it is true, however, that they are -passionately fond of their native land. The first time that my personal -attention was turned to the black Republic was in 1905 when a Kru boy -upon our steamer bound to Congo told me with evident affection of his -dear, his native land, and pointed out to me the distant green shore of -the villages where his people were located. And whether they love their -country more than the Americo-Liberians or no, they are more aggressive, -more ambitious, more willing to work that they may achieve their ends. -These Kru boys on their way to and from school often, after my visit to -the College, dropped in to see me. There is the fixed intention among -many of them to visit the United States and complete their studies in -our schools. One of these boys informed me that five of them some months -ago had entered into an agreement in some way or other to reach our -country. All of them have made journeys on steamers along the coast; -some of them have been to Europe; all of them can easily reach Hamburg -and have money in their pockets; the anxious question with them all is -how to go from Hamburg to New York--and whether they will be admitted in -the port--and whether they can form connections after they are in our -country. There is no foolishness in all these plans; they have thought -them out in detail: they will come. - -Then there are the pagan tribes of the interior. They are a more -serious proposition for the Liberian than the Mohammedans and Kru. They -are still “bush niggers”; they live in little towns under the control of -petty chiefs; most of them speak only a native language; there is no -unity among them; not only are there jealousies between the tribes, but -there are suspicions between the villages of one tribe and speech; they -live in native houses, wear little clothing, have simple needs; they are -ununited and know nothing of the outside world--they know little of -France or England, have rarely seen a white man, scarcely know what the -Liberian Government means or wants; they are satisfied and only wish to -be left alone; they do not need to work steadily--life is easy, they -raise sufficient rice and sweet-potatoes and corn and cassava to feed -themselves; if they wish to cover their nakedness, they can weave cloth -for their own use; there is little which they need from other peoples. -Few know anything either of the teachings of the Prophet or -Christianity; they practice fetish--“devil-worship”--have their bush -schools for the instruction of their boys and girls in the mysteries of -life and of religion. They are polygamists, the number of whose wives -depends wholly upon the ability to accumulate sufficient wealth with -which to purchase them. Among them domestic slavery--which, by the way, -is not a matter which need particularly call for reprehension--is -common; some of the tribes no doubt still practice cannibalism; it is -these tribes in the interior upon which Liberia depends almost -completely for the development of wealth; if Liberia shall flourish, it -is necessary that these peoples shall produce and deliver the raw -materials for shipment to the outside world; it is these peoples who -must supply palm nuts, palm kernels, palm oil, piassava fiber, ivory, -rubber, gums; it is these peoples who must keep the trails open, and -develop them into roads; it is they who must permit the easy passage of -soldiers and Government representatives through their territories; it -is they who must supply the soldiers for the Frontier Force. - -It is clear, then, that the “natives” present no simple problem. There -are many questions to be considered in laying out a native policy. The -matter has by no means been neglected by Liberian rulers; one or another -of them has grappled with it. Of President Barclay’s native policy -Gerard says: “Among many other subjects of preoccupation, Barclay -attaches an entirely particular importance to the native policy. At the -beginning of his administration, he brought together a great number of -native chiefs, notably of the Gola, Kondo, and Pessy tribes; he convoked -likewise a crowd of Kru and Grebo notabilities; he sent special missions -along the Cavalla River up to two hundred kilometers from its mouth, and -others up the St. Paul’s. This innovation was so much the more -appreciated by the natives, and aided so much more powerfully toward the -development of mercantile relations of the coast district with the -interior, because theretofore the repatriated negroes had been -considered by their subjugated congeners only as unjust conquerors and -pillagers, or as merchants who were equally tricky and dishonest.” - -President Howard also realizes the importance of conciliating the native -populations; he designs to carry out an active policy; in his inaugural -address he says: “We are aware of the oft-repeated charges of ill -treatment toward this portion of our citizenship, made by foreigners -against the officers of the Government, also of the fact that some of -our people feel that these uncivilized citizens have but few rights -which should be respected or accorded to them. But the responsible -citizens recognize that in order for us to obtain that position of -independence, power, and wealth, which we should obtain, it must be -accomplished by the united efforts of all citizens, civilized and -uncivilized, male and female. The denial of equal rights to the -‘natives’ has never been the intention or purpose of the Government. We -will not disallow that much wrong has been done to that portion of our -citizen body, but it is equally true that much of the deception and -misunderstanding of the past have been due to machinations and -subterfuges of some unscrupulous aliens, among whom had been some -missionaries who have done all in their power to make and widen the -breach between the two elements of our citizenship. We are very -optimistic, however, in our belief that the dangers of such -exploitations and false pretensions of friendships are drawing to a -close.” - -Again he says: “Much of our interior trouble of the past has been the -result of a lack of proper understanding between ourselves and our -fellow-citizens of that section of the land. Another source of trouble -has been the actions of unqualified men sent among these people to -represent the Government. We believe that great good will accrue to the -State by holding frequent conferences with these chiefs and head men, -and by responsible representatives of the Government, explaining to them -its policy, the benefits to be derived by them in co-operating to build -up the country, as well as the evils of the inter-tribal wars which they -have been waging with each other for years.” - -Exactly how to unite the chiefs with the Government is a serious -question; to seriously weaken their authority among their own people -would lead to chaos; to lead them to recognize the supremacy of the -Government and yet not arouse their hostility by the abrogation of their -own powers is a delicate task. Yet it must be done. Of one of the -notable features of this inaugural President Howard himself says the -following: “The very large concourse of chiefs and head men from the -interior of all the counties, as well as from the Kru coast and most of -the Grebo towns in Maryland, who are up to take part in the inaugural -exercises, is to me one of the most pleasing features of the occasion. -Their presence here testifies to their loyalty to the State and their -willingness to co-operate with the Government in matters pertaining to -the welfare of the country. Moreover it betokens the kindly feelings -they and their people entertain toward the outgoing, and their well -wishes for the incoming administration.” - -No less difficult than the question of how to adjust the power of the -Government with the power of the chiefs is the problem of how to adjust -Liberian law and practice to native law and practice. According to their -constitution, Liberia must forever be without slavery. Still domestic -slavery flourishes in the interior. We have already indicated our -opinion that it is not a serious matter and that it may quite well be -left to regulate itself with time; still there is bound to be an outcry -on the part of outsiders in this matter. Liberia as a civilized and -Christian nation is legally monogamous; yet both among Mohammedans, Kru -and pagan interior tribes polygamy is common. Is it wise, is it possible -to extend the monogamous law of the Republic to the polygamous natives? -Cannibalism no doubt still exists among certain of the interior tribes; -if so, it will be long before the strong arm of the Government located -upon the coast can reach the practice. Among all these native tribes -there are methods of procedure and ordeals which have their value and -their place. Thus the sassy-wood ordeal is used not only in dealing with -witchcraft, but with a thousand other difficulties and misdemeanors; -personally I should consider it unwise to attempt to do away with such -native methods of control; they work more certainly than the legal -procedure of the civilized government can work. A wise policy will -probably lead to the gradual disappearance of these things with a -general advance in education and with a greater contact with the outside -world. There is always, however, the danger of these native practices -extending their influence upon the Christian populations in the outside -settlements. If the bush negro is polygamous, and the Americo-Liberian -is in constant contact with his polygamy, the legal monogamy of the -Government may become more difficult to maintain; if the sassy-wood -ordeal is repeatedly seen to be effective in the conviction of the truly -guilty, there will be a constant tendency to reproduce it for the -detection and discrimination of criminals among the civilized; if -domestic slavery is tolerable among the neighboring pagans, a feeling of -the harmlessness of some vicious system of apprenticeship may be -developed. These are real dangers, and while it probably is wise to -exercise a deal of tolerance toward native customs, it must be -constantly and carefully watched from this point of view. - -The native life is certainly good in many ways; all that is actually -good in it should be left so far as possible. Native houses are well -adapted to the conditions of the country and nothing is gained by the -attempt to change the styles of local architecture; scantness of -clothing, or even nakedness, is not immoral, suggestive, or in itself -worthy of blame--and native dress, though scanty, may be entirely -becoming and even beautiful; there are many native arts--which, far from -being blotted out, might well be conserved and developed; public -palavers in native communities are often models of dignified conduct and -serious consideration; the respect shown to native chiefs is often -warranted and in every way should be encouraged and developed. The topic -lends itself to many observations and tempts to full development. We can -only say, however, that there are actually few things in native life -which deserve condemnation and immediate destruction. The natives will -be happier, better, and make more certain progress if they are permitted -to build largely upon their own foundations. Dr. Blyden was always -begging the people to make an African nation in Liberia, not the copy of -a European state. Delafosse carries the same plea to an even greater -extreme. It is impossible to actually meet the wishes of these -gentlemen. Liberia is and must be patterned after other civilized -nations. Such a native African state, original in all things, and purely -African, as Delafosse imagines, would not be permitted to exist a single -week by the crowding, selfish, civilized and Christian foreign nations. -If Liberia is to play within the game, it _must_ follow the rules of -play. - -In dealing with its natives, the government should be frank, honest, and -candid; it should make no promises unless it knows that it can keep -them--unless it means to keep them--unless it will keep them. Too many -times in the past, when misunderstandings have led to armed resistance -on the part of native peoples, the Government has appealed to one or -another man of great personal influence among the aroused natives. -Facing danger, frightened, wanting peace at any price, it has authorized -its representative to make promises of satisfaction which it knew -perfectly well could not and would not be kept. Such a temporizing -policy is always bad; it not only fails to right wrongs, but destroys -the trust of natives in the government, and shatters the influence for -good which the intermediary formerly enjoyed. - -It is time that, in dealing with the natives, chiefs be considered as -men and dealt with not as if they were spoiled children; appeals should -be made to manhood and to principle, not to depraved ambitious -tendencies. Less gin and more cloth should be used in gaining their -assistance. President Howard pertinently says in this direction: “By way -of encouraging the ‘natives’ to stay at home and develop their lands, we -feel that instead of granting ‘stipends’ and ‘dashes’ as formerly, they -should be given only to the chiefs and people who will put on the market -so many hundred bushels of kernels, or gallons of oil, so many pounds of -ivory, rubber, coffee, cocoa, ginger, etc., or so many hundred kroos of -clean rice. The proceeds of these products, of course, would go to the -owners. We feel that this plan would have a better result than the one -now in vogue.” - -That there should be a feeling of caste in the Republic is natural. -There are actual differences between the four populations which we have -indicated. It is impossible that Americo-Liberians, Mohammedans, coast -peoples, and interior natives should not feel that they are different -from each other, and in this difference find motives of conduct. This -feeling of difference is based upon actual inherent facts of difference, -and can not be expected to disappear. It should, however, give rise to -mutual respect, not to prejudice and inequality of treatment. Every -motive of sound policy must lead the Liberian in the civilized -settlements to recognize the claims, the rights, the opportunities which -lie within this difference. He needs the friendship of the “bush nigger” -far more than that pagan needs his. Caste in the sense of proud -discrimination of social difference and the introduction of over-bearing -treatment must be avoided. It is suicide to encourage and permit the -development of such a feeling. - -In the nature of things, constant intermarriage takes place between the -Americo-Liberians and the natives. There is more or less prejudice -against such connections, but they have taken place ever since the days -of the first settlement. They are, for the most part, one-sided, -Americo-Liberian men marrying native women. The other relation, namely -that of native men with Liberian women, is so rare that it may almost be -said not to occur. There is no question that these mixtures should tend -to produce a good result, the children inheriting physical strength and -fitness to their surroundings beyond that of the Americo-Liberian. There -is, however, a danger in such unions; the native woman has all her -associations and connections with her own people, and there is a -constant tendency for the husband to assume a position of influence -among the natives, adopting more or less of their customs, and suffering -the relapse of which we hear so often. None the less it is certain that -such mixtures are more than likely to increase in number with the -passage of time. - -A notable influence upon the native problem may be expected from the -Frontier Force. The soldiers for this force are regularly drawn from the -tribes of the interior. It is easy to get Boozi Mpesse, and their -neighbors in large numbers. They come to Monrovia as almost naked -savages, with no knowledge of the outside world, but with strong, -well-developed bodies; they are quite amenable to training and quickly -make improvement; they have almost the minds of children, and are easily -led in either direction; if well treated, they have a real affection for -their officers; if they are badly treated, they are morose, dispirited, -and dangerous. They love the companionship, the bustle, the music, and -the uniforms, and rather quickly submit themselves with fair grace to -discipline. They regularly bring their women and their boy slaves with -them from their distant homes, and these live together in special houses -constructed at the border of the barracks-grounds. As the government not -infrequently is in arrears in paying them their wages, there are times -when the camp is full of insubordination and bad feeling; at such times -there is always danger, unless the officers are tactful, of their -becoming mutinous, and demanding payment with a show and threat of -force. It is not impossible that some time on such occasions serious -results may occur. When the term of enlistment has ended, these soldiers -may go back to their towns and villages, carrying with them the effect -of the influences, good or bad, to which they have been subjected at the -capital. Not a few of them, however, re-enlist for a second, or even a -third, term of service. The effect of this training must be very great -upon the tribes. It could be made a most important influence for raising -the condition of the whole interior; there is no more certain way by -which the people of the remoter tribes may come to know about the -Government. - -We have read dreadful accounts of the relapse of civilized natives to -their old form of life. Bright boys taken from the interior towns and -villages are trained in mission schools, or even sent to the United -States, and given a fairly liberal education. They have become nominal -Christians; they have learned English and can read and write; they wear -white men’s dress and seem to have adopted white men’s ways; much is -expected of them when they return to their native country in the way of -mission effort with their people. After they return, all changes; their -Christianity takes flight; having no one but their own people with whom -to converse, they return to the native dialect; as the European dress -wears out, they soon possess a nondescript wardrobe; instead of leading -their people in the ways of industry, they sit down at ease; gradually -they resume natural relations with their people and play the part of -advisers to the chiefs, or even themselves become petty chiefs; of them -it is frequently claimed that they have all the vices of Christian and -pagan and none of the virtues of either. There is more or less of -reality in such accounts. But it is not true, even in these cases, that -nothing has been gained. One must not expect rare individuals to produce -rapid results in a great mass of population. It is doubtful whether the -result is harmful. The importance, however, of impressing upon all -children, who are taken into mission schools, their relation to the -government, their duty to it, and the advantage of co-operation with it, -should be profoundly emphasized; in such schools loyalty is as important -a subject for inculcation as religion, reading, and industry. If as much -care were taken to instruct the mission child in his duties as a -citizen, as is taken in other directions, every one of these persons on -their return to the bush would be a genuinely helpful and elevating -influence. It is also true that Americo-Liberians occasionally take to -the bush. Sometimes they are persons who have had difficulties in the -settlements and find it convenient to change location; sometimes they -are men who have married native women and find it easier and more -profitable to turn their attention toward the natives; sometimes they -are traders who spend about one-half their time in settlements and the -other half in going from town to town to secure products; sometimes they -are shiftless vagabonds merely drifting from place to place in order to -avoid labor. Such Liberians among the natives may be found everywhere. -They are usually of little value to those among whom they live. But the -fact that there are such should not be over-emphasized. It is by no -means true that the Americo-Liberians as a whole tend to throw off -civilization and to become degenerate. - -From this native mass much that has been helpful to the nation has -already been secured. Work among them has always been accompanied by -encouraging results. Two-thirds of the communicants of the Protestant -Episcopal Church are natives; they show as true a character, as keen a -mind, as high ideals, often more vigor, than the Americo-Liberians in -the same churches. Wherever the native is given the same just chance as -his Liberian brother, he gives an immediate response. At the Girls’ -School in Bromley, and among the boys at Clay-Ashland, natives and -Liberians do the same work and offer the same promise; so in the College -of West Africa the Kru boys are every whit as good as the Liberians. The -number of natives who are at present occupying positions of consequence -in the Republic is encouraging. The Secretary of the Department of -Education, Dr. Payne, is a Bassa; Mr. Massaquoi, a Vai, holds the chief -clerkship in the Department of the Interior; Senator Harris is the son -of a native, Bassa, mother; Mr. Karnga, member of the House of -Representatives, is a son of a recaptured African--a Kongo; Dr. Anthony, -a Bassa, is Professor of Mathematics in Liberia College; there are -numbers of Grebo clergymen of prominence and success within the -Protestant Episcopal Church--as McKrae, who is pastor of the flourishing -Kru Chapel at Monrovia, and Russell, who is pastor of the Liberian -Church at Grand Bassa. - -The natives, after all, are the chief asset of the nation. Only by their -co-operation can aggression and pressure from outside be resisted; -carefully developed and wisely utilized, they must and will be the -defense and strength of the Liberian nation. Even if immigration on an -enormous scale, a thing not to be expected, should take place, the -native population will never be submerged; it will continue to maintain -supremacy in numbers. - - For support given to education, Liberia holds the first place among - West African administrations. Sierra Leone, with a revenue six times - greater than Liberia, spends only one-fifth of the sum devoted by our - State to the cause of public instruction.--A. BARCLAY. - - -EDUCATION. - -The importance of education was recognized by the “fathers.” The -quotation of President Roberts which we have given above voiced the -feelings of the more thoughtful of the settlers. Yet it must be admitted -that the educational situation is far from perfect. There is a recently -established Department of Education, the Secretary of which holds a -Cabinet position. In 1912 Dr. Payne had under his direction ninety-one -public schools in different parts of the Republic. Most of these schools -were housed in buildings totally unsuited to their purpose; they were -small, badly built, and unsupplied with even the barest equipment. There -are no book-stores in Liberia, and there is a notable lack of suitable -text-books for the children’s use; there are few black-boards and those -of poor quality; the desks, seats, and other furniture are conspicuous -either for their absence or poor quality. Teachers are frequently badly -prepared; they not infrequently neglect their duties; the number of days -of teaching is uncertain--as often the teachers will be occupied with -other work than that to which they are supposed to devote their time and -attention. Salaries are very low and badly paid. Mr. Deputie, once -Superintendent of Education, in his report of 1905, appealing to the -legislature, said: “Lend a hand by your official acts that will tend to -ameliorate the condition of the teachers in the public schools, that -they may receive a just recompense of reward. Some of these teachers, -after serving faithfully during the quarter, receive only ten shillings -on their bills, while many others of them receive not a shilling.” In -1910 Mr. Edwin Barclay was General Superintendent of the Schools. He -made a careful study of the situation and in his report presents -interesting statistics and facts with reference to the condition. He -made a series of thoughtful recommendations for the future, and drew up -an entire scheme of proposed legislation. Much of that which he -suggested has been approved and theoretically put in practice. In regard -to the matter of teachers’ salaries, he makes an interesting statement -in tabulated form, comparing the average salaries of teachers with those -of clerks in the department of the Government and in mercantile -establishments. He shows us that the average salary of public school -teachers at that time was $143.95 per year; that this salary was -stationary and without increment of any kind. At that same time, clerks -in government departments received an average salary of $321.29 per year -with definite chance of promotion and a career before them. Clerks in -mercantile establishments did even better, receiving an average annual -salary of $365.90 a year with contingent increment annually of from -twenty to fifty per cent on net profits. It is hardly strange under the -circumstances that good teachers are rare and that promising young men -should look to other fields than that of teaching. Three grades of -teachers are recognized in the public schools; all teachers are required -to pass an examination and receive certificates; second grade teachers -receive thirty dollars per year more than third grade teachers, and -teachers of first grade, thirty dollars more than those of second grade. -Public schools are subject to the inspection of a local school committee -which “consists of three good, honest, substantial citizens of the -locality, having an interest in education. Sex ought not to be a -barrier. They need not be highly educated, but should be able to read -and write intelligently and earnest friends of education.” Membership in -the committee is purely honorary, no fee accompanying the appointment. -The members of the committee are to take an annual census of children of -school age and to see that they attend school; they are to keep tab on -the teacher and report him if he be guilty of immoral conduct or fails -to advance his school. Each county has a school Commissioner whose -business it is to examine candidates for teaching, to employ and direct -teachers, to approve bills of salary, to visit each school in his -district without announcement at least once a quarter, to remove and -replace teachers, to make reports to the General Superintendent, to -supply text-books, and hold annual teachers’ meetings in order to -develop greater ability on the part of the instructors. Compulsory -education is recognized in the Republic; as, however, many young people -are obliged to assist in the support of the families to which they -belong, night schools are provided for those who may be working during -the hours of the day. The public schools are practically confined to the -Americo-Liberian settlements. The latest definite statistics in regard -to the number of children in attendance on the public schools are those -of 1910. At that time 1782 children were in the schools; of these 1225 -were civilized, 557 uncivilized, i. e., native; the distribution -according to counties was as follows: In Grand Bassa County, 407; in -Maryland County, 148; in Montserrado County, 947; in Sinoe County, 280. -The instillation of patriotism into the young mind is regarded as a -matter of importance, and it is required that the flag of the Republic -shall be daily displayed at every school-house or place where public -school is held; and “the hoisting and striking of colors at the daily -opening and close of school session shall be attended with such -ceremonies as shall tend to instill into the minds of the pupils a -respect and veneration for the flag and a knowledge of the principle for -which it stands.” - -The public schools, however, are probably less numerous, and certainly -reach fewer scholars than the various mission schools conducted by the -different denominations. At the time that Mr. Barclay made his report he -claimed but sixty-five public schools to ninety mission schools. While -the public schools reached 1782 children, the mission schools had an -attendance of 3270 children. - - DENOMINATION Schools Pupils Teachers - Methodist Episcopal 35 1,300 55 - Baptist 1 25 1 - Lutheran 7 275 13 - Protestant Episcopal 47 1,670 55 - -- ----- -- - Total 90 3,270 124 - -These mission schools very largely reach a native population; it is true -that some Liberians attend them, but the larger number in the attendance -is from native families; all the schools located in native towns are, -probably, under mission guidance. In some respects these schools are -distinctly superior to the public schools of the Republic. Their -teachers, with higher salaries, devote themselves with more energy to -their work; text-books are supplied and the equipment for school work is -better; the buildings, too, both in construction, lighting, and -adaptation to their work, are better. A glance at the table shows that -the Protestant Episcopal Church is in the lead. The work reported by -Bishop Ferguson in his last annual report is most encouraging. Two -schools at Cape Mount, one for boys and one for girls, care for both -boarding and day students; at Monrovia the parish school is attended by -157 Kru children; the Girls’ School at Bromley, with 78 boarding pupils, -is flourishing; at Clay-Ashland the new Alexander Crummell Hall was -nearing completion, and the young men and boys there were full of -enthusiasm; in Grand Bassa County parish day schools were conducted at -Edina, Upper Buchanan, and Lower Buchanan; at Tobakoni work for Kru -boys was conducted at a boarding school which had recently extended its -work to the neighboring village of Nito; in Sinoe County both a parish -day school and a boarding school were maintained; in Maryland County, -where the work of this mission culminates, there is Cuttington -Collegiate and Divinity School with 121 pupils, the Orphan Asylum and -Girls’ School, St. Mark’s Parish School, the boarding school at Mount -Vaughn, and thirteen boarding and day schools at other places. We have -no adequate information regarding the excellent work of the Methodist -schools and those of other denominations. Their work is, however, -actively conducted. The Lutherans, from their centre at Muhlenburg, make -the central idea of their mission effort the educational work; they -emphasize, too, the manual phase of education and encourage the -development of arts, industries, and agriculture. - -Two of the mission schools demand special mention, as they represent the -highest development of educational work in the Republic. These are: -_Epiphany Hall_, Cuttington, four and a half miles from Cape Palmas, and -the _College of West Africa_, located at Monrovia. - -The work at Cuttington began in 1889, when the Cuttington Collegiate and -Divinity School was founded under the auspices of the Protestant -Episcopal Church. One of the basic principles in Maryland since its -foundation has been the development of agriculture. The efforts of the -founders of the colony were exerted against trade and in favor of -production. This desirable ideal has never been lost. At _Epiphany Hall_ -an important part of the school’s plan is that students should be taught -to work: a coffee plantation and a farm are connected with the school, -and four hours a day of practical agriculture and horticulture are -required; connected with this school also is a printing establishment at -Harper, the work of which is done by students of the school. So far as -the literary work is concerned, the school is divided into three -departments--preparatory, higher, and theological. The work in the -preparatory school covers four years; it is primarily arranged with -native needs in mind, but other students are admitted. The work of the -higher school consists of a two years’ advanced course, two years of -collegiate work, a year’s course for a certificate of proficiency in -general education, and a normal course. The work of the theological -school covers three years, and is arranged with reference to preparation -for the ministry. - -The _College of West Africa_ is located at Monrovia, and is under the -direction of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The building is an ugly -structure of brick which has served its purpose for a long time and -which should soon be replaced by a new and better building. It is, -however, a hive of industry; it is crowded with boys and girls who are -earnestly desiring an education. A great number of the students live in -the building as boarders; many also come from the town of Monrovia and -from “Krutown.” The teachers are mostly American negroes who have been -trained in our southern schools. The courses offered cover a -considerable range. - -The work in this institution began in 1839 under Jabez A. Burton, -assisted by Mrs. Anne Wilkins and Mrs. Eunice Moore. The present -building was erected in 1849 at an expense of $10,000. The work of the -school is divided among seven departments. The primary school covers -three years; the grammar school three years; the high school two years. -There is a normal course for the preparation of teachers; in the college -preparatory and the college departments the classics are taught. In the -biblical department the design is to prepare religious workers. There is -an industrial department in which instruction is given in carpentry, -tin-smithing, shoe-making, black-smithing, and printing; in this -department girls receive instruction in home-training. The printing -establishment demands particular notice; almost all the unofficial -printing of the Republic, outside of the county of Maryland, is done -upon the press of the College of West Africa. Many creditable pieces of -workmanship have been put out by this institution and the mission paper, -_Liberia and West Africa_, is printed here. The college conducts night -schools for those who can not attend during the daytime. Regular charges -are made for tuition, text-books, and--to those students who board in -the institution--for room, board, and washing. These charges are -extremely modest and can be rather easily met; through the opportunities -connected with the industrial department students who wish to earn their -education can largely do so. With the exception of printing, the work of -the industrial school is conducted outside of the city of Monrovia. - -We have already, stated that the mission schools are better equipped and -more attractive than the public schools. The work of such schools is -desirable and should be encouraged and developed. At the same time it is -true that in such schools exists an element of possible danger. This is -brought out by Mr. Barclay in his report. He says: “As regards the -mission schools, if we observe attentively the final efforts of their -endeavors, we will discover that, when they have operated exclusively in -civilized centers, they have been a great public service and in many -cases have supplied the want of a public school system. But, on the -other hand, where the scope of their operations has extended beyond -these centers, to districts wholly or mainly uncivilized, their care has -been to ‘save souls’ rather than to create citizens or to develop proper -ideals of citizenship. Their tendency is toward denationalization. Here, -then, is where they come in conflict, unconsciously perhaps, with the -imperative policy of the government. Pupils coming to attend the mission -schools, for however short a period, leave with a feeling of antagonism -to constituted authority, or at best, with no sentiments of congeniality -with the civilized element either in aspirations or ideals. On returning -to their homes, they develop into pernicious and vehement demagogues. -Fomenting the tribal spirit in opposition to the national ideal, they -frequently lead their people to foolish and irrational measures, and -stir up misunderstanding and discord between them and the Government. -They pose as arbiters between these two parties to their own profit, -and, finally, when discovered, are discredited by both. The net result -of this missionary activity, unsupervised and unregulated, is to create -an element of discord in the State, which it becomes imperative to stamp -out by force and at great expense to the public. These facts of course -do not apply universally; but they are sufficiently general to attract -attention and to call for amelioration of the condition which they point -out as existing. It should not be thought that these remarks are -intended or designed to discredit absolutely all missionary enterprises. -But what I do desire to point out is that some supervision should be -exercised over these schools by the Government. Under the direction of -unscrupulous and unsympathetic people, they may be made powerful -agencies of disintegration in the State. It must not be overlooked that -the foreign missionary does not feel himself called upon to help direct -in the process of nation-building. His aspirations are after spreading -his own form of superstition and toward the realization of his -particular moral Utopia.” - -Again he says: “. . . all private affairs, when they impinge on the -domain of public affairs, or assume a quasi-public character, must -become the subject of regulation by public authority. So far as -_internal administration_ goes, the State has, and can claim, no concern -so long as such administration squares with legality. But public -authority must step in when these schools become potent factors in -public economy. We have been led, therefore, to the suggestion that such -schools as are established by foreign and domestic mission societies in -the Republic, should conform, in their primary grades especially, to -the requirements of law for the public schools, and that the Department -of Public Instruction should have the right to inspect these schools in -order to find out if the conditions are being kept. To secure this, -every school, before beginning operations, should be registered at the -Department of Public Instruction, and licensed to this end. Where the -legal requirements have not been kept, the Board of Education, or other -educational authority, should have the power of summarily closing said -school. These regulations are necessary when we consider the peculiar -conditions which confront us in the administration of the country.” - -Again he says: “While the State must in great measure depend upon the -public spirit and missionary zeal of individual citizens in fomenting -and creating the national spirit, it is, _a priori_, the duty of the -people in their collective capacity to provide capital means to this -end. If the country is to be utilized, if we are to develop into a -strong nation, capable of demanding universal respect, and worthy of -taking that leading place among African states and the African -civilization, which is our destiny, the preoccupation of government for -the next two or three generations must be in the direction of developing -a specific type of citizens, animated by an identical spirit, filled -with an unbounded faith in their destiny, and possessed and inspired by -the same ideals. As this is to be effected through the schools, we can -not escape the impressions: (a) That some central authority of the State -_must_ supervise _all_ educational operations in the country; (b) that, -if mission schools and private corporate and non-corporate institutions -be allowed, they must operate subject to limitations imposed by law as -regards the course of study, the general character of instruction, and -the special object to be obtained, especially in the primary grades. In -other words, they must assist in developing the civic instincts of the -pupils; (c) that a uniform system of training must be rigidly, -consciously, and universally enforced.” - -The matter suggested by these quotations is really of considerable -importance. The central thought of them is surely sound; all mission -schools, while entirely free to teach religion according to their own -tenets, should consult together and have a uniform system of secular -instruction which should be kept quite separate from the religious -teaching; this should be of the same character and have the same end as -the teaching offered in the public schools; the mission schools should -work in harmony with the public schools and should recognize the -Superintendent of Education; they should heartily co-operate with him -toward the production of good citizens and the development of a feeling -of respect and loyalty to the national government. It is true that some -of them have a standard which is not reached by the public schools; such -should not, of course, reduce their standard, but should serve as a -friendly example to the Government of what is reasonably expected of -schools of their grade. The proper treatment of this matter calls for -great tact and good spirit on both sides. - -We have already called attention to the fact that in Vai and Mandingo -towns instruction is given to boys in Arabic and in the reading of the -Koran. These little village schools are interesting. The boys use smooth -boards with handles as slates; these are smeared over with a light -colored clay, and passages from the sacred writing are copied in black -upon the light surface; the little fellows are constantly drilled in -reading these passages aloud and in copying similar passages upon their -wooden tablets. Such schools as these form a nucleus which could be -utilized in the development of schools for broader instruction. We have -already called attention to the fact that the Vai have a phonetic system -of their own, developed among themselves. The ability to write and read -this phonetic script is rather widely spread, and when schools come to -be established in Vai towns this system might be widely utilized for -purposes of education. - -Theoretically, and to some degree actually, Liberia College stands at -the summit of the Liberian system of education. It has had a checkered -history with ups and downs; most observers have been inclined to see and -emphasize the downs. In 1848 John Payne, of the Episcopal mission, -suggested to Simon Greenleaf, of Boston, that a school of theology -should be established in Liberia. Partly as the result of this -suggestion, in 1850 there was established in Massachusetts a Board of -Trustees of Donations for Education in Liberia. In 1851 the Liberian -legislature incorporated Liberia College, the outgrowth of the steps -already taken, although not in the exact direction suggested by John -Payne. In 1857 Ex-President J. J. Roberts was elected first president of -Liberia College, and superintended the erection of the building which -had been provided for. During the next few years further funds were -raised for the purpose of conducting the enterprise, and in 1861 the -endowment was vested in a Board of eighteen Trustees. In 1862 Liberia -College was opened for work. Since that time it has had a struggling -existence, making periodical appeals for financial assistance, receiving -donations of more or less magnitude, occasionally putting forth a spurt -of momentary vigor, then languishing almost to the point of death; again -and again this round of experiences has been run by the institution. It -is difficult to secure definite and connected information regarding it; -to prepare a fairly complete history would involve considerable labor. -It is interesting to notice that, among the expressed purposes of the -institution, was the providing of an opportunity for American colored -youth to receive an education, as they were then debarred from -educational institutions in our country. There were at first three -chairs in the institution:--Jurisprudence and International Law, English -Literature and Moral and Mental Philosophy, and the Fulton Chair of -Languages; in 1905 the faculty consisted of eight members, including the -president. In 1879 there was but a single teacher, who was giving -instruction in mathematics (to which chair he was originally appointed) -and also in languages. The largest donation at any time received by the -College was from Joseph Fulton, of New York, who left $25,000, the -income of which was to support the Fulton professor, who was to be -nominated by the New York Colonization Society; the Board of Donations -of Boston has had some $30,000 at interest for the benefit of the -institution; Albert Fearing at one time gave $5000 for library purposes. -In addition to these gifts and bequests from and in America the -institution has received and does receive some governmental aid; 1000 -acres of land in each county have been set apart for its advantage; -certain sources of income are theoretically devoted to its maintenance. -At one time four scholarships had been established and named; these -scholarships were, the Gordon Memorial (in memory of Midshipman Gordon, -who died in 1822), the John Payne Scholarship, the Simon Greenleaf -Scholarship, and the George Briggs Scholarship. To what degree these -scholarships are still productive we do not know. The institution had -run down and was threatened with extinction when, in 1898, under the -national administration of President W. E. Coleman, it received a new -impulse, and in the year 1900 was re-organized. It is unfortunate that -the exact status of Liberia College is not more definite; it is neither -fish, flesh nor fowl; it is at once a private institution with a -directorate and management located across the seas, and a part of a -system of public education, receiving aid from national funds. - -Such is the condition of education in the Republic. It leaves much to be -desired. Those who lead public thought are by no means ignorant of its -weak features; the national poverty, however, makes it difficult to -develop better things. If the nation is to advance, its education must -be greatly improved. This improvement must begin at the very foundation -with the primary public schools. These need reform in the matter of -buildings, equipment, and teachers’ salaries; if good teachers are to be -secured, and kept steadily at work to earn their salaries, they must be -promptly paid--prompt payment of any employees is a difficult matter in -Liberia. There should be a large increase in the number of public -schools; there are perhaps as many as are necessary within the civilized -settlements, but the native towns are almost without school -opportunities, except as these are offered by the missions. There is -crying need of the establishment of public schools in native towns. Such -should, however, be established only in towns where genuine promises of -self-support are given. There are, no doubt, many towns where, if the -matter were properly presented, the chiefs would readily build a -school-building, order the children to attend school, and support a -teacher. Such a teacher should be well acquainted with the native -tongue, and the bulk of the instruction should be given in it; to teach -elementary branches in a foreign language is poor policy; true, it has -been attempted--as on a wide scale in the Philippines, but mental and -moral imbecility are likely to be developed by such procedure; English -should be taught, but it should be taught as a subject in itself, and -the English language should not be used as the medium for conveying -_elementary_ instruction in fundamental branches; after English has once -been learned, it is of course desirable to encourage the reading of -English books and the acquisition of general knowledge through such -reading. It will probably be suggested that it will be impossible to -find teachers acquainted with the native tongues and competent to teach -the various branches of primary education; such a difficulty ought not -to exist after nearly eighty years of mission schools which have by -preference sought to teach and raise the native population. It will be -claimed that such teachers in native towns will be in danger of relapse; -there is such danger, but it is far less than might be thought, provided -the Department of Public Instruction keeps in constant touch with such -teachers in native towns and properly emphasizes to the native chiefs -the value of schools and education. When we were in the Bassa country, -we found, at a native town quite in the interior, an intelligent black -man who spoke English well and who told us that he had been sent out by -the Lutheran mission at Muhlenburg to pick up and bring in native boys -for instruction at that famous school; he told us at that time, that the -chief of the village where we were, together with the leading men, were -very anxious that a local school should be established in their midst, -and promised land, a building, and attendance. It would be easy if the -matter were handled wisely, to establish at once, in twenty native -towns, carefully selected among the different tribes, twenty local -schools which would be supported with considerable enthusiasm by the -communities in which they were situated. If the Government could at once -equip these twenty schools with good teachers who had graduated from the -mission schools, there would spring up a popular demand throughout the -whole interior for the establishment of village schools; it would be -difficult to satisfy the demand, but from the number of villages asking -for the establishment of schools, a reasonable number of the best might -be selected, and the work would grow. There would actually be little -expense in such development; if it is to be successful, and if it is -worth while, it should originate largely with the towns themselves, and -every school should be practically self-supporting. For a time of course -there would be on the part of chiefs a demand for some sort of bribe or -“dash”; this ought to be refused in every case. - -To illustrate exactly what is meant, we quote a sample of the kind of -document which mission schools at one time regularly drew up with the -idea of getting children into school. It is presented in Hoyt’s _Land of -Hope_:--“Articles of agreement between Tweh, King of Dena, his head men -and people, and the Methodist Episcopal Mission: - -Art. 1. The mission school is to have at all times at least ten boys; -and more if they should be wanted. Girls at all times are desirable. - -Art. 2. The children of the school are at all times to be under the -entire control of Mr. Philip Gross and his successors in the teaching -and government of this station, without interruption on the part of -their parents or guardians until the time for which they are put in the -mission school shall have expired. - -Art. 3. As good substantial buildings may soon be required for teachers -to reside in, and more land will be constantly wanted for manual labor -purposes, the King, his head men and people, also agree to protect the -missionaries in occupying and using it, in the manner they may think -proper, without responsibility to any one beyond themselves. The King, -etc., agree to protect them in their persons and property from either -abuse or violence, and if anything is stolen from them, the King, his -head men and people, promise to see it returned or paid for. - -Art. 4. As long as the authorities of Dena continue to fulfill this -agreement, by giving the children for school instruction, and protecting -the mission and mission-premises from intrusion and disturbance, the -mission will give them annually, (about Christmas) one piece of blue -baft, two small kegs of powder, ten bars of tobacco, ten bars of pipes, -and fifty gun-flints; with the understanding, that this being done, they -are not to be teased for dash to any one. - -Art. 5. But if the King and his head men fail to fulfill the conditions -of the above agreement, then they will be under no obligations as a -mission to give the above named articles. - - FRANCIS BURNS, _Preacher in Charge_. - - PHILIP GROSS, } TWEH, his * mark, - NEY (his * mark), } TOBOTO, his * mark, - JOHN BANKS, } TWABO, his * mark, - _Witnesses_. } TWAAH, his * mark, - ERO-BAWH, his * mark, - NYWAH-WAH, his * mark.” - -Of course this document is many years old. No doubt, however, the bad -policy of paying chiefs for permission to establish schools in towns and -for children who shall receive instruction is continued by the mission -schools. Certainly, however, if the government develop its own plans of -dealing with native chiefs for the encouragement of trade, it will be -easy to do away with this idea of compensation for the tolerance of -schools. Such native village schools as we have recommended should not -attempt to do more than teach the elements of education; they should -correspond to the primary schools in the system of public education for -the nation; every teacher in charge of such schools should be expected -to encourage boys and girls of exceptional promise and diligence, who do -well in the village schools, to go up to the local “feeder”. - -When we were in Monrovia, we were asked more than once whether it was -best to remove Liberia College into the interior. It is the opinion of -many that such removal should take place. The answer to the question -depends entirely upon what is conceived to be the proper function of -Liberia College. If it is to be an institution of higher education, if -it is to aim at academic instruction and the development of able men for -the filling of public positions, for professional life, for leadership, -it would be a great mistake to move it. To remove such an institution -into the interior would make it difficult for students from the -settlements to attend the institution; if it were intended to meet the -needs of natives, its removal would sound the death knell of its hopes; -it could be located in the area of a single tribe only, and located in -such an area, it would receive the patronage of but a single tribe. -Recognizing the fact that the natives are actually tribesmen, if schools -of higher grade than primary village schools are to be developed, with -reference to them, there should be at least one school of higher -instruction in every tribal area; such schools should be of a grade -corresponding to our secondary or grammar schools. It is unlikely that -any one will, for many years, think of the establishment of such higher -schools in numbers sufficient for each tribal area to have one; while, -theoretically the idea may be attractive, practically it is out of -question. It would be entirely possible, however, for four good county -schools of grammar grade to be established--one in each county; these -should be in the country, not in the settlements. They should be open to -both natives and Liberians, but it is to be supposed that their -attendance would be largely, overwhelmingly indeed, native. These county -schools should be thoroughly practical--they should combine book-work -and manual-training; they should give instruction in trades and -agriculture. They should be as well equipped and as well managed as the -resources of the Republic will allow. They should be thorough and -earnest, and should not attempt to undertake more than the exact work -here suggested; they should be secondary--grammar--schools, and a part -of their aim should be to fully acquaint every student attending them -with the work and opportunities of the Higher Agricultural School, -outside Monrovia, and Liberia College at the capital. The teachers -should not attempt to force large numbers of their students to look for -higher education, but should make them thoroughly acquainted with the -fact that opportunities may be found in the Republic for it; the very -few students of _real promise_, who desire education of higher grade, -the teachers should encourage and direct toward the Higher Agricultural -School and Liberia College; certainly the larger number of the boys -should be directed toward the former--a select few of special promise in -the direction of leadership, toward the latter. - -For the general uplift, there is no question that the most important -element in this scheme of education must be the Higher Agricultural -School. It should be situated upon an experimental farm; it should be -supplied with sufficient suitable buildings; it should combine literary -and manual instruction. It should carry boys far enough to infuse them -with ambition and vigor for an agricultural career. It should teach the -methods demanded by the peculiar surroundings. Tropical agriculture in -any country is still in its beginnings; scientific agriculture in -Liberia is as yet non-existent; as rapidly as possible, the school -should, through investigation and experiment, learn what is necessary -for the locality. It will start with the benefit of blind experiments -conducted through a period of almost a hundred years; it should, by -twenty years of well-directed effort, work out the fundamental -principles of successful agriculture. In such a school boys should be -taught that hand labor is respectable and necessary; they should be -taught equally how to plan, develop, and direct an enterprise. Coffee -was at one time an important article of shipment; Liberian coffee had an -excellent reputation throughout the world and commanded good prices; -there were many creditable plantations which brought in good returns to -their proprietors. Why has Liberian coffee ceased to pay? It is true -that it has had to meet keen competition from countries where labor was -plenty and under good control; it has had to meet in open market -products which had been raised through subsidies paid by nations far -wealthier; still, the chief reason why Liberian coffee no longer has the -vogue which it once had is because it was badly handled, badly packed, -and badly shipped. In the higher agricultural school one should be -taught not only how to establish coffee plantations, but how to properly -treat, prepare, and ship the produce. There was a time when many fields -were planted with sugar-cane; there were many little local mills where -the cane was crushed and molasses and sugar made; to-day it may be said -that there is no cane industry in the Republic. Has the demand for sugar -ceased? Has the soil lost the capacity of growing cane? Is not the -decline in this industry due to time-losing, crude, and imperfect -methods of production? Liberia seems well adapted to various domestic -animals. Goats and sheep--the latter covered with hair, not wool--are -seen on the streets of the national capital; when one gets back into the -interior, cattle are found in native towns and in the district about -Cape Palmas cattle are met with in the coast settlements. Yet fresh meat -is difficult to secure in Monrovia; why? In the Higher Agricultural -School definite investigation should be made of all native plant and -animal possibilities; there are no doubt many forms of plant life which -could be improved under proper cultivation and made to yield desirable -materials for commerce or for national use; it is quite possible that -some of the native animals could be utilized if kept and bred; it is -certain that harmful animals can be controlled or totally destroyed. The -experimental station in connection with the agricultural school should -deal with all these matters. Of plants and animals which flourish in our -own and other countries, some prosper and succeed on the west coast of -Africa--others fail; many experiments have already been made in -introducing plants and animals from the outside world into Liberia; -much, however, still remains to be done in studying the possibilities. -It is time that the experiments in this direction were wisely made by -competent and educated investigators and that the period of blind and -wasteful experimentation cease. - -Liberia College, however, should remain at the capital city. It must be -strengthened and developed. It should be a college, and if at present -below grade--and it is below grade--it should be gradually worked up to -a high standard. The nation will always need a higher institution of -liberal culture; there is as much reason why there should be a genuine -college in the black Republic, as there was why there should be a -Harvard College in Massachusetts at the date of its foundation; in fact, -there is more need of a college for Liberia than there was in -Massachusetts for Harvard--Liberia has more serious and broader problems -to deal with than the old colony of Massachusetts; she is an independent -nation; she must have men competent by training to control the “ship of -state” and to deal with the representatives of all the civilized nations -on the globe. - -One can easily understand, and to a degree sympathize with, the -statement of Thomas in his little book upon West Africa, published a -half century ago. He wrote shortly after the college was established. He -says: “I regret to say that a college has been lately established in -Liberia, the presidency of which has been conferred on President -Roberts. I regret it, because it will involve an outlay that might be -better used for common schools. It will send out, for years at least, -men imperfectly learned, with the idea that they are scholars, and -create a false standard of education. The present state of society has -no demand for such a thing, the high schools already in operation being -sufficient to supply teachers and professional men, and these are -sufficiently patronized. A couple of manual labor schools somewhere in -the interior would be vastly more useful. These things--academies dubbed -colleges--are getting to be an evil among us in the states, and we are -sorry to see our ebony off-shoot copying any of our defects.” We are all -familiar with such criticisms and this line of argument, and of course -they contain a germ of truth. But every young and developing community -must have higher education, and we have indicated why the necessity in -Liberia is urgent. From her population must come presidents, -congressmen, cabinet officers of ability, diplomatic and political -officials, and nothing below a college can produce the desirable supply. - -In contrast to the statement of Mr. Thomas, we may quote two passages -from Dr. Blyden--himself a negro, a Liberian, an official in Liberia -College. At the dedication of the Institution, he said: “Why, then, -should not Liberia, after forty years’ existence, having secured the -confidence and respect of the aboriginal tribes, enjoy the means of -superior education? The name _College_ applied to this institution may -seem ambitious; but it is not too early in our history to aim at such -institutions. Of course we cannot expect that it will at once fulfill -all the conditions of colleges in advanced countries, but it may come in -time, as many American colleges have done, to grow into an institution -of respectability and extensive usefulness.” Again, in the same address, -he says: “Every country has its peculiar and particular characteristics. -So has Liberia. From this fact, it has often been argued, that we need a -peculiar kind of education; not so much colleges and high schools as -other means which are more immediately and obviously connected with our -progress. But to this we reply, ‘If we are a part of the human family, -we have the same intellectual needs that other people have, and they -must be supplied by the same means.’ It shows a painful ignorance of -history, to consider the present state of things in Liberia as new and -unprecedented in such a sense as to render dispensable those more -important and fundamental means of improvement, which other countries -have enjoyed. Mind is everywhere the same; and everywhere it receives -character and formation from the same elemental principles. If it has -been properly formed and has received a substantial character, it will -work out its own calling, solve its own problems, achieve its own -destiny.” - -In other words, it is the old question between Tuskegee and Atlanta. In -any broad and wise view both are equally essential. - -Liberia College and the Higher Agricultural School will do more to -develop a national spirit among the natives of the interior than any -other single agency. From the native village schools boys will go out to -the county “feeder”; there their ambition is stimulated; they come into -contact with boys of other tribes; acquaintance and a generous and -proper rivalry develops between them; each boy will feel that the credit -and reputation of his people rests in him--he will feel that he is not -inferior--he will strive to hold his own in legitimate fields of -rivalry; from the county “feeder” the brightest, most ambitious, and -best of the scholars will go up to the College or Agricultural School, -both of which are national. There, in contact with the selected and best -from every part of the Republic, from Liberians and natives alike, the -native boys will come to know the national spirit; they will learn what -Liberia means, they will comprehend its plans and hopes; they will be -prepared to assist in its development and to protect its rights. - -We have said that Liberia College would be national; it can not and -ought not to be hampered by denominational or even by religious demands; -it would be better if the College were absolutely under the control of -the national government; the double control works badly. It is not -absolutely essential that such should be the case; if the American -Board, or Boards, interested in it would wake up to the idea of the -great opportunity within their hands, they would be willing to -co-operate heartily with the local authorities to develop a really great -institution. The difficulty of distance of course would ever interfere -with prompt and harmonious action; ignorance of local conditions and of -the inherent difficulties is another bar to effective and prompt -co-operation. If the double control of the Institution is to continue, -there should be a carefully worked out agreement between the two -governing bodies which should leave very considerable power with the -resident authority to deal with serious problems as they may arise. If -the double control must continue, it is cryingly necessary that more -vigorous and liberal assistance should be rendered. To put the College -into proper condition, and develop its field of action, needs money, in -considerable quantity, much more than the government would be warranted -in supplying for some time to come. There are various things in -connection with the conduct of the College which are bad and need -re-adjustment. Thus, there is a vicious system of student assistance, -which undoubtedly works more harm than benefit; attendance at the -College is stimulated by cash payments to students, for which apparently -no return service is rendered; any such mode of assistance should be -completely stopped. It is better that the College should have a half -dozen students who are attending because they wish to gain an education, -than that its halls should be filled with idlers who come simply because -they receive pay during their attendance. For every penny given to any -student, actual service, preferably hand-labor, should be demanded. This -is particularly important when we remember the general attitude towards -the whole subject of working with the hands. - -The presidency of the College has always been, and still is, a problem. -The president should not be an autocrat, beyond control and -irresponsible, and he should be absolutely fitted for his high post. On -account of the uncertain status of the institution, it is possible for -its president to do what he pleases without check or hindrance. When it -suits his own convenience, he takes refuge behind the fact that it is a -chartered institution, responsible to a foreign board of managers to -whom alone he owes allegiance; he may thus refuse to recognize the -Superintendent of Public Instruction and to conduct the financial -affairs of the Institution as if he were without responsibility to the -government from which, however, the school receives financial aid. -Again, this high position has seemed, sometimes in the past, to be -merely a political football. When a man has served a term of office, -when he has been defeated in an election, when for a moment he is -without a job, he may become the president of Liberia College. This is -all wrong. That presidency should be a position demanding a man’s full -time, and filling his whole horizon; it should be a position to which he -willingly devotes a lifetime, and through which he may justly hope to -gain a lasting reputation. It is true that great names in Liberia’s -history have been associated with it; Roberts, Gibson, Blyden, Barclay, -Dossen, and others have occupied it with credit to themselves, and no -doubt with advantage to the school; but the position should be a -position for men without _other_ ambitions, men not in politics. Perhaps -it is necessary at this stage to import a head for the institution? If -so, it is not for lack of competent Liberians already in the -Republic--but because there is no competent man there but what has other -ambitions. - -Here we believe is an actual opportunity for wise American philanthropy -to exercise itself. Vast gifts of money could be properly employed in -these two institutions of higher learning--the Higher Agricultural -School and Liberia College. The one will have to be founded and -developed from foundation up; the other needs development, -re-organization, and continuous and wisely exercised interest and -sympathy. Suitable but flexible restrictions should justly be imposed in -connection with any gift, but the future ought not to be bound too -tightly. The absolutely different character of the two institutions -should be recognized and emphasized. If both were energized with gifts -from our country, it would be just that both should be headed by -American presidents. If so, Tuskegee might supply the president for the -Higher Agricultural School, Atlanta that for Liberia College. In any -event, only the best men that the institutions could furnish should be -sent; they should be men of ideals, ideas, and devotion; they should be -teachable men, who would recognize that much of good already exists in -the Republic, and who would aim to utilize everything helpful and -hopeful which is already there; they should be men who will co-operate, -rather than men who will eradicate; they must be wise men; theirs will -be no easy task; and they should realize that it is frequently best to -“make haste slowly”--if only progress is made surely. - - “I am an African, and in this country, however unexceptional my - conduct, and respectable my character, I can not receive the credit - due to either. I wish to go to a country where I should be estimated - by my merit, not by my complexion, and I feel bound to labor for my - suffering race.”--LOTT CAREY. - - “There never has been an hour or a minute; no, not even when the balls - were flying around my head at Crown Hill, when I could wish myself in - America.”--LOTT CAREY. - - -IMMIGRATION. - -The original settlers in Liberia were for the most part aided in their -immigration by the American Colonization Society. The whole business of -shipment, transportation, and reception soon became quite thoroughly -systematized. Those who had funds of their own made use of these in -getting to the “Land of Promise” and settling; but many were quite -without resources. Such were sent out passage free by the Society; on -arriving at Liberia, they were transferred to “receptacles”--houses -especially constructed for the purpose,--where, for six months, they -were provided with board and medical attendance. During these six months -the immigrants usually passed through the acclimating fever, and were -sufficiently restored to begin the serious task of establishing -themselves in their new homes. To each adult person a piece of land was -given, either in the town or country; the Society had already supplied -an outfit for farming and housekeeping purposes. With land assigned and -outfit ready, the newcomer proceeded to adjust himself as well as -possible to his new surroundings. In the very nature of things, many of -the early settlers were undesirables; it is true that much was made of -the care with which they were selected before they were shipped to -Africa; such claims, however, deserve little more belief than might -have been expected under the circumstances. It was not strange that many -weak, undesirable, even vicious, individuals were sent; the remarkable -fact is that the mass was as good as it actually was. While much -allowance must be made for partisanship, and the desire to make a good -showing, there is remarkable uniformity in the reports concerning the -decency, neatness, and progressive character of the settlers. Among the -newcomers there were indeed a number of exceptional men, men who, in any -time or place, would be recognized as superior; they were men of ability -who, in the old home, had felt themselves subject to the most unjust -discrimination; they had chafed under the disadvantages and inequality -of their situations; they felt that in Liberia there was indeed a chance -for black men. Such were Lott Carey, Elijah Johnson, Hilary Teague, Amos -Herring, and others. The new colony owed much to the presence of a few -such men. It has always been so, it will always be so; there is _no_ -community where the number of leaders is large; there is _no_ community -where the rank and file are honest, respectable, ambitious, and -progressive. It is unreasonable to expect in Liberia what we could not -find in any civilized land of white men. An interesting fact regarding -Liberia is that the supply of leaders has never failed. The “fathers” -died; the sons have followed; the first settlers have gone to their -reward; new settlers with the qualifications of leadership have always -come. When the colony gave place to the Republic, it had leaders like -Roberts, Hilary Johnson, and Stephen A. Benson. To-day there are, all -things considered, a remarkable number of men of ability; the little -land with Arthur Barclay, Daniel E. Howard, J. J. Dossen, F. E. R. -Johnson, T. McCants Stewart, Bishop Ferguson,--and plenty more--is not -badly equipped for grappling with national problems. - -In the early days every one had to suffer the acclimating fever; many -died. Such, however, has been the experience in the settlement of all -new countries, even outside the tropics. Our own pilgrim fathers lost -severely in taking possession of New England; mastery of the Mississippi -Valley was achieved only at a frightful loss in life; to the outsider, -who only reads the death list, Liberian settlement seems horrible; but, -to the one who knows the price eternally paid for colonization, it -appears less bad. After passing through the fever, and settling down to -work, the question of success was one for each man to settle for -himself. The two opportunities were trade and agriculture. We have seen -repeatedly that, on the whole, trade had the greater attractiveness. -Still, numbers went to farming and the development of plantations. -Opportunity was really large and success was not infrequent. The number -of early settlers who promptly secured comfort, and even modest wealth, -was great. - -If there is to be immigration on any considerable scale, there must be -easy communication between the United States and Liberia. The original -settlers were sent when opportunity offered; sometimes in private -sailing vessels, sometimes in government ships. There has been very -little direct sailing between the two countries since our Civil War. For -a long time it was necessary for passengers who desired to go from the -United States to Liberia, to go first to Liverpool, Hamburg, Rotterdam, -or Antwerp, and from there to take a steamer for the West Coast; such an -arrangement of course involved considerable expense and much loss of -time. There have been efforts at various times to establish direct lines -of communication. Thus, in 1838, Judge Wilkinson submitted a project. He -recommended that a vessel should be purchased and sold to such free -persons of color as would agree to man her with colored seamen, and -navigate her as a regular packet between Liberia and the United States. -Regular passenger rates would be paid to the conductors of this -enterprise for the conveyance of emigrants sent out by the Society. The -plan was approved and the money promptly raised; $3000 was subscribed by -the New York Colonization Society, $1000 by the New Jersey Colonization -Society, and $400 by individuals. Judge Wilkinson, at once, on his own -responsibility, purchased the Saluda for $6000; she was a vessel of 384 -tons; a fast sailer; in good order; she had passenger accommodations for -150 persons. - -A few years later, in 1846, a joint-stock trading company was -established by the Maryland Colonization Society under the name of the -Chesapeake and Liberian Trading Co. It was to maintain a line of packets -for taking out emigrants and bringing in produce; it was expected that -the colonists would invest in the shares; $20,000 was considered -necessary for the enterprise, and there was considerable difficulty in -raising it, only $16,000 having been subscribed when the first vessel -was completed and ready for sailing. The first voyage took place in the -month of December. The _Liberian Packet_, as it was called, made many -voyages. It was found necessary to increase the size of the vessel -employed, but the whole enterprise received a severe check with the -wreck of the _Ralph Cross_. It was in several respects a real success, -but there was considerable disappointment felt because of the little -interest taken in this line by the colonists themselves; it was hoped -that the bulk of the stock would be taken by them--as a matter of fact, -only about one-eighth was so purchased. Commodore Foote, in his -interesting book, Africa and the American Flag, emphasizes the fact that -the one great advantage resulting from this line was the ease with which -Liberian settlers revisited the United States for short periods, thus -forming and keeping up connections with their mother country. - -When Thomas was along the West Coast in 1857, direct communication -appears to have ceased. He says: “The day is not distant when steam -communication will be established between the United States and Liberia, -and her exhaustless fields be brought within fourteen days of our -shores. Already the interests of American commerce demand the -establishment of such a line, and the general government should extend -its aid in such an enterprise, before England and France take the field -from us. Already the steam-liners between England and Fernando Po touch -at Monrovia, and it is said that arrangements are being made with the -company to have them stop at Cape Palmas also. Of the 125,000 gallons of -palm oil annually exported from this place, American producers get -50,000. The other exports are pepper and camwood. The revenue of -Maryland, the year previous to its annexation to Liberia, was about -$2000, derived from a light duty on certain classes of imports.” In 1850 -an effort was made in the American Congress to establish and develop a -trading line between the two countries. Since that time there have been -occasional suggestions looking in this direction; thus, in 1904 a -company was established under the name of the _New York and Liberian -Steamship Co._ with a capital stock of $50,000; at about the same time, -there was organized the _American and West African Steamship Co._ with -head-quarters at New York, a capital of $600,000, and the apparent -endorsement of many of the most prominent colored men of the United -States. Many such schemes have been broached, some with brilliant -promise; for one reason or another, however, they have failed. There is -no question that such a company under conservative management might make -a success; the difficulty so far with most of them has been that they -have started with too high hopes of large, immediate returns and with -insufficient capital. In the long run, good returns might be expected; -but there should be anticipated a considerable period during which there -would be little, if any, income. Very recently an experimental -arrangement has been made by the two great steamship-lines of West -Africa to connect New York with Monrovia. At present a vessel sails once -every two months from New York for the west coast of Africa. The first -stop is at Las Palmas, Canary Islands; the second, Monrovia; the time -from New York to Monrovia is nineteen days; the vessel then proceeds -south along the western coast of Africa, returning to Monrovia at the -end of about nine weeks; on the return the only point of call is St. -Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands. The return voyage occupies eighteen -or nineteen days. The vessels making these runs are alternately German -and English, of the Woermann and the Elder Dempster Lines. - -This arrangement is the best that has been offered for many years. It is -relatively easy by means of it for Americans to visit Liberia, and for -Liberians to see our country. It is to be hoped that the arrangement -will be continued--or even improved; if there is anything in this trade -at all, it should not be long before sailings will take place monthly -instead of one in two months. - -Does Liberia wish immigration from America? Liberians say so, but they -usually qualify the statement by saying that it should be “of the right -kind”. They assert that they will welcome thousands. Presidential -messages, congressional action, local resolutions, all express one -sentiment; they want Americans, they will welcome them, they will give -them every opportunity. This is no doubt true theoretically and in the -abstract. As a matter of fact, however, they do not really want American -settlers. There are many reasons for this attitude, and all are natural. -The new-comer from America is apt to be supercilious and condescending; -he is critical and makes odious comparisons; he knows little of the -history of the country, has no sympathy with its achievements, sees only -its crudities and errors. He is full of grand schemes for his own -advancement; he is in Liberia for exploitation; a man of some little -prominence in his home community with us, he expects to be a leader in -the new surroundings; he wishes to be a new broom, sweeping clean. He -would brush away all that already exists, and construct a totally new -edifice; but when one brushes away what already exists, the task before -him is worse than that of “making bricks without straw”. It is no wonder -that the new-comer is promptly looked upon with dislike. - -Again, there are not many paying “jobs”; those that exist are already -occupied by native sons and old settlers; the coming of a considerable -number of new immigrants will not increase the number of these “jobs” in -proportion to the influx of population. The new-comers will crowd those -who are already located; lack of opportunity, scantness of educational -facilities, inability to secure a proper preparation--all things which -are in the nature of Liberian conditions and for which the individual -can not be held responsible,--give to those already in possession a -sense of inferiority and unpreparedness which makes them fear the coming -of the outsider who has had a wider training. Whatever they may say to -the contrary, however much they may express the desire that highly -trained and competent Americans should come to the aid of the Republic, -the whole official and governing body will look with natural suspicion -and jealousy upon intruders. - -It is commonplace to be told by Liberians that there is plenty of work -in the Republic for carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, and wheelwrights. -This is said so readily that it sounds like a recitation learned for -repetition. That there may be room for carpenters and masons is -probable; but the need of blacksmiths in a country where there are no -real vehicles or horses is less evident; and exactly what a wheelwright -would do to fill his time is questionable. There are at present in -Liberia almost no manufactories; it will surely be some time before -there is need of such. There are in Liberia no opportunities for day -labor for American negroes; the “bush nigger” is there and will work for -wages which no American colored man could think of receiving if he were -able to work at such labor in that country. It has been suggested to me -that thousands of American negroes might be employed in road-building; -there is indeed much need for roads; but the work of road-building is -likely to continue to fall to the native. Newcomers are almost certain -to go into professional life, politics, trade, or agriculture. -Professional life and politics are already fairly full--trade and -agriculture remain as legitimate opportunities for the newcomer. The -American negro who comes to Liberia for trade must have capital, and he -must realize that he enters into competition with old established white -trading houses as well as with experienced Liberians who know the -country and its needs. If the newcomer goes into agriculture, he must -expect to make some outlay in securing land, constructing buildings, -buying outfits; curiously enough, even in this field, where it might be -supposed that he would meet with little, if any, opposition, he is quite -sure to encounter hostility from neighbors. Into whatever field of -legitimate enterprise the American immigrant may plan to enter, he -should not come to Africa unless he is healthy of body, young, of active -mind, fairly educated, and with money for tiding over a period of -non-productiveness and opposition more or less frank and open. - -Yet many succeed. Conspicuous examples are not wanting. Three recent -cases may be considered typical. There is J. H. Green, who came to -Liberia from Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1902; a lawyer by trade, he had -been interested while still in the United States in the promotion of -Liberian immigration; he carried with him into the new region his paper, -_The African League_, which is a monthly periodical largely devoted to -the encouragement of Liberian immigration. At first in Monrovia, since -then at Buchanan, he has continued to print his paper which has the -longest continued existence of any genuine newspaper that has been -printed in Liberia for many years; he has encountered constant -opposition; he is a fighter from way back and has the courage of his -convictions. He has made good. He practices law, has been a local judge, -conducts a successful, influential, and outspoken paper, has his -printing-house, and conducts a shop for trade. Judge T. McCants Stewart -is justly respected as one of the leading men of the Republic. He first -went to Liberia thirty years ago, in connection with Liberia College; he -stayed but a short time, returning to the United States; while in this -country, he published an interesting and useful little book upon -Liberia; later he went to Honolulu, Hawaii; returning to America from -our newest territory, he closed out his affairs in this land and went -again to Liberia; as a newcomer, he necessarily had prejudice and -opposition to encounter; he has rooted there, however, and, respected -and influential, is now one of the associate justices of the Supreme -Court. One of the most interesting men in Liberia to-day is Jeff -Faulkner; he is active, enterprising, pushing, indefatigable; he is the -only handy, all-around mechanician in Monrovia; he is absolutely one of -the most useful men in the Republic; he is depended upon by the -government in many a time of need; when “the Lark” goes to the bottom, -Jeff Faulkner is the only man to raise her; he has a keen eye for -business, and develops every opportunity; he has recently established an -ice-factory, and his ice-cream parlor--a novelty in Liberia’s -capital--is popular. This very useful man, though well appreciated, has -literally had to fight his way to success. These men are well -established, but they have succeeded only because they were men of -ideas, conviction, purpose, determination. Weak men in their positions -would have failed. Liberia is no place for weaklings; there is no demand -for immigrants who leave America because they have been failures there. - -For years Green has been agitating for “the negro city”. In the _African -League_, in 1903, he carried a page announcement regarding it. From it -we quote some extracts: “THE NEGRO CITY to be built in LIBERIA, AFRICA, -BY 1000 AMERICAN NEGROES. LIBERIA CITY will be the name. Foundation to -be laid upon the arrival of the great colony early in 1904. Let all be -ready and fully prepared for the great corner-stone laying of a great -negro town in a HIGH AND HEALTHY PLACE. Stones wanted for the -foundation. What kind of stones? Stones in the form of men! -Self-sacrificing, vigorous, fearless, strong-hearted, self-supporting, -brainy, brawny, God-fearing men? Men fitted for the sub-stratum of the -great town in the great country where lynching is not known, and freedom -reigns supreme! Where your son may be a beggar or a ruler--at his own -election. Come and make him a ruler. . . . A city built in a day. The -foundation of this new settlement with the town as the centre, will be -laid upon the arrival of the colonists from America upon the ground. -. . . A high and beautiful location, too high for the coast fever that -is so much dreaded by the one who has heard about it--a location for -work in a country where gold and other precious metals abound. . . . -This place is especially inviting to the mining negro. The artisans are -needed, too, along with the farmers and other workmen, for all these are -needed in building up a great republic; only let them bring some -capital. This is a great place for merchants. . . . Let all who want to -join this colony and want a town lot and a farm in the section, free of -charge, write.” So far the great negro settlement does not actually -exist. The idea has been often ridiculed; but it deserves consideration. -At the time in question, Mr. Green made an extended journey in which he -claimed to be looking for the best site for his settlement. Such a city, -with anywhere from three hundred to one thousand inhabitants, would -promise a more speedy and durable success than the trickling in of the -same number of immigrants as individuals. There is strength in numbers; -a common interest would bind the newcomers to each other; if they really -represented a variety of trades and industries, the community might be -sufficient to itself; individual jealousies of old settlers would be -reduced to a minimum of harmfulness. There would naturally be, in case -such a settlement were established, strong jealousy between it as a -whole and longer established communities. Such has always been the case -in Liberian history. There has always been feeling between Monrovia, -Grand Bassa, Greenville, and Maryland. Such jealousies are natural and -unavoidable. The only way in which they can be reduced is by the -establishment of so many communities that the distance between them -would be small; close contact would develop at least a fair degree of -harmony. - -There are prominent negroes in our own country who have urged an exodus -of black men from the United States. The difficulties of transporting -our millions of black men, women, and children to Africa, if they care -to go, are so great as to render the scheme actually impracticable. Nor -is the difficulty of transportation the only one. The limited range of -promising occupations makes it unlikely that great numbers will ever go -thither; more than that, pronounced success in the United States,--and -pronounced success to-day is by no means rare among our colored -population,--will hold the majority of colored people in this country. -There is, however, room in Liberia for many thousands of settlers and -opportunity for those among them who have no foolish notions and who -possess the qualities which Green demands from those whom he invites to -come. Bishop Turner and Dr. Heard urge migration on the largest possible -scale; Dr. Ernest Lyon who, at the time when the excitement in regard to -Liberia City was at its height, represented our government as minister -to Liberia, discourages “indiscriminate immigration”. His report sent -late in 1903 to Secretary Hay, of our Department of State, was a dash to -the high hopes of the encouragers of immigration. His letter was called -out by the proposed large emigration from the United States in 1904. He -says: “From my knowledge of the conditions of affairs here, I beg to -inform you that Liberia is not prepared for indiscriminate immigration -in 1904. If immigrants come here who are unable to support themselves -for at least six months, they will die from starvation and the rigor of -the African climate--there are no houses here, even of a temporary -construction, to protect them until they can build for themselves.” As -might be expected, this report of the resident Minister called forth a -vigorous reply from Mr. Green. He closes his answer with an actually -able burst of feeling. He says: “As to indiscriminate immigration, it -was that that planted the colony of Liberia; it was indiscriminate -immigration which gave birth to a Republic to which the Rev. Dr. Lyon -might be accredited United States Minister; it was this immigration -scheme that gave us a President Roberts, a Benson, a Gardner, a Coleman. -It reinforced, succored, perpetuated the Republic in its infancy. It was -indiscriminate immigration which gave Liberia the grave and -distinguished statesman, His Excellency, President A. Barclay, our -present and honored incumbent. Yes, and more than that, even America is -a child of indiscriminate immigration which yet constitutes the greatest -increase of American humanity. It made America great. May it not make -Liberia great?” Thousands of American black men might no doubt move to -Liberia with advantage and profit to themselves and to their adopted -country. The Republic offers a rich field. But it needs no idlers, no -paupers, no criminals. No one should go without having clear ideas as to -his plans; the questions of “receptacle”, location, temporary support, -must be looked into and provided for. And the newcomer who is to be -successful must be forceful, self-reliant, and ready to meet with -temporary prejudice. While the conditions of many blacks might be -improved by removal to Liberia, the black population in this country -would be advantaged by the elimination; if a considerable number of -emigrants were to go to Liberia, pressure here would be relieved and -conditions would be improved. - -There will of course be a constant trickling of newcomers from this -country to Liberia; there may very well be a constant stream. Such a -stream indeed is necessary, if the vigor and vitality of Liberia is to -be maintained; new blood is desirable--whether welcome or not. -Know-nothing-ism is not confined to Liberia or to any one place. In the -United States we have a condition which is comparable to that which -Liberia presents. Here, too, the old population is barely holding its -own, if it is doing so; the old families of New England and the eastern -seaboard have largely run to seed; it is absolutely necessary that a -great and steady immigration of European whites pour in to maintain our -life by the infusion of new blood. Such immigration of course is not -welcomed by our “true Americans”. If rigid exclusion could be practiced, -we should soon face a condition much like that of France. If we are to -live and occupy a significant place among the nations of the world, we -must accept this constant incoming of population from outside. The -mixture of these newcomers with our own people, fagged and worn out by -new and unfavorable conditions, produces a new stock with sufficient -vigor to carry on our national development. The hope of Liberia lies -largely in a considerable immigration of black people from our southern -states. - -One of the most serious dangers of Liberia lies in its isolation; it -needs contact; everything that tends toward an increase of contact with -the outside world is good. Liberia needs ideas, friends, interchange; -otherwise stagnation is inevitable--and death. She must receive these -aids either from Europe or from America; she will of course receive them -from both; but the source of the greater part of her inspiration and -ideals must be on this side of the Atlantic and from our people of -color. Immigration from America, whether small or great, must -necessarily be helpful. If great and constant, difficulties will be -lightened and helpful bonds strengthened. - - If the temporary management in the hands of others of a part of our - governmental machinery will result in actual and permanent - independence and international respect, which I firmly believe will be - the outcome, then it becomes our imperative duty as patriotic citizens - to make such a necessary and noble sacrifice.--DANIEL E. HOWARD. - - -THE FOREIGN DEBT OF THE REPUBLIC. - - -THE LOAN OF 1870. - -On January 26, 1870, the Legislature authorized President Edward J. Roye -to negotiate a loan not exceeding £100,000, at not more than 7 per cent -interest; the bonds were to run for fifteen years, and three years’ -interest advanced might be deducted. Of the sum to be received upon this -loan £20,000 was to be used in buying up all the checks, scripts, -currency debentures, and government paper of whatever kind then afloat; -£20,000 more was to be deposited securely as a basis for the issue of a -paper currency in what were to be known as Treasury Notes; the balance -of the proceeds of the loan was to be deposited in some reliable bank as -an emergency fund to be drawn upon at need by special act of the -Legislature. - -At the time when this action of the Legislature was taken, President -Roye was about to go to England; it was supposed that he would attend to -the business while in London, and that considerable expense would be -saved to the nation by his personal attention to the details of the -arrangement; for some reason or other, he did not take up the matter -while he was absent. On his return to Monrovia, however, he proceeded to -secure the loan. He appointed David Chinery, at that time consul for -Liberia in London, Henry V. Johnson, Sr., and W. S. Anderson, -commissioners--the two latter being sent to London for the purpose--to -negotiate the loan. President Roye should of course have submitted this -whole matter to the Legislature; there was considerable objection to the -loan, and no serious steps should have been taken regarding it without -the authorization of the legislative body. The commissioners succeeded -in negotiating the loan for £100,000 at 7 per cent interest, at 30 per -cent below par; three years’ interest were deducted from the £70,000, -leaving a balance of £49,000 to be placed to the credit of the -commissioners. “Then followed,” to quote the words of President Roberts, -“a system of charges, speculations, and frauds unparalleled, I presume, -in any public loan transactions of modern times.” No sooner had the news -of the negotiation reached President Roye, than he commenced to draw -against it for himself and others, not waiting for any part of it to be -paid into the treasury of the Republic for the purposes specified in the -act, and before the Legislature had accepted the loan or taken any -action in regard to it. More than that, without legislative authority, -he sent an order drawn by the Secretary of the Treasury--a member of his -own family--approved by himself for £10,000 value of merchandise, -alleging that this was on account of the government. Mr. Chinery, in -filling this order, sent merchandise invoiced at more than £14,000, -including transportation, shipping-charges, freight, insurance, etc., -most of the articles being charged at amounts in excess of their market -value, many of them inferior in quality, and some nearly, and others -entirely, useless in Liberia. How much was actually realized of this -loan no one knows; Sir Harry Johnston says £27,000; Ferguson (from whom -we draw most of the particulars regarding this transaction) says -£17,903. In return for it, at least £80,000 in bonds were issued--Sir -Harry Johnston says perhaps the whole £100,000. - -The moment was one of political disturbance. In 1869 there had been an -effort to amend the constitution so as to extend the office of -President from a term of two years to one of four; the effort failed. In -May, 1871, when his two years had elapsed, Roye attempted to continue -himself in power for two years longer; a shadow of an excuse for this -usurpation was found in this attempted passing of an amendment. This -bold coup, together with the dissatisfaction regarding the loan, led to -his being hurled from power. Notice of the disturbed condition of the -Republic was at once sent to the representative of Liberia in London, -and to the bondholders; the newly established government ordered all -drafts, etc., for money received on account of the loan to be stopped, -countermanded the orders for goods, and demanded a _statu quo_ until the -Legislature should have a chance to act; legal proceedings were taken -against Commissioners Johnson and Anderson; Chinery was discharged from -his office as Liberian Consul in London; Mr. John Jackson was appointed -Consul-General in his place and took charge of matters. So palpable was -the mismanagement of this whole transaction in London, and so -extravagant had been the charges and other outlays connected with it, -that Consul Jackson took legal proceedings to protect the interests of -the Republic. - -Through a period of almost thirty years, the matter of this loan was -constantly agitated, and it was only in 1898 that the Liberian Consul, -Henry Hayman, was able to bring about a final arrangement of the unhappy -affair. At that time the Liberian Government recognized its -responsibility to the amount of £80,000; it agreed to begin payment at -once upon the bonds--paying interest at the rate of 3 per cent the first -three years, 4 per cent for the following three years, and 5 per cent -thereafter until both the principal and interest be fully paid; after -that, the back interests would be assumed at 5 per cent. Since this -adjustment, the Liberian Government has regularly and honorably met its -interest payments. Sir Harry Johnston, in his great work on Liberia, -speaks vigorously and frankly regarding this loan of 1870, which was a -disgraceful operation for British financiers. - - -THE LOAN OF 1906. - -It is curious that, in connection with the next financial undertaking of -the Republic, which was little, if any, more satisfactory than the loan -of 1870, Sir Harry himself should have played a significant part. When -President Barclay and his companions were in London in 1906, they made -arrangements for a new loan, also of £100,000. An interview was held at -the office of Consul-General Hayman, at which were present Sir Harry H. -Johnston, chairman of the Liberian Development Co., Limited, together -with some of this company’s officers, Mr. Clark of the Foreign Office, -Emil Erlanger, and Consul Hayman. Mr. Erlanger represented the brokers -through whom the Liberian Development Co. were to secure a loan of -£100,000 for the benefit of Liberia. Excellent discussions of this loan -by Mr. Ellis, who was so long connected with our Legation at Monrovia, -and Mr. Scott, who was a member of the United States Commission in 1909, -have been printed. It is from these articles that we draw our details. - -The proceeds of the loan of 1906 were to be applied in the following -manner: (a) $25,000 was to be used for pressing Liberian obligations; -(b) $125,000 was to be employed in the payment of domestic debts; (c) -$35,000 was to be loaned to the Liberian Development Co.; (d) the -balance was to be devoted to the development of banking, and for road -schemes by the Liberian Development Co. in Liberia. As security for this -loan, two British officials, as chief and assistant inspectors of -customs, were to have charge of the Liberian customs revenue; the chief -inspector was to act also as financial adviser to the Republic; $30,000 -annually (in semi-annual payments) was to be turned in as interest until -the whole loan was repaid; 10 per cent of any excess over $250,000 in -customs revenue per year was to be received by the Liberian Development -Co. The “company was charged with the responsibility of returning the -loan to Erlanger and Co. by the payment of 50 per cent of the net -profits derived from the exercise of the powers and privileges of the -charter of the former company, together with profits from the banking -and road schemes to be undertaken in Liberia.” - -The loan was actually applied as follows: (a) to the extinguishment of -domestic debts, £30,000; (b) loaned to the Liberian Development Co., -£7000; (c) in carrying out road schemes, £32,776.11.3; (d) obtained by -Liberia on ratification of tripartite agreement of 1908, £30,223.8.9; -total, £100,000. - -Friction soon arose in the administration of the customs. The Liberian -Development Co. constructed fifteen miles of automobile road in the -Careysberg District, bought a small steam launch for the St. Paul’s -River, and purchased two automobiles; it then announced that its road -fund was completely exhausted, after having spent, on an ordinary dirt -road, about $163,882. Liberian dissatisfaction was great, and question -was raised regarding the “balance of the £70,000 which had been -entrusted without security to the management of the company.” In the -investigation which followed in an attempt to rearrange affairs, -considerable feeling appears to have been shown. Sir Harry Johnston had -repeatedly ignored the requests of President Barclay for an accounting -by his company; in the interview in which efforts at adjustment were -made, he is said to have conducted himself in a supercilious manner and -to have expressed his surprise “that the President should have required -the company to furnish him with a statement of accounts, and disclaimed -any responsibility for the manner in which the money had been expended”. -Under the tripartite arrangement which was entered into between the -Government of Liberia, Erlanger and Co., and the Liberian Development -Co., Chartered and Limited, it was finally arranged that “Liberia -assume direct responsibility to Messrs. Erlanger and Co. for the loan of -1906, and, aside from obtaining some advantages in the new Agreement, -secured from the Liberian Development Co. the residue of the loan, -amounting to £30,223.8.9, and practically dispensed with the future -services of this company in the solution of the new Liberian problems.” - -Mr. Emmett Scott makes some pertinent observations in connection with -this affair. He says: “Sir Harry Johnston, in his book, quite spiritedly -criticizes the agreements under the loan of 1871. It is hard to -determine, however, how less one-sided they were than those of his own -benevolent corporation, even if his company had in perfect good faith -carried out their part of the bargain. The suggestion that the customs -should be collected by European experts, Englishmen being understood, -introduced, of course, the feature of external control into the customs -service . . . of the so-called experts sent to Liberia under the -agreement, the first one’s selection was, to say the least, unfortunate. -He all but confessed his utter failure after two or three months to -understand what he was about, although he had been granted a salary of -about $3500 a year, much more than he had received in the British -service in Sierra Leone. The second one appointed has developed into a -somewhat capable official, although his chief claim to being called an -expert was, it is said, that he had successfully raised oranges in -California. He was certainly no customs expert, and, I learn, had -probably never been inside of a customs house. He received £500 a year. -The present chief inspector of customs is a wholly efficient man, but -while doing similar service at Freetown, Sierra Leone, the neighboring -country, he received a salary of £300 or $1500 a year, while the -Liberians are called upon to pay him a salary of £1000, or $5000 a year. -This salary, perhaps I should state, is twice that received by the -President of the Republic. Efforts to reduce this salary to £700 or -$3500 have recently been made, but with what success I cannot -chronicle.” - -Again: “The company’s high-handed manner of expending the money on hand, -however, engendered so much bad blood, that at last President Barclay -applied to Sir Harry Johnston, managing director of the Liberian -Development Co., for an accounting. The latter, it is said, expressed -the greatest surprise that such a demand should be made upon him, and -disclaimed any and all responsibility to the Liberian Government for the -way in which the money had been or was to be expended. He persistently -refused to render any accounts until he found the position he maintained -was so untenable that he could not depend upon his government for -support; he also found that President Barclay was about to sever all -relations with his company, maintaining, in the absence of any -accounting, that the Government of Liberia would hold itself responsible -only for the cash actually received. About $200,000 of the amount raised -on the credit of the government, it is said, had been frittered away on -badly managed schemes.” - -And finally: “In dismissing this loan of 1906, may I say that no one now -contends that the Liberian Development Co. has, or has had, any money -aside from that raised on the Government’s credit; to-day it is -practically bankrupt. The relations between the Government and the -Company have been severed, and under the agreement of 1908 with Messrs. -Erlanger, London, the Liberian Government is responsible for the whole -loan.” - - -THE AMERICAN LOAN. - -Conditions became desperate; there were now two obligations to British -creditors, each for a handsome sum, and both drawing interest; more than -that, there had grown up a considerable domestic debt; real bankruptcy -seemed to threaten the nation. As a result of the visit of the American -Commission to Liberia in 1909, the United States used its good offices -in favor of the Republic, and arrangements were perfected whereby -certain banking institutions of the United States, Germany, France, and -Great Britain furnished the Republic of Liberia with a loan of -$1,700,000; this loan was to be used in the payment of its domestic and -foreign debts. According to the official report of the Commission, the -public debt of Liberia in 1909 amounted to the sum of $1,289,570.60. Mr. -George W. Ellis has prepared an excellent paper regarding this loan, and -from it we abbreviate our own statement. In order to secure the loan, -the Liberian customs revenues are temporarily to be placed in charge of -a customs receivership, with a general receiver appointed from the -United States by the President, and holding office during his pleasure, -and three receivers, one each from Great Britain, Germany, and France, -appointed by, and holding office during the pleasure of, their -respective governments. As further security for the loan, the revenues -from exports and imports, duties on rubber, and all head moneys are -pledged. Five per cent gold bonds in denominations of $1000, $500, and -$100, for a period of forty years, interest and principal payable in New -York, are to be issued by the Liberian Government. The Liberian revenues -subject to the loan are transferred for its service and are termed -“assigned revenues”; these assigned revenues are in charge of the -receivership. The majority of the receivers have the power to suspend -customs officials, make temporary appointments, make rules and -regulations relative to the assigned revenues; they have a right to -adequate patrol for land and sea, and in case such is not furnished, to -supply it themselves. The general receiver has a salary of $5000, the -others, $2500. A monthly report of accounts is to be rendered to the -government. As a condition of the loan, the frontier police force is to -be maintained; the President of the United States is to assign training -officers, to be paid from the assigned revenues. The General Receiver is -also the Financial Adviser of the Liberian Government; he is to -systematize the finances of Liberia; and to approve statements before -submission to the legislature. Appropriations must not overrun the -revenues; after the legislature adjourns, the President, Secretary of -the Treasury, and the Financial Adviser must revise the appropriations -if they have overrun; their act is binding to the Secretary of the -Treasury. The Financial Adviser co-operates with the government in -establishing economical and efficient administration and expenditure. -The debts of the Republic are to be at once paid--by bonds where the -creditors chose to receive them. The bankers are to receive for their -services their out-of-pocket expenses, legal charges, commission on the -face value of the 5 per cent bonds, and 5 per cent on the bonds -purchased by themselves. Residue bonds are to be held by the fiscal -agents to meet approved, unadjusted indebtedness: final residue bonds -will be sold and the money paid to Liberia for public improvements -approved by the General Receiver. In order that this agreement should go -into effect, it was necessary that the Liberian Legislature should pass -all necessary measures of approval before January 1, 1912. This was -done. There was some delay in finally placing the funds at the -disposition of the Liberian Government, but at present everything has -been arranged and the new loan is in effect. This arrangement caused -general joy throughout the Republic; it was felt not only that it -released the people from a heavy and dangerous obligation to unfriendly -creditors, but that it probably began a period of closer relationship -between the United States and Liberia. It is possible that too much of a -feeling of security existed. It is likely that more joy was felt over -the receipt of $1,700,000 than of responsibility for its ultimate -repayment. On the whole, it must be admitted that the loan is favorable -to the Republic. The government has realized a much larger percentage of -actual funds than in any of its preceding financial undertakings. There -are, however, some weak points in the plan. It is unfortunate that the -loan was theoretically made through banks of different nations; as a -matter of fact, it was an American enterprise, and should have been so -in word as well. There is no reason why foreign nations should be -interested--except indeed that Great Britain should experience a -sentiment of joy in having the interests of her citizens secured. The -sum of $1,700,000 is so small that it could have been easily supplied by -American houses and considered a little matter with no actual political -relations. That the loan should have been secured by a receivership is -just, but it would have been much better to have appointed a single -American receiver instead of four men of different nations. In this -international receivership there lies considerable danger. Friction is -likely. France, England, Germany are suspicious of each other. The -simplest act is liable to misconstruction, and one or another of the -three sub-receivers is likely to feel his dignity and that of his nation -affected, and squabbles are certain to arise. The American receiver, as -is proper, is given the position of leadership. Suppose he were to die -or be unfit for service; which of the other three receivers will take -his place? There appears to be no arrangement made for such a -contingency, yet it is quite certain to arise, and if it should, the man -who temporarily assumes the duties, will be particularly likely to find -himself in trouble. The question as to location of the four receivers -may some time or other raise difficulties. Suppose, for example, the -British receiver were placed at Cape Mount, adjacent to British -territory, and the French receiver were to be located at Cape Palmas, -close to French authority; opportunity for unfaithfulness to the -Republic would be very great. There is nothing in the history of the -past to warrant us in assuming that these officials would be men of such -high spirit and principle as to resist temptation. The possibility of -difficulties between the General Receiver and the Liberian Government -is also very great. He is given large powers; unless he is a man of -extraordinary ability and well-balanced character, it is certain that -complications will arise; there will be constant risk of his -inter-meddling in every field of governmental affairs. Some of these -difficulties of course are inherent in a receivership, and as a -receivership is absolutely necessary, their risk must be accepted. - -On the whole, the American loan should be a great help to Liberia. -Friends of the Republic hope for the best results. The government is -given a breathing spell, and time and opportunity for the re-adjustment -of its economic interests. There is no danger, if the receivership is -competent, but that the income of the nation will easily carry the loan -with all its obligations, and leave ample funds in balance for the -legitimate enterprises of the government. It is reasonable to hope that -Liberia has entered upon a period of prosperity. - - Yes, I say these were but slaves who gave us the Declaration of - Independence. They were but slaves who framed our Constitution, they - were but slaves who combatted with the odds of life, amidst wars, - devastation, and foreign aggressions to hold intact for us and for our - children this home of ours.--S. D. FERGUSON, JR. - - -POLITICS. - -We have hesitated long about undertaking this discussion of Liberian -politics. We are almost certain to be misunderstood, no matter what we -say or how we say it. In Liberia they will feel that we lack sympathy, -that we drag forth their weaknesses and expose them to public scorn; in -this country they will fail to see that the weak points of Liberian -politics are common to all republics, that they are as flagrant among -ourselves as in Liberia; in foreign lands--should our book be read in -such--what we say will be taken as justification for continued -aggression and interference. We wish that Liberia were a land of general -education; that the whole population had a clear understanding of the -duties of citizenship; that knowledge of public questions were general. -Such conditions are ideal in a republic. We do not find them in Liberia; -we do not find them here. Liberian politics is patterned on our own; its -weaknesses are our weaknesses. It is easy for us to see its faults -because we are an outside party; because we are rich and they are poor; -because we are white and they are black. In Liberia there is a general -desire to feed at the public trough; it makes no difference what a man -is or what he has accomplished, every one is ready to go into politics; -neither trade, agriculture, nor professional life restrains a man who -has political opportunities presented to him; everybody of ability -wants office. This is unfortunate; it is neither strange, unique, nor -blameworthy. Every official, however, has a list of dependents; once in -office, he must provide for others; the number of brothers, sons, -nephews, and cousins of officials who find some clerkship or small -appointment is relatively large. As almost every office in the Republic, -save that of representatives and senators, is appointed by the -President, it is very easy for one who holds office to practice -nepotism. It is and will be a long time before anything like actual -civil service can find a place in Liberia. Such a condition of course -leads to little activity in the doing of work for the Government; the -less a man can do to earn his salary, the better, so long as he is -certain of his job. We have already called attention to the fact, -quoting from Ellis, that there is relatively little of what we know as -party politics in Liberia. Practically there are no well marked -political platforms based on principles. If, perchance, hostility to the -powers that be threatens to become dangerous, it may be checked by -skilful appointment from the opposition to office. Thus, at the last -election, which was the most bitterly fought for many years, it was -claimed that the defeated candidate, J. J. Dossen, would never be heard -of in politics again; such, however, was not the case; he must be -provided for, in order that his later course might not threaten the -existing status; being without a job, he received appointment to the -presidency of Liberia College--a mere temporary arrangement of course; -he is now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. - -There are, however, personal likes and dislikes which will vent -themselves in outbursts of party spirit. The last election was really -furious. It voiced the local jealousies of the whole Republic. Just as -in the state of Illinois it is Chicago against the counties, and as in -New York State it is the City of New York against the upstate districts: -so, in Liberia, it is Monrovia against the counties. The election was -really close after an exciting campaign. Charges of fraud were bitterly -advanced. According to the _African League_, there were wild doings in -Bassa County where it is printed. We refrain from really quoting the -_interesting_ and _exciting_ passages from its article, but venture to -give here its opening paragraphs: - -“As the day of election approached, great preparations were made by the -Government and the Government officials to defeat the National True Whig -Party at any cost, and in any manner. They sent money in every direction -to call unqualified nameless bushmen to come, and put into the hands of -the Sheriff a paper which is worth only so much gin and rum to the -bushmen. These bush people had never seen, nor heard of, the registrar’s -office. Neither do they own any land in contemplation of law, but Howard -people, simply because they have had the Government’s approval in this -corruption, had planned to force the corruption into the polls. - -The people who stand for law and order sent white plates to all the -native chiefs, after the customs of the heathen, telling them to have -nothing to do with the matter in which they are not concerned and know -nothing about. - -The Government people threatened that they would vote these bush people -or die. The people knew what that meant, and they began to prepare for -the worst, for they were determined that the law should not be trampled -under foot in that way to their prejudice, and that, too, by those who -are the administrators of the law. On Monday, the first of May, a host -of these uncivilized bush people, headed by Major Horace, flocked into -the upper ward of Buchanan, well armed with the best guns of the -Government, and that night shooting in the streets was a common thing. -Near Lower Buchanan, there were different bands of these wild, bush -people in camp carrying on their savage plays. In Lower Buchanan at the -Vai town, the hideous noise was kept up all night, apparently as a -menace to the citizens for the next day.” On the following day the -election took place throughout the Republic, resulting in the -continuance in power of the interests which for so long had controlled -the destinies of the nation; nine contested cases were lodged against -the House of Representatives and one against the Senate; threats ran -high, feeling was intense. It is certainly an interesting moment when -more than half the membership of a house of Congress is in dispute. Yet -this excitement was allayed, and the contests were all withdrawn; it was -realized that Congress had important business before it in connection -with the American Loan, and that the future of the Republic would be -seriously jeopardized if the time of Congress were taken up with hearing -contest cases instead of dealing with these outside matters. - -There is no question that in Liberia illegal voting is common. The -election to which we have referred above was that of 1911; in 1901 -Bishop Ferguson issued a charge to his clergy and lay members upon the -subject of election evils in which the following words occur: “The -corruptions and wickedness that have attended the last three or four -campaigns are startling to all right-minded people, and, if continued, -no prophet is needed to foretell the disastrous consequences that will -inevitably follow. Election frauds, open-handed bribery, and the utter -disregard of all moral restraints seem to be the order of the day. Those -who at other times are recognized as Christian gentlemen, do not scruple -on these occasions to perpetrate offenses that are condemned both by -God’s law and that of the state. To procure the election of a party man, -they lose sight of, or completely disregard, their standing in the -Church, in society, or the social circle; and will stoop to do the -meanest act. What is worse than all, is the fact that the evils have -become so rife that it appears there are not to be found innocent -citizens enough to punish the guilty under the laws of the land. And -now, to my mind, the worst feature of the thing is the fact that the -aborigines--our brothers just emerging from the darkness of -heathenism--are either coming voluntarily, sought out and persuaded, or -actually forced into this whirl-pool of corruption and wickedness. It is -enough to chill one’s blood to think of the impression made on their -minds, on their induction into civilized usages at such time:--jostled -through a crowd of men,--ruffians now, though at other times Christian -gentlemen--armed with deadly weapons of every description, they are made -to swear that they are constitutionally qualified for the highest -privilege of citizenship under a republican form of government.” - -Again in an Independence Day address given by Dr. Dingwall at Buchanan -in 1910 were these words: “Ignorant and purchasable voters are ruinous -to all other republics. Why not to ours likewise? At the polls the vote -of a fool is counted one, and that one takes the whole of a -philosopher’s to cancel it. Now in Liberia these are chiefly -manufactured from the wild heathen, more than ninety-nine in a night. -The privilege to take a few acres of land and register hundreds of -nameless natives, or on election day to vote each hour the identical -bushman, by simply christening him afresh for each occasion, is a -dangerous weapon in the hands of politicians. This practice would have -destroyed democracy, were these leaders even honest in purpose and -patriotic in spirit.” - -The seriousness of the situation is that any effort to keep the native -vote from being fraudulently cast, is likely to interfere with the -legitimate voting of qualified chiefs; the desirability of having those -natives who are really entitled to the vote exercise their right of -franchise is most important; but to give unqualified native voters the -chance to cast fraudulent ballots is bad indeed. Of course this whole -question of illegal voting should hardly shock us; in my own morning -paper, the very day when I am writing this, these words appear in -prominent head-lines: “Fraud in ballots a Chicago habit Butts Board -told.” It is impossible for the pot to call the kettle black. The -outside world, however, unaccustomed to the little peculiarities of -“manhood suffrage,” will no doubt claim to be sadly shocked; it might -even be that some clean-skirted nation like France or England might -hysterically demand reform. - -We have elsewhere claimed that the Liberians, too, know graft. Official -salaries are very small; why then does political office possess such -great attraction? Of course position and power count for something; but -there are other solid advantages connected with office in Liberia as -well as in other lands. When graft exists in France, Germany, even in -respectable and pious England, it is not strange that it exists in the -African Republic. More than that, graft is by no means confined to -civilization; the native in the bush understands it both in theory and -practice. It would be strange indeed if the descendants of barbaric -grafters, who had been trained in civilized graft through a long -American experience, should be free from graft when conducting their own -affairs in a new land as rich by nature as is Liberia. The number of -schemes which are proposed to the Liberian Legislature is very large; -many of them are magnificent in their proportions, enterprises, and -prospects; what could be more dazzling than the project submitted a few -years ago by the Ellsworth Company of New York? I do not mean to say -that that individual company used improper means to influence -legislative action; but a company with as ambitious plans as they -offered, if adequately capitalized, could easily have made the whole -Legislature rich rather than lose their opportunity. In the same way Sir -William Lever, in his effort to secure monopoly or large advantage in -the palm-oil product of the Republic would, from a business point of -view, be amply justified in making it well worth while for the patriots -to encourage his enterprise. Of course, many of these schemes fail -totally; many of them never get beyond a paper proposition; in the past, -however, the Liberian Legislature has been much too free in giving -concessions with monopolies. While the terms given to the English Rubber -Company seemed to leave opportunity for competitive development of the -trade by others, it practically put all competitors in the power of the -company. Liberia is beginning to realize that in careless granting of -monopolies and special privileges she has hampered her own freedom and -interfered with legitimate development; not long ago the Government -granted a concession to Edgar Allen Forbes and others; it seems to have -been a legitimate and carefully-thought-out enterprise which he -submitted; its development would no doubt be advantageous to the public; -but it is found that previous concessions were infringed by some of its -terms, and difficulties have arisen. On the whole, it would be much -better for Liberia if the propositions submitted to it were less -pretentious and far-reaching; it is better that she should have fifty -different companies operating within her borders, each within a definite -field and succeeding within modest limits, than that everything should -be held in the hands of one or two great corporations which, when a -moment of difficulty comes, may be able to bring influences to bear -which will threaten or even destroy the existence of the nation. - -Liberian officials quite well know the thing which we call junkets. One -might almost think himself at home at times. When some crisis arises, -and the “Lark” must be sent to a seat of danger, high officials, whose -relations to the Government are not such that their presence is -necessary at the seat of disturbance, take advantage of the opportunity -for a fine outing. The nation may be in financial difficulty, but good -food, good smoking, and good drinks seem easily provided; such an outing -not infrequently gives the official opportunity to transact private -business, for he may have interests near the seat of the disturbance. -Junkets are presumably inherent in governmental activities of every -kind; they are not confined to democracies, though they are common in -them. Anywhere of course they are undesirable and should be curbed; -nations, especially republics, should not be called upon to supply free -outings, free business opportunities, free luxuries to individuals at -public cost. - -One of the reforms demanded by the British memorandum was the -improvement of the judiciary. Here there was indeed real reason for -complaint. Liberia has few well trained lawyers; it was not uncommon for -a man to be appointed judge who had no legal training; there were not -infrequent cases of personal and professional misconduct on the part of -judges. President Barclay, in his message of 1908, a notable document be -it said in passing, says the following: “International attacks upon this -(our judicial system) commenced some years ago, and the movement was -initiated by citizens of the German Empire living in Liberia. But the -crisis has been precipitated by our people. When the editor of the -_African League_, himself an ex-judge, an attorney at law, a citizen, -publishes a special edition of his paper, headed “Startling -Revelations,” in which the judicial system of the country is attacked -both in its personnel as well as on its administrative side, when he -describes himself as a scapegoat and martyr, and when months pass and no -reply to his attack is made by the persons affected, what conclusion, do -you think, can other communities of the world, having business interests -in Liberia, draw?” In his address, _The Impartial Administration of -Justice, the Corner-Stone of a Nation_, Justice T. McCants Stewart says: -“It can not be denied, however, that our judiciary to-day is the object -of serious charges both by foreigners and our own citizens, and they are -charges which demand serious consideration. They can not be brushed -aside. The British Government is not alone in making these charges. Our -own people have made them, and our Chief Executive has declared to the -Legislature that evils exist in our judicial system which must be -speedily remedied if we desire to strengthen ourselves as a nation. -Gentlemen of the Bar: Can we be quiet while our judges are charged both -at home and abroad with: (1) ignorance; (2) excessive use of -intoxicants; (3) the exhibition of prejudice or passion in the trial of -cases; (4) shocking immorality; (5) accepting retainers from private -parties; (6) sharing moneys as a reward for the arrest of criminals; (7) -accepting bribes?” This is specific enough and bad enough. To the credit -of the nation be it said that reforms have seriously been undertaken, -and the present condition of the judiciary is greatly improved. It is -rather interesting that we ourselves at this moment are agitating -against a corrupt judiciary; it is scarcely likely that we are in a -condition for stone-throwing. - -Of course where there is corruption in the judiciary there is almost -certain to be miscarriage of justice. During the time we were in -Monrovia, there was great excitement over the case of Col. Lomax and -Commissioner Cooper. We have already mentioned Col. Lomax. He figured -conspicuously in the Kanre-Lahun matter, when he gained the undying -hostility of the British; when Major Mackay Cadell was removed from his -position as the head of the Frontier Force, Lomax took charge; he has -recently been in the district of the newly acquired Behlu Territory. -This is the tract of forest land, of little value, which Great Britain -traded to the Liberian Government in exchange for the rich and desirable -Kanre-Lahun district. Poor as that area is, Britain will never be -content to leave it in Liberian possession. In taking over the area, -Col. Lomax was sent to the new boundary with soldiers, and Commissioner -Cooper was sent to aid in delimiting the boundary. Of course there was -trouble; there would have been trouble had Lomax and Cooper been angels. -At the town of Behlu itself, certainly within the new Liberian -territory, there was difficulty, and several Liberian soldiers were -killed. All sorts of complaints were hurried to Monrovia by the Sierra -Leone authorities:--Lomax was causing difficulties; he and Cooper were -interfering with the delimitation of the boundary; Liberian soldiers, -instigated no doubt by Lomax, were tearing down the cairns which marked -the boundary line; the British commissioners refused to do anything -unless both men were summoned from the border, and meantime would charge -up the expenses of the commission for the period of their idleness; Col. -Lomax was accused of murder--it was stated that he had killed eight -native chiefs. These complaints were so urgent and serious that the -President of the Republic sent orders to Lomax and Cooper to return at -once to Monrovia; to these orders no attention was given. The Secretary -of State was sent to fetch them, but is said to have stayed in the -district, apparently sympathizing in their attitude; it is asserted that -the deeds of violence, destruction of cairns, and insulting of British -commissioners continued after he was on the ground. The -Postmaster-General was hurried to the boundary to bring back the -Secretary of State, the Colonel, the Commissioner, and their henchman, -Lieutenant Morris,--who, it seems, had been the active agent in the -cairn destruction. Some days of inexplicable delay seem to have passed, -when the Secretary of the Treasury, the Assistant Secretary of State, -and Capt. Brown (one of the American officers) were hastened to the -scene of difficulty to get the recalcitrants home. The Secretary of -State, Postmaster-General, Secretary of the Treasury, and Capt. Brown -started together for Monrovia; Lomax, Cooper, and Morris were reported -to be already upon their way through the interior to the capital. -Arrived there, Lomax and Cooper were promptly jailed; less promptly they -were brought to trial. The Attorney-General presented the case against -them. Lomax was tried for the murder of two native chiefs; Cooper for -the murder of a third. The Lomax trial lasted two days; it was before -the jury for but ten minutes. He was found not guilty, and was carried -in triumph on the shoulders of friends, amidst a great outburst of -feeling, from the court-house. The Cooper trial came the next day; it -was promptly decided in his favor. There is no question that the Behlu -difficulty is on; Great Britain will in some way get back the territory -which she so generously traded to Liberia; undoubtedly in the diplomatic -dealings regarding it much will be made of this Lomax case; there is not -the least doubt that the native chiefs were killed; there is no denial -that Lomax and Cooper were responsible for the killing; but the trial -and its results are good psychology; they were as inevitable as anything -could be. There was in this case no actual miscarriage of justice; Col. -Lomax is a national hero; he embodied the national aspirations; he -represented the nation as a victim of the injustice and greed of Britain -through the years; his ovation was the result of natural sentiments. It -may not be diplomacy; it may not be good politics; but it is in the very -nature of humanity. - - The great American government, after a silence, far from forgetting - and abandoning the tender infant cast upon the shores of Africa, has - come in our hour of danger to assist us on her strong pinions to a - nest of safety. If we but follow her example and heed her teachings of - economy, thrift and industry, and if we are just in our dealings with - men and nations we shall never escape her vigilant eye, nor cease to - be the object of marked manifestation of interest on her part.--DANIEL - E. HOWARD. - - -THE APPEAL TO THE UNITED STATES. - -In 1908 Liberian conditions were desperate. England and France had been -alternately slicing off territory; debts were weighing the nation down, -and creditors were pressing; reforms were insolently demanded under -threats. The future indeed was dark. In her hour of desperation, Liberia -turned to the United States. The idea of seeking aid from us seems to -have been first voiced by T. McCants Stewart in January, 1908. A -Commission was appointed by the Legislature--consisting of Garretson W. -Gibson, J. J. Dossen, and Charles B. Dunbar, with Charles R. Branch and -T. J. R. Faulkner as secretaries. Garretson W. Gibson had been President -of the Republic and was a man well on in years and generally respected; -J. J. Dossen was at the time Vice-President; Charles B. Dunbar is a -successful and well trained lawyer. On its way to the United States the -Commission visited Germany, where it was well received and officially -entertained in the capital city, Berlin. On its arrival in New York in -May, Charles Hall Adams, of Boston, Consul-General for Liberia in this -country, and Booker T. Washington received them and attended to the -details of their visit. They spent several days in New York and visited -Tuskegee, but, of course, spent most of their time in the city of -Washington. They were received by President Roosevelt on the 10th of -June, had several important interviews with Secretary Root, and were -introduced to Secretary Taft--just before the Republican Convention was -held which nominated him for the presidency of the United States. They -were everywhere treated with distinguished courtesy and everywhere made -a remarkably favorable impression; the newspapers gave considerable -space to their visit and quite a general interest was aroused in their -errand. A notable reception was given in their honor in Washington by -the Negro Business League. Before they left New York, Secretary Taft had -received his nomination, and one of their last official acts was the -sending of a letter of congratulation to him. - -The Commission arrived at home in August, 1909. An official reception -was given them on the 18th by President Barclay. The address of welcome -was given by the Secretary of State, F. E. R. Johnson, and other -addresses by Acting Mayor Roberts and Postmaster-General Prout. Replies -were made by Gibson, Dossen, Dunbar, and Faulkner. It is significant -that in these addresses more emphasis was laid upon the subject of negro -education in the United States than upon other matters. Both then and -while in this country, Vice-President Dossen especially emphasized the -importance of immigration; he wants 600,000 negroes from America to -settle in Liberia, and claims that the people of Liberia feel that they -are holding their territory in trust for this mass of immigrants. Music -and refreshments were supplied and a speech of congratulation given by -President Barclay. Of course nothing definite at this time could be said -in regard to the actual results of the Commission’s visit; no one knew -just what impression had been made upon our Government; no one knew just -what to expect in the way of action. - -Our Government, however, had seriously taken Liberian matters under -advisement, and on the 4th of March, 1909, an American Commission was -appointed to visit Liberia and to investigate Liberian conditions. The -Commissioners were Roland P. Falkner, George Sale, and Emmett J. Scott, -with George A. Finch as secretary. The Commission sailed on April 24th, -1909, and arrived in Monrovia on the 8th of May. They spent thirty days -in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The work they had to do was wisely divided -up among the members of the Commission, in order to permit their -accomplishing the utmost in the short time at their disposition. - -Their arrival at Liberia was hailed with joy. In anticipation of their -coming the legislators had come from all the counties to Monrovia and -were in the capital before the arrival of the Commission. The cruiser -_Chester_ arrived in front of Monrovia on the morning of May 8th, and at -once saluted with twenty-one guns; the salute was returned by the -Liberians from the shore. Ernest Lyon, the American Minister, at once -boarded the vessel. When he returned, the Attorney-General with a party -of citizens went on board to escort the Commissioners to the shore. The -city was gaily decorated. The Mayor, Common Council, and a crowd of -citizens met the Commissioners at the landing where, under the first -arch of welcome, the acting Mayor made an address. Mr. Falkner replied -on behalf of the Commission. Two companies of the militia escorted the -Commission up the hill to the second arch, where Mrs. Parker addressed -them on behalf of the Liberian ladies. Sale responded, after which Mrs. -McGill spoke on behalf of the county of Grand Bassa. At the third arch -Miss Irene A. Gant received them on behalf of Sinoe County, and Miss -Matilda Roberts on behalf of Maryland County. Passing now to the -American legation, they were officially received by the American -Minister. Few public occasions in the history of Monrovia equal this -reception, which fairly deserves to be called a popular ovation. On the -13th, President Barclay offered the Commission an official reception at -which the President and the Cabinet, the Commission and attachés, and -the United States Minister with his Secretary were present. In the -afternoon of the 12th, a general reception was given at the Executive -Mansion. During their stay in Africa, the Commission visited Grand Bassa -and Maryland, and in both regions they were treated with distinguished -courtesy. The report of the Commission sent to the Senate and House of -Representatives by President Taft on March 25th, 1910, was an -exceptionally good public document. The Commission recognized the -importance of the work entrusted to it and did its work with -thoroughness. They made six recommendations to our government. They were -as follows: (1) That the United States extend its aid to Liberia in the -prompt settlement of pending boundary disputes. (2) That the United -States enable Liberia to refund its debt by assuming as guarantee for -the payment of obligations under such arrangement the control and -collection of the Liberian customs. (3) That the United States lend its -assistance to the Liberian Government in the reform of its internal -finances. (4) That the United States lend its aid to Liberia in -organizing and drilling an adequate constabulary or frontier police -force. (5) That the United States should establish and maintain a -research station in Liberia. (6) That the United States re-open the -question of a naval coaling station in Liberia. Some of these -recommendations the United States has carried through. She has made the -loan necessary for the refunding of the public debt; she is lending -assistance to the Liberian Government in the reform of internal -finances; she is aiding Liberia in the organization and drilling of her -frontier force. These are good things, and it is to be hoped that they -will prove as helpful as has been anticipated. We _should_ help Liberia, -and help her handsomely; she deserves all that we can do for her. We -must be careful, of course, in our assistance, not to accustom her to -the notion of dependency. Muscle can only be developed in a body by the -exercise of that body itself. No being can develop muscle for another. -Liberia, if she is to prosper, must develop energy, force, independence; -she needs help but must work out her own salvation. Exercise to be -valuable must not be a death struggle; we must protect her from her -foes, but we must insist upon her self-development. There are, however, -still many things that we can do for the Republic without reducing her -to a condition of dependency and pauperization. - -We should energize every already existing bond between us. There are -already missions established in the Republic; these should be handsomely -maintained, without forgetting that the ultimate end is the production -of self-supporting churches; the needs of missions and mission-schools -should be carefully examined by the different Boards and liberal -appropriations made to meet them; it is desirable that the Presbyterian -denomination--so rich, respectable, and self-satisfied--should really -look after its “little flock of humble black folk” with their splendid -opportunity before them. The Boards which hold funds for the benefit of -Liberia College should seriously recognize the importance of their -responsibility; they should investigate with care, and act promptly and -liberally; they must devise some method of more effective co-operation -with the local management for gaining the great ends possible by -combined action. There are funds in the United States intended to aid -Liberia, which are tied up and have been tied up for many years through -some unfortunate condition in the terms of the bequest; such funds, if -possible, should be put to work; if they are actually unavailable, it is -best that a final decision be reached, and public announcement be made -of the unfortunate fact; it is better that Liberia should not be kept -waiting in hope of aid that never comes. A considerable interest was -aroused in the United States by the visit of the Commission in 1908; -this interest was shown in the newspapers of the day; it is greatly to -be desired that the American people should be kept constantly informed -as to Liberia; information should not be spasmodically given out, but -there should be a definite, constant spreading of facts regarding the -Republic, whose heroic struggle deserves our firm and steady sympathy. -The need was never greater for a regular line of shipping between the -two Republics than now; this has been already sufficiently considered. -It would be a fine philanthropy to establish and conduct such a line of -communication for a period of time, even at a loss; in the long run, the -line would lose its philanthropic feature and become a fairly paying -business proposition. It is most important that the contact between the -two nations be increased; Liberians have occasionally come to us under -various circumstances; more Americans in course of time visit Liberia -than the public generally knows; every opportunity of inviting Liberians -to this country as students, delegates, visitors, business -representatives, should be encouraged; and it should become a simple, -natural, and frequent thing for Americans to visit the black Republic. -Lastly, our government should adopt a clear and definite policy of -sympathy; if we make it well understood that we look upon Liberia as -related to us, and that we will permit no further injustice, we need -have no fears of being involved in international difficulties on her -account; the cry “hands off” will be sufficient. Let us quit -internationalizing her problems. They are justly questions between us -and her; they concern no other nation. But do not let us ever think of -absorbing the Republic; let us guarantee her independence; we do not -wish a protectorate; we have too many different kinds of national -relations now; Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico, Cuba, Santo Domingo, -Nicaragua, and the Philippines make our governmental policy to-day -sufficiently complex. We want no more new and strange relations. Liberia -is our sister nation--daughter, if you please--and very definitely -such. She is brunette, but her virtues are our virtues, her vices are -our vices. Let us admit and emphasize the kinship. - - - - -REPRINTED ARTICLES. - - -THE LIBERIAN CRISIS. - -(_Unity._ March 25, 1909.) - -In closing my _The Truth about the Congo_, I said: “If it is necessary -for us as a nation to look for African adventure; if to give a strenuous -President the feeling that he is ‘doing something’ we must meddle in the -affairs of the Dark Continent, there is a district where we might -intervene with more of reason and consistency and grace than we are -doing by going to the Congo. We once established on African soil, -whether wisely or not I do not intend to discuss, a free republic for -the blacks. In Liberia we have an American enterprise, pure and simple. -It has not been a great success. It is just possible--though I doubt -it--that Liberia would at several times have profited and been -advantaged by our instruction and interest. But it seems to possess -little interest for us. Just now, like the Congo, it is attracting -British attention. Whether it has large or little value, whether it -possesses great opportunities or not, it is now a center of interest to -Great Britain. She does not need our help in pulling chestnuts from the -fire there, and there has been strange silence and ignorance in this -country regarding it as a new sphere for English influence. If we assist -England in expanding her African possessions at the expense of the Congo -Free State, Liberia will be the next fraction of Africa to succumb to -English rule. England’s methods of procedure are various. It might be a -useful lesson for our statesmen and politicians to study Liberia’s -prospects with care. We are still young in the business of grabbing -other people’s lands. England could teach us many lessons. The latest -one may well be worthy of our attention, since, in a certain sense, it -deals with a district where we naturally possess an interest.” - -At the time, these suggestions caused some surprise. Americans were (and -are) totally ignorant regarding Liberia and felt that my remarks were -due to prejudice. I have no prejudice against England, from which my -ancestry chiefly came. A few months have proved the truth of my -predictions. In May last a Commission appointed by the Liberian -government called upon President Roosevelt and begged the intervention -of the United States for the purpose of guaranteeing independence and -“integrity against the encroachments of powerful European governments.” -Among the reasonable ideas urged by this Commission was that disputes -between Liberia and France, Germany and England should be settled by -arbitration and not by a resort to force. We wisely refused to establish -a protectorate over Liberia, but our government agreed to use its good -offices with England, France and Germany. Considerable correspondence -seems to have taken place and some interest relative to Liberia has been -aroused. But on the whole no serious progress has been made and a few -days since the newspapers contained the following item: - -“Washington, D. C., Feb. 12.--Cable advices received at the state -department today indicate that a climax has been reached in the Liberian -situation. Conditions are grave, and great alarm is felt by foreign -officials in Liberian employ. - -“A British gunboat has arrived to afford protection to foreign interests -and a company of soldiers has been sent from Sierra Leone to the capitol -at Monrovia for the same purpose. Apparently great despondency is -entertained as to the ability of the government to maintain itself and -as to the future of Liberia as a nation.” - -The notice closed with these words: - -“The cable today called attention to the effort of the state department, -inaugurated by Secretary Root, to secure an appropriation of $20,000 to -enable the president to send to Liberia a commission with a view to -reporting recommendations as to the specific action this government -should take which would constitute the most effective measures of -relief. Secretary Root anticipated the development of conditions which -would menace seriously the future of Liberia, which was established as a -direct result of the action, first, of American citizens, and, secondly, -of the government of the United States.” - -What can we do? What should we do? First; we should notify Great -Britain, France and Germany that encroachment upon Liberian sovereignty -will be considered an unfriendly act by us; that coercion ought not to -be used in the collection of debts, even though Liberia did not take -part in the Hague Conference of 1907. Second; we should use our good -offices to bring about definite arrangements between Liberia and the -European nations for arbitration of all points at issue between them. -Third; we should under no circumstances attempt to make a model -government for her, nor should we insist upon reforms along our lines, -but we should appoint an _advisory_ commission of thoughtful and -well-balanced men, who shall thoroughly investigate conditions and stand -ready to give asked advice when needful upon points of importance. This -commission should be retained for several years and should be -non-partisan. So much we can and should do. - - -THE NEEDS OF LIBERIA. - -(_The Open Court._ March, 1913.) - -The situation of Liberia is critical. Her long-troubling boundary -questions with Great Britain and France are not permanently settled; -they have been re-opened and both countries are pressing. - -We did well to come to her financial aid; but we did badly in needlessly -inflicting upon her an _expensive_ and _complicated international_ -receivership instead of an _economical_, _simple_ and _national_ one. - -Liberia’s crying needs are: - -_a._ Training of her native frontier force to protect her boundaries and -maintain order there; - -_b._ Development of existing trails, with their ultimate transformation -into roads and railroad beds; - -_c._ Restoration and development of agriculture--now neglected; - -_d._ Education, especially along lines of manual and technical training. - -Liberia’s greatest asset is her _native population_; only by imbuing it -with the feeling of common interest and by securing its hearty -co-operation can the government of Africa’s only republic hope to -maintain itself and prosper. - - -A SOJOURNER IN LIBERIA. - -(_The Spirit of Missions._ April, 1913.) - -Anxious to see all possible of Liberia, we gladly accepted Bishop -Ferguson’s invitation to visit Bromley and to inspect the work done at -the Julia C. Emery Hall. On reaching the landing at Monrovia at 8 a. m. -we found the mission steamer, the _John Payne_, ready. Our party -consisted of ex-President Barclay, ex-Postmaster-General Blount, Justice -T. McCants Stewart of the Supreme Court, Major Young, U. S. A., military -attaché of the American Legation, Mayor Johnson, the Rev. Mr. Cassell -and Bishop Ferguson--all residents of Liberia--my photographer and -myself. He and I were the only white men. Of the colored men some were -born in Liberia, others in the United States--North and South--one at -least in the British West Indies. Ex-President Arthur Barclay is by many -considered to be the ablest man of Liberia; he has had a wide experience -and has gained exceptional knowledge of Liberian needs and problems. -Mayor Johnson is one of the sons of the late President Johnson, who was -the first “son of the soil” to occupy the presidential chair of the -negro republic. Bishop Ferguson, born in South Carolina, has lived so -many years in Cape Palmas and Monrovia that no one ever thinks of him -as aught but a Liberian. He is a man of energy and ideas and his work -speaks for his efficiency. We were soon off, and for three hours steamed -up the river, a typical, tropical African stream. A dense tangle of -mangroves extends far out from the shore on both sides, over the water, -completely concealing the actual land; the trunks rise from pyramids of -exposed roots; from the branches, slender shoots, round-tipped, strike -vertically down, penetrate the water, force their way into the soft, -oozy mud of the river bottom, take root and aid in spreading the tangled -growth still further out over the water. Here and there straight gashes -are cut into this mass of crowded trees to serve as landing-channels for -native canoes. The first part of our journey was up a branch stream, the -St. Paul’s River branching near its mouth and entering the sea by more -than the single outlet. As we approached the main river, the mangrove -thicket thinned, and the most striking feature in the vegetation was the -dragon-palm. It, too, rises from a pyramidal mass of exposed roots, but -in form and foliage it is totally unlike the mangrove; its long narrow -leaves lead to its being often called the sword-palm. Here we could -often look back over the land, and saw oil-palms with their delicate, -graceful crowns outlined against the blue sky--truly blue sky, for by -October 15 the period of rains is practically over. We had passed -settlements, here and there, upon the way; single houses of “Liberians,” -or little clusters of “native” huts; New Georgia, on our right, is quite -a village but seems to bear an indifferent reputation--due perhaps to -its history; it was settled with slaves rescued from slaving-vessels and -such slaves were rarely considered as equals, in the old days, by the -colonists. - -When we reached the main river, the whole character of the scenery -changed. The river itself was wider; the banks were cleaner and the flat -land stood higher; the mangrove swamps disappeared; plantations showing -considerable attention were to be seen here and there. While we had -chatted and viewed the scene the Bishop had not been idle, and the -smiling black boy now passed an abundant supply of sandwiches and sliced -cake, daintily wrapped in paper and tied with narrow ribbons, all -prepared beforehand by Mrs. Ferguson. Served with lemon and strawberry -soda-water they were a welcome refreshment. - -We had been so fully occupied that we had hardly noticed that three -hours had passed when we saw Bromley ahead. The building stands on a -level terrace well above the river. It is said to be the largest in -Liberia; whether so or not, it is a spacious, plain, well-built -construction, admirably adapted to its purpose. Its architect and master -builder, Mr. Scott, met us at the landing. He is a native of pure blood, -a Grebo from Cape Palmas district. He has never been outside of Liberia -and has had to gain his knowledge and experience as he best could. He -has had correspondence instruction from an American school and finds it -of advantage. - -The building is known as the Julia C. Emery Hall and serves as a girls’ -school. The parlor is a fine room and upon its walls are displayed -interesting cuts, portraits and documents, all relative to national, -racial and mission history. We were shown through the building from -tower--whence a splendid view over the river is to be had--to cellar. It -is well equipped--dormitories, school rooms, chapel, dining room, -kitchen, washrooms, storerooms--all suitable and neat and clean. Seventy -girls are in attendance. There are not beds for all the children, -perhaps not for more than half of them; half of the children sleep upon -the floor on mats. This is no special hardship, as they are used to it; -in my own opinion they are quite as well off without beds. - -The girls form two groups--the large girls dressed in blue and white and -the little girls dressed in pink and white. They seem neat and happy. -They rendered a program for us which would have done credit to any -teaching here at home: - - Singing--“He Who Safely Keepeth” School - Recitation--“The Burden” Miss Jahlamae - Singing--“Sweet and Low” Misses Nichols, Gibson, Tucker, Wisner - Dialogue--“Patience” A class - Singing--“Wider Than the Ocean” School - Recitation--“The Echo” A class - Recitation--“The Hurry Order” Miss Wood - Singing--“Those Eternal Bowers” School - Recitation--“Genesis, Chap. XLIX” A class - Recitation--“The Chambered Nautilus” Miss Wright - Recitation--“Jephtha’s Daughter” Miss Muhlenberg - Singing--“The Whole Wide World” School - -It is particularly interesting to see the harmony and friendship here. -Some of the girls are Liberians, but there are also native girls from -various parts of the country and from various tribes--Golas, Krus, -Grebos. We went to the dining room, which had been cleared, and the -girls went through with a calisthenic drill, which was beautifully -rendered. Mrs. Moort is in charge of the school and deserves much credit -for its satisfactory condition. After this drill was over we sat down to -a table loaded with good things, and some of the larger girls aided in -the serving. One of the aims of the school is to teach work and -housekeeping. The school property includes two hundred acres of land, -which will supply much of the food needed in school and provide -opportunity for instruction in gardening. - -The Bishop stated that we must not tarry, as we were expected at -Clay-Ashland. A half hour by steamer brought us to its landing, where -the resident clergyman, Mr. Cooper, son-in-law of Bishop Ferguson, met -us. We walked up through a straggling settlement to the little church, -near which a sign in brilliant lettering announced “Welcome.” Here we -turned to the right and in a moment reached Alexander Crummell Hall, in -construction. Here another brilliant lettering proclaimed “A Hearty -Welcome to You.” The building is to be of wood with corrugated iron -roofing; it is not yet covered in, but promises to be a fine and -suitable structure. Only the side verandah was usable; it was covered in -and adorned with palms in honor of the occasion. The boys and young men -were seated on two lines of benches facing, between which we walked up -to the speaker’s table. There were perhaps forty students present. They -carried through a little program--reading, singing and addresses, all -carried through with fine swing and vigor. The address of welcome was -given in good English by a Bassa boy. In some interesting and -appropriate remarks Major Young spoke to the boys of the life and lesson -of Alexander Crummell, in whose honor the hall was named and whom he -himself had known. It was now well on in the afternoon and time for us -to start on our return journey. This was rapidly accomplished as the -current was in our favor and we tied up at the landing in Monrovia at -6:30, with stars twinkling in the sky above us and town lights reflected -in the water below. - -Bishop Ferguson had invited me to see the Kru service on a Sunday -afternoon. Two Kru men called to escort me to the little chapel, which -is situated on a rocky slope overhanging Krutown. The native settlement -is at the waterside, upon the low sandy beach; its population, houses -and life are purely native. Down there they speak Kru; men and boys all -know English; some women and girls do. It is a hardy, vigorous, -energetic population. The men are water folk; they are splendid canoe -men; they are the main dependence of the steamers, which they serve as -crews and wharfingers. When we arrived at the little chapel we found it -crowded; more than a hundred men, women and children were assembled. The -women were a sight for tired eyes, with their brilliant wrappings, gay -head bands and ring-loaded fingers. Few Liberians were present--Bishop -and Mrs. Ferguson, Superintendent Bright and a few teachers. Pastor -McKrae is native--but a Grebo, not a Kru. The two tribes are related and -their languages are very similar. I was warmly welcomed and an -interesting program of singing and recitation was carried out--all in -Kru except the Bishop’s introduction and my own remarks, which were -interpreted from English into Kru as we spoke. These people are -enthusiastic; they are interested in their chapel and contribute to its -support; they are crowded in their present quarters and are about to -raise a larger and finer building. - -I had intended to see the work at Cape Palmas, but it was impossible for -me to go there. For that at Bromley, Clay-Ashland and Kru chapel I have -only words of praise. My own opinion is that Liberia’s greatest asset is -the native. He exists in a score of independent tribes and counts a -million souls. If the little black republic is to hold its own, if it is -to remain a nation among nations, if it is to lead the way to African -redemption, there must be a mutual realization by Liberians and Natives -of their common interest, and a hearty co-operation. The burden is too -heavy for the Liberian alone. In Bishop Ferguson’s work there is the -nearest approach to tolerance, union, brotherhood and mutual helpfulness -seen during my expedition. - - -LIBERIA, THE HOPE OF THE DARK CONTINENT. - -(_Unity._ March 20, 1913.) - -_An address given at All Souls Church, Abraham Lincoln Centre, Chicago, -March 9, 1913. As this contains little that is not contained in the next -item, and nothing but what occurs in the body of the book, it is not -reprinted here._ - - -WHAT LIBERIA NEEDS. - -(_The Independent._ April 3, 1913.) - -In 1905 I sailed from Antwerp to the mouth of the Kongo River. When we -reached Freetown, Sierra Leone, we spent several hours on shore. On -returning to the steamer we found all greatly changed; the white crew -was laid off and the steamer was swarming with black boys who had been -taken on to perform the heavy work of the vessel so long as she should -be in the hot country. In the morning I found that these black boys were -Krumen from Liberia; they pointed out the shores of their country as we -sailed by and told me of their people and their life. The captain of our -steamer was an Englishman; he took great satisfaction in telling stories -which showed his contempt for the little black republic and its rulers. -It was his custom to laugh at their port regulations, to evade their -customs laws, to insult their officers. Months later, in returning from -the Kongo Free State, I sat at table next to a ship’s officer who was -never tired of telling of Sir Harry Johnston’s great scheme of Liberian -exploitation; matters were all arranged for Britain to gain the -advantage which the wealth of Liberia offers. When we reached London, I -found the windows of book stores filled with Sir Harry’s great work upon -Liberia, and considerable public interest in the subject. - -It was these three things which turned my interest toward Liberia and -led me to think of making an expedition to that country. I wanted to see -the Kru boys at home; I wanted to see just how much of a failure the -black republic is; I wanted to see how the English plans of exploitation -worked out. It was, however, several years before I was able to make -that journey. I have just returned and found much more of interest than -I anticipated. - -It is now almost one hundred years since the American Colonization -Society was established and sent its first freed negro settlers to the -West Coast of Africa; it is almost seventy years since, in 1847, the -society severed its relation with the colonists and urged them to -establish an independent form of government. We have no right to take -any great amount of credit to ourselves for the original establishment; -it was less from philanthropy or altruism than from selfishness that we -began the colony; it was because we did not want freed blacks living -among white Americans that we sent them to Africa. There have been -various times during the period of Liberia’s history when we might have -helped her greatly; we have never quite forgotten our obligations, but -we have never done all that we might for her benefit and profit. - -It is not fair to establish a direct comparison between Liberia and any -European colony upon the West Coast of Africa. It is not just, for -instance, to take Dakar or Freetown and compare them with Monrovia. -Senegal and Sierra Leone have had great advantages which have been -lacking in Liberia. Those colonies have had the constant aid and -sympathy of a mother country; they have been developed with the aid of -vast home capital; they have had the protection of well organized armies -against internal foes and external aggression; they have had chosen men -sent out as governors who have given them advice, encouragement, -instruction. Liberia has had to stand alone; her population was largely -ignorant persons, despised, recently emerged from slavery; she has had -no interest of a mother country; she has had no capital with which to -push development; she has had no means of protection against native -tribes or crowding neighbors; she has had to train governors from her -own population, who have had to learn the business of government through -personal experience. When this marked difference in opportunity and -material is realized, the wonder is that Liberia has been able to make -any real achievement. As a matter of fact, while the direct comparison -is most unjust, it can be made without serious discredit to Liberia. The -standard of living, the average comfort, the construction of houses and -other buildings in Liberia, falls little short of those in Freetown, if -at all; of course, when it comes to public enterprises--harbor -improvements, governmental offices, etc.--the European colony has -notable advantage. In reality, Liberian achievement is marvelous in the -face of all the difficulties with which the country has had to contend. -Far from being a dismal failure, Liberia has proved an astonishing -success. For more than sixty years her officers have been pitted against -the skilled politicians of European countries; they have had to fight in -diplomatic warfare with Great Britain, France and Germany. The wonder is -that she was not long since wiped off the map. - -In 1908 a commission of Liberians was sent to beg assistance from the -United States. Through a period of years she had lost land, first to -Great Britain, then to France, both of which own adjacent territory; her -commerce had been hampered by British schemers who desired to prevent -her development until they themselves should control its results; she -had been forced twice to borrow money from Great Britain--and both times -had paid heavily for scant accommodation. Robbed of land, crippled in -development, heavily in debt to a pressing creditor, a crisis had been -reached in her affairs. The United States heard the appeal and answered: -a commission of investigation visited Liberia and made a definite -report, advising certain lines of aid. We have acted upon some of their -recommendations. We have expressed to Great Britain, Germany and France -our special interest in Liberian affairs; we have lent her colored -officers to aid in training a native force; we have come to her -financial relief, paying her past debts and taking over the -administration of her customs houses. - -The population of Liberia consists of three main elements: there are -about 12,000 civilized and Christian blacks, descendants of American -freed negroes, whom we may call Americo-Liberians, or Liberians proper; -there are perhaps 30,000 coast natives, who speak English and have come -into frequent contact with Liberians and the outside world; there are -perhaps one million “natives,” living in the interior, “bush niggers,” -most of whom speak only native tongues and are pagan in religion. The -Liberians live in a few settlements near the coast, or along the rivers, -a few miles inland. The natives consist of a score or more of different -tribes, living in little villages, each tribe having its own language, -its independent chiefs, its characteristic life and customs. Sir Harry -Johnston says that the interior of Liberia is the least known part of -Africa. Many of these native tribes still practice cannibalism, all of -them are polygamist, and domestic slavery exists among them. The -relation between them and the Liberians proper is almost _nil_. The area -of Liberia even now is larger than the State of Ohio and not much less -than that of Pennsylvania. If we were to take the town of Bellaire, -Ohio, and divide its little population into about a dozen towns along -the Ohio River, and were then to sprinkle the whole State of Ohio with -villages of Indians, totaling one million, speaking a score of different -dialects, and recognizing no control except that of their local chiefs, -we should have something analogous to the Liberian situation. If, now, -this population of Bellaire were to figure as an independent nation -among the world’s governments, think what a burden this would entail -upon it. Liberia elects a President, Vice-President, Senators and -Representatives; its President has a Cabinet, each member with his own -department of government; it maintains a Supreme Court, with a bench of -judges; it has consuls, some with diplomatic powers, in many of the -nations of the world. Would we be able in any town of 12,000 people in -the United States to find such a corps of men of competence? As a -nation, with privileges and obligations, Liberia must not only maintain -this national government, but it must keep order over its whole area and -prevent its million bush natives from troubling its neighbors. It is on -the plea that Liberia is incapable of maintaining order that France and -Great Britain are constantly crowding upon her frontiers; it is a fact -that to prevent aggression from outside she must maintain order within. - -We must not imagine that neighborly aggression has ceased because we -spoke. New boundary questions have lately arisen, both with Great -Britain and France, and it looks as if they were getting ready to demand -a new slice of territory. One of the crying needs of Liberia is to have -a native frontier force, well drilled, ready to protect and maintain -order at her boundary. Such a force has been organized; it has been in -existence for several years; just at present it is being drilled under -three young colored officers whom we have sent within the past year to -Monrovia--Major Ballard, Captain Brown and Captain Newton. These men now -bear commissions from the Liberian Government and are paid by it. The -force will be developed to 600 soldiers; it is rather easy to collect -them; they come from many of the interior tribes and, when they are -enlisted, know no English; they seem to enjoy the life of soldiers and -rapidly improve until in their conduct and drilling they present a -creditable appearance. When actually disciplined, so that they will not -loot or cause distress when marching through a district of -non-combatants, they should be a great advantage to the nation. -Unfortunately, the Liberian Government is frequently in financial -difficulties and the pay of these soldiers falls into arrears. There is -always serious danger that, under such circumstances, the discontented -force may arise against the Government and cause difficulties. - -We did well to come to the financial relief of Liberia, but we did badly -in the details of our method. The total debts were about $1,300,000: we -arranged for a loan to her of $1,700,000; this would enable her to pay -off all obligations, to have some ready funds left over, and to have a -single, friendly creditor. Before securing this loan we insisted upon a -receivership. It would have been a simple matter for us to have simply -appointed a receiver of customs and leave the administration of affairs -in his hands, as we did in Santo Domingo. Had we done so, it is unlikely -that any other nation would have found fault; if any nation should have -criticised the action, we could with consistency insist that we stand in -a peculiar relation to Liberia and that the loan is too small to warrant -great expense in the handling of the business connected with it. What we -really did was to recognize fictitious interests of other nations in the -matter; we arranged for an international receivership; instead of one -American receiver we proposed four receivers--American, French, -English, German. Inasmuch as the impoverished Government has to pay -handsome salaries to all four, the plan was anything but economical; the -dangers of difficulty and disagreement between the members of this -international receivership are considerable. Surely instead of -inflicting an expensive and complicated international receivership upon -the country, we should have arranged for an economical, simple national -receiver. - -There is no question that Liberia has great natural wealth; her -resources are yet almost untouched; she is the only part of the whole -West Coast where large returns are certain for small investment. In -order to secure her wealth of products, it is absolutely necessary that -trails be opened up through the interior. Trails, of course, already -exist, but under present conditions they are frequently intentionally -neglected; little chiefs do not want too easy contact with the outside -world. It is absolutely necessary, if Liberia is to advance, that the -good will of the chiefs shall be secured and that all trails shall be -kept open. In no other way can the produce of the forests find its way -down to the coast. Foot trails, of course, are of limited utility, and -as rapidly as they are improved they should become actual roads, -presumably to be themselves developed in time into roadbeds for light -railroads. It is only by the improvement of means of transportation that -the Liberian Government can hope to increase its income, which comes -almost entirely from trade. - -For the present, and undoubtedly for some time to come, the chief source -of income for the country must be by trade in natural products, -collected in the forests. It is time, however, that serious effort -should be made to develop the actual agricultural opportunities of -Liberia. With a rich soil, abundant rainfall, tropical temperature, -vegetation flourishes. Liberia should produce vast quantities of rice, -corn, cotton, sugar, sweet potatoes, yams, bananas, plantains, ginger, -coffee, cocoa, pineapples and other tropical fruits. There is no reason -why in many parts of the country cattle, goats and sheep should not be -raised in quantities. At present, a very large amount of foodstuffs is -introduced from the outside world; fresh meat is to be had only when -steamers pass; rice, even--of which the natives raise quantities--is -imported. Formerly considerable coffee was exported; the coffee tree -grows wild and is probably a native of the country, and Liberian coffee -has a fair reputation in the foreign market; at present, very little is -exported. It is curious that agriculture has never been a favorite -occupation with the people. As long ago as 1826 and 1827 the famous -agent of the colony, Jehudi Ashmun, complained bitterly that the people -all desired to trade instead of to practice hand labor and develop -agriculture. It is certain that if it is to be permanently prosperous, -Liberia must encourage agricultural pursuits. It was natural enough that -freed slaves should look upon manual trades and field labor as -contemptible; that they should look upon barter and trade as desirable. -Unfortunately, at the time of colonization it was easy for men to trade. -This dislike for actual labor continues to the present day; it is -possible to hire bush natives to do the absolutely necessary heavy labor -very cheaply. In Liberian houses great numbers of native servants are -employed. Trade and politics absorb the thought and time of the best men -in the community. It is going to be a difficult task to place -agriculture and hand labor upon a proper footing, but it must be done -and soon. - -We must not expect much more in the direction of education than we would -find in our own country towns of six or seven thousand people. There are -actually not many schools in the republic. The superintendent of -education is a member of the Cabinet. The present incumbent is a -native--a Bassa. He has general supervision of some ninety-one schools, -in which number night schools and mission schools are included. The -highest institution of public education is Liberia College, at Monrovia. -It has done good work and most of the men of prominence in the -Government to-day are graduates from it. It has, however, little more -than the teaching force and equipment of a high school in one of our -smaller towns. It needs strengthening in every way. New schools should -be established, especially in the country among the native tribes, and -special schools of agriculture and manual training are a crying need. -President Howard, in his inaugural address in 1912, recognized the -necessity of prompt development in education and agriculture. Besides -Liberia College, there is in Monrovia the College of West Africa. This -is a Methodist mission school, doing an excellent work for both Liberian -and native students. There are also important Episcopal schools on the -St. Paul’s River, and in the neighborhood of Cape Palmas. - -The President of the republic was kind enough to give a reception in my -honor. On that occasion I was asked to make a few remarks regarding -Liberia. I stated that in my opinion Liberia’s greatest asset is her -native population. Twelve thousand people, no matter how interested, -wise and industrious, cannot possibly carry the entire burden. If -Liberia is to prosper in the future, it can only be because the -Liberians secure the hearty coöperation and friendly feeling of the -million natives. If _they_ can be shown that their interest and -development are to be gained only through friendship to and recognition -of the Government, the prosperity and success of Liberia may be secured -and her independence maintained. - - -SHOULD THE AFRICAN MISSION BE ABANDONED. - -(_The Spirit of Missions._ August, 1913.) - -The development of the Church mission in Liberia has been most -encouraging. It began in March, 1836, when James M. Thompson, a colored -man, opened a mission school at Mount Vaughan with seven native -children. It has grown until, in his last report, Bishop Ferguson stated -that there were 26 clergymen, 8 candidates for holy orders, 2 -postulants, 25 lay teachers, and 46 catechists and teachers. During the -year of 1912, 242 children and 237 adults had been baptized--423 of them -being converts from heathenism. During the year there were 165 -confirmations. The grand total of baptisms to date was 9,565; the total -of confirmations, 4,856. The number of present communicants was 2,404, -of which two-thirds were natives. The estimated value of buildings -belonging to the mission was $121,250; 22 day schools, 19 boarding -schools and 38 Sunday schools was conducted; 1,210 day-school pupils, -643 boarding-school pupils, 2,714 Sunday-school pupils were in -attendance. It is a noble record of results for faithful service. - -It has been suggested in some quarters that the American Protestant -Episcopal Church shall abandon this promising mission field; or rather -it is proposed that it shall exchange this successful and flourishing -work with English brethren, for work started by them in Central America. -It is possible that from the point of view of church administration such -an exchange may be desirable; it is certain that from any other point of -view it will be a great misfortune. The writer of this article has -himself been in Liberia, and is profoundly interested in Liberian -problems. He believes that any proposal to abandon work in Liberia could -only arise through ignorance of the actual conditions in the Black -Republic. He has no wish to interfere in affairs which in no wise -concern himself. Deeply interested, however, in the progress of the only -remaining country of Africa which is administered by black men, he -desires to express his reasons for opposing the suggestion. - -It is now seventy-seven years since the Liberian work was begun. It has -been wisely directed, it has been nobly supported, it has been -successful. Surely the ultimate aim in all such labor is to produce a -self-supporting church in the mission field. The Liberian Church is -already approaching the point of self-support. In his last report Bishop -Ferguson says: “I believe the greatest joy of my life would be to be -able to say to the Board of Missions, ‘The Church in Liberia will -hereafter support itself. You need not appropriate any more funds -towards its maintenance.’ That I am unable to do so as yet is not -because of an indisposition on the part of the people to contribute to -such a worthy object, but rather because of their poverty, through not -having learnt to work profitably. It must be remembered that two-thirds -of our communicants are native Africans who, as well as the majority of -the class we call ‘Americo-Liberians’ making up the one-third, need to -be trained in some remunerative industry. The fact is, that the -financial burden of the Church in the district is resting on a -comparatively small number. Taking this into consideration, the amount -raised from time to time for the building, repairing, and improving of -churches, and to meet other parochial expenses is rather creditable than -otherwise. Besides expenses at home, they contribute annually toward -missions in general in the shape of Lenten and Easter offerings and the -missionary apportionment fund. Our quota of the last named has already -been paid up for the present year. But as above shown, comparatively few -deserve the credit. To make the work self-supporting, at least a -majority of the members should be able to contribute to it.” - -Certainly, it is a basic error to abandon a work which has been -conducted for seventy-seven years, when it approaches the point of -self-support. A change subjecting the mission to a new administration, -would mean setback and delay in gaining the end desired. - -The American Church is bound in a special way to Liberia; the original -settlers in Liberia were American freed-men; they had been our slaves. -As Americans we had been responsible for the dragging of thousands of -helpless black people from their homes; we had held them for years in -captivity. When finally we sent them back as freed-men to the shores of -their native continent, our obligations by no means ceased. - -When Bishop Lee preached the sermon at the consecration of Bishop -Ferguson, he used the following strong terms: “To the millions of this -race among ourselves, as well as to those beyond the sea, we should -count ourselves debtors. If any branch of the evangelistic work of our -Church has peculiar and sacred claims to general support, it seems to me -to be our African Mission as well as our home Mission among our colored -people. With glad and ready hearts should we enter this open door. With -free and unclosed hands should we pour our gifts into the Lord’s -treasury. And when we read with averted eye the shocking details of -former injustice and inhumanity, well may we thank God that He has shown -us a way in which we may send back to those sunny climes a benefaction, -the value of which cannot be told.” - -In 1893 Dr. Langford, General Secretary of the Board of Missions, said: -“The lapse of time does not lighten by a shade the deep damnation of its -curse. If America were to pay a million dollars a year for fifty years, -it would not suffice to cancel a tithe of her debt to Africa.” - -England has no such duty nor obligation to Liberia; she cannot be -expected to take the same legitimate interest in that mission. Nor have -the Missions of Central America anything like the same claim upon the -interest and sympathy of the American Church as has Liberia. Nothing but -blindness to the seriousness of our obligation could lead us to make the -exchange. - -It is true that the United States has at no time shown the hearty -interest in, and sympathy with Liberia which she should have. It is, -however, true that, as a result of all the past, the civilized Liberians -are to-day far more American in spirit than English. The Liberians are -different in their bearing and manner from all other blacks upon the -coast of West Africa. This is not merely a personal claim. Travelers, -ever since the early days of colonization, are united in their -statements: the Liberian is more independent--he is more a man--than the -black man in any of the European colonies. This spirit has been -frequently criticised; it is no advantage to colonizing nations to -encounter black men of spirit and independence; such are a bad example -to colonial subjects. But, if Liberia is to remain a nation, this spirit -of independence must be maintained. The transfer of this mission to -England would dampen enthusiasm; it would check the independent spirit; -it would introduce the element of weakness. No one who has seen the -blacks of Freetown can fail to grasp my meaning. The attitude of the -Englishman toward colored peoples may be fairly fair and just, but it is -repressive. In the nature of things, administration of the Liberian -Church by British leaders would necessarily lead to irritation and -assumption of superiority on the one side and subservience upon the -other; there would be less of self-respect and independence. If the -Church held its own in numbers, it would be through the loss of its most -desirable members and their replacement by people of less strong -character. - -The work of the Protestant Episcopal Church is not the only mission work -within the limits of Liberia. There are also missions, more or less -active, conducted by the Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist -Episcopal, Baptist, Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations. If these -mission efforts are to be successful there must be fellow feeling -between the different missions; harmony and unity should be the order of -the day. We regret that there has not always been the most harmonious -relations between the different branches of Christian efforts in the -Republic. Surely, however, every mission there established should do its -utmost toward harmony; surely it should be the policy of each separate -mission to do nothing which could interrupt or destroy harmonious -relations. But all these other mission efforts in Liberia are in -American hands; the transfer of the Church mission to English hands -would be certain, under the political and social conditions of the -country, to introduce friction and enmity which would be destructive -beyond the possibility of calculation. From the point of view of -Christian harmony it would be a blunder to transfer the mission. - -I believe that Liberia may have an important influence in solving our -Negro problem. It is doubtful whether we shall send a large number of -emigrants from our southern states to the Republic; it is likely that a -small migration will constantly take place from us to Africa. But it is -of the utmost consequence both to Liberia and to our American black -people that there be intimate relations between the two regions. It is -desirable that many black men from America should visit and know -Liberia; it is most important that Liberians should find it easy to come -to America and see our institutions. In this easy contact and intimate -relation there is certainly ease for our black man’s troubles. -Everything which cultivates close, frequent, repeated and continued -contact will help us as much as it helps them. We ought, then, at least, -to think a long time before we sever any connection already established. - -In view of these conditions and tendencies, it seems to me that the -proposed exchange would be a serious blunder. Motives of economy and -ease of administration cannot excuse it. Duty, honor, enlightened -patriotism, demand that the American Church continue to carry the -Liberian mission until such time as it may become self-supporting. - - -THE PEOPLE OF LIBERIA. - -(_The Independent._ August 14, 1913.) - -There is no question that ultimately Liberia must depend upon her native -population; the native tribes are the chief asset of the black republic. -If it is to make progress in the future, there must be hearty -coöperation between the “Liberian” and the “native.” The native must be -aroused to realize that his interest is the same as that of the -Liberian; he must realize that his country is the Liberian’s country; he -must learn to know and to carry his part of the common burden. This is -going to be a difficult lesson for both to learn. From the very -beginning of the colony to the present time, the attitude of the -newcomer toward the native has been that of a superior to an inferior -being. It is and always has been the custom for Liberians to speak of -themselves as “white men,” while they have considered the natives “bush -niggers.” The Liberian has never indulged to any extent in manual labor; -he has done but little even in agricultural work. The native has always -been considered the natural laborer of the country; socially an -inferior, he has been despised and neglected. He has done the heavy -work, he has brought in the produce of “the bush,” he has been the house -servant. While he has rarely been treated with cruelty, he has been -looked upon with contempt. There is no doubt that, in the future, the -native will continue to be the chief laborer of the country; something -of prejudice must be expected to continue; but conditions ought to be -such that it will be easy for a bright native boy to emerge from his own -status and play his part in the mutual progress. - -Under the circumstances, every individual case of a Liberian native who -has gained a position of consequence in the community has special -significance and importance. One of the encouraging facts in present day -Liberia is that a considerable number of natives are occupying positions -of influence and power in their community. At the present time a member -of the Cabinet is a native of pure blood. The Secretary of Public -Instruction, in charge of the educational system of the republic, is a -Bassa; he is one of “Miss Sharp’s boys”--and does credit to her efforts. -While the educational development of Liberia leaves much to be desired, -he has ninety-one schools (including night schools) under his direction. - -Another native who has gained position, reputation and influence is -Abayomi Wilfrid Karnga, the son of a Kongo man, which means that he has -risen against more serious difficulties than face the usual native of -the country. The population of Liberia consists actually of three -different classes of black men; first, the descendants of American or -English freedmen; second, the actual natives of the country; third, -descendants of recaptured slaves--very commonly included under the -general term of “Kongo men.” The last mentioned people had been bought -by slavers, taken on board slave vessels, and were being taken to Cuba -or South America for sale when they were captured by British or American -warships, taken to Liberia, and dumped upon the colony for care and -raising. They have always been looked upon with contempt by both -Liberians and natives, and for a Kongo man to rise indicates energy and -natural ability. Mr. Karnga has been a school teacher and is now a -practising lawyer; he is at present a member of the House of -Representatives and is active in public affairs. - -Another conspicuous native success is Luke B. Anthony, a Bassa. He -received his early training under the Presbyterian missionaries and -attended Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania. At one time he had high -hope of conducting schools for his own people, but this hope vanished -with the discontinuance of mission effort on the part of the board with -which he has been interested. He loves his people and a year ago gave -the commencement address at Liberia College upon the subject of “Bassa -Traditions.” While in the United States he received medical training and -is a successful physician. At present he is professor of mathematics in -Liberia College and a teacher of considerable ability and force. - -One of the most interesting of the Liberian natives who are playing a -part in public life is Momolu Massaquoi. He represents the Vai people, -one of the most important, enterprising and progressive of the score or -so of native tribes in the republic. The Vai are a Mohammedan population -and stand alone among African negroes in having in common daily use a -system of writing with characters invented long ago by one of their own -tribe. Mr. Massaquoi was an hereditary chief among his people. While -still young he became a Christian, found his way to the United States, -and gained part of his education in this country. After returning to -Liberia he was paramount chief among his people for a period of ten -years. He now lives in Monrovia, where he occupies the position of chief -clerk in the Department of the Interior. He is now preparing text-books -in Vai for use among his people. - -The number of pure blood natives among the Liberian clergy must be -considerable. Some of these, like the Rev. F. A. Russell, of Grand -Bassa, minister to mixed congregations, with both Liberian and native -members. Other native clergymen have charge of definite mission work -among the natives. Thus, Rev. McKrae is in charge of the Kru chapel -(Episcopalian) in Monrovia. The Kru and Grebo are close kin, both in -speech and blood. In connection with such mission effort we are -naturally reminded of Mr. Scott, a full-blooded Grebo, who is the -architect and superintendent of construction of the Bromley School for -Girls, situated upon the St. Paul’s River about three hours by steamer -from Monrovia; it is said to be the largest building in Liberia. Mr. -Scott has had no instruction in the builder’s trade beyond what he has -picked up practically and through a course of instruction received from -America by correspondence. - -These are a few examples of native men who are doing something to help -Liberians to solve their problems. There must be a considerable number -of such. There is, however, another class of men who are helping in the -advancement of the country, though in quite a different way. Those whom -we have mentioned have practically severed themselves from the native -life; they are living among Liberians and taking active part with them. -Thomas Lewis, a Bassa, living in Grand Bassa, where his house, newly -built, is one of the finest in the town, is a native of the natives. His -father was a local king; Thomas was one of about a hundred children. -Through missionary effort he gained the rudiments of education; coming -then to the United States, he studied in various cities, finally taking -his advanced work in Syracuse University. While there he devised a -system of writing the Bassa language, which, like the system long in use -among the Vai, consists of a series of phonetic characters standing for -syllables. While in Syracuse he had a primer printed in the new -characters for teaching Bassa children to read. Having studied medicine, -he became a practising physician on his return to his own country. He -has large influence with the primitive Bassa, and not infrequently is -called upon by the Government to exert this in its behalf. He has taught -a number of Bassa boys his system and takes great pride in their ability -to write and read their language with his characters. - -Living in the same neighborhood with Dr. Lewis is Jacob Logan. His -father was a Liberian, his mother a Bassa; his father represented a -class of which we hear much in the writings of authors who criticize -Liberian affairs--civilized Liberians who relapse. He lived the native -life and his son Jacob was brought up amid purely native surroundings. -Jacob Logan today speaks excellent English, writes and reads the -language perfectly well, knows Liberia and the outside world, having -been to Europe. Yet he maintains the state of a native chief. He has an -excellent house, which he calls “Native Vindicator’s House;” he is -legally married to one wife, but has the reputation of maintaining a -considerable body of native women; he has a quantity of dependents, -known everywhere as “Jacob Logan’s boys.” They work for him, and when -they hire out to others he receives their wages; they are subject to his -orders; they live in his house or on his property until married; after -they are married they still retain relations with him. On his part Jacob -owes them advice, shelter, direction, assistance; when they wish to -marry he provides the money, for they must pay for wives; if they are in -trouble he must help them; if they get into legal difficulty he must pay -their fines. These two men are representative, no doubt, of a large -class. They have great influence and it certainly is to the advantage of -Government that their influence be utilized in its favor. If they are -well informed in regard to governmental policy and favorable to it, they -can do much. - -Is it desirable that Liberians and natives intermarry? It is certain -that the native endures the climate better than the newcomers; it is -true that he has far more energy, vigor, enterprise--in case his -interest is once aroused. There can be no question that close breeding -among the little handful of Liberians is fraught with danger; mixture -with the native stock would give, in many cases, good results. There is -always, of course, the danger in such mixed marriages of relapse to -barbarism. The Liberian who marries a native woman might lead an easy -life among her people in the bush. This danger is a real one and needs -to be avoided. - -It is only five minutes’ walk from the heart of Liberian Monrovia to the -center of Krutown on the beach. It is a purely native town; most of the -houses are true Kru houses, with thatched roofs and matting sides. The -streets are narrow, the houses crowded, the people swarm. The Kru have -force and vigor; they are splendid canoe-men and fishers; they are the -chief dependence of coast commerce, loading and unloading the steamer -cargoes. The men and boys almost all know English, some have a -smattering of French or German; the women confine themselves largely to -their native language, though girls in school all learn English. The Kru -are workers; they like activity. There are schools in Krutown, but the -Kru boys, after they have finished their studies in them, go up to the -College of West Africa, in Monrovia. This is a mission school, supported -by the Methodists, in which all the teachers are colored; most of them -Americans. - -One day I visited the class in arithmetic, consisting of about thirty -scholars. Sitting in the midst of them, when a lull came, I said to my -nearest neighbor, “But you are a native boy?” “Yes, sir; we are many of -us native boys. _He_ is a native, and _he_, and _he_, and _he_.” In -fact, I was surrounded by natives, Kru boys. “Well,” I asked, “and how -do you native boys do in your classes?” “We do better than _they_ do, -sir,” he said. “Do you, indeed?” said I; “it would sound better if some -one else said that; but how is it so?” “I can’t help it, sir; we do -better _anyway_; we love our country better than they do, too.” However -that may be, it is certain that these Kru boys will outrun the Liberians -unless the latter are careful. No one else in all Liberia is so anxious -to learn as they. - -It is interesting how generally they look toward _us_ for education. One -who called upon me one afternoon told me that a Kru boy had started for -America only the week before. He told me, then, that he himself was one -of five boys in their town and school who had agreed together that, in -some way or other, they should get to America for education. They will -do it, too. They earn good money from the steamers and know how to save; -after they had been hired two or three times for a coasting voyage they -make friends with steamer officers and have no trouble in being taken to -Antwerp, or Rotterdam, or Hamburg, earning something more than passage -by their work. If they can work their way from Hamburg to New York they -are glad to do so, but most of them realize that that is an uncertain -chance and start out either with cash upon their person or a little -ivory for sale to provide resources beyond Hamburg. - -There has been considerable discussion in regard to the location of -Liberia College. Should it remain at the capital, Monrovia? Or should it -be transferred to some point in the interior? Just now there is so much -talk about manual training and agricultural instruction that there has -been considerable effort made to change the character of the school and -to place it at some point in the interior. I believe that Liberia -College ought to remain in Monrovia; it should continue to be an -institution of higher education--cultural in character. To locate it at -any point in the interior would be to confine its field and value to a -single district and a single tribe. There are perhaps a score of native -tribes in Liberia, each with its own language, its own territory, its -own customs, its own chiefs. Between the tribes there is little contact -and no bond of interest. To put Liberia College into the interior would -benefit perhaps a single tribe. Other tribes would not patronize -it--they would look upon it as of no value or interest to them. What is -needed is the establishment of a good central school within the area of -_each_ native tribe. It should give thorough _rudimentary_ instruction. -It should serve as a feeder to Liberia College; its best men, those who -become interested and are ambitious, would go up to the capital for -further study. There they would meet representatives of all the other -tribes sent up from the other local schools. A wholesome rivalry would -rise between them; tribal spirit would be maintained, but -acquaintanceship and respect for others would be wholesomely developed; -in Monrovia, the capital city, they would be made to feel a national -interest and develop affection for their common government. In such a -system only can the elevation of the whole people and a genuine -coöperation be developed. - -Manual training and agricultural instruction are of high importance, but -form a question by themselves. - - - - -APPENDICES - - -LEADING EVENTS IN LIBERIAN HISTORY - - 1777 Virginia Legislative Committee (Thomas Jefferson, Chn.) to - devise scheme. - - 1816 December 23. Virginia asked United States to secure a - territory. - Similar plans by Maryland, Tennessee and Georgia. - December 21. Colonization Society considered. - Society organized with Judge Washington as President. - - 1818 February 2. Two agents sailed from London for Sierra Leone. - Interview with King Sherbro. Burgess and Mills. - October 22. Burgess reached United States; Mills dead. - - 1819 March 3. Congress determined to unite with Society. - Samuel Bacon and John P. Bankson--agents. - - 1820 February. The Elizabeth sailed: Agent Crozier and 88 colonists. - --Three agents and twenty colonists dead; Daniel Coker and - others at Sherbro Island. - --To Sierra Leone. - - 1821 March. Andrus and Wiltberger (Soc.), Winn and E. Bacon (U. S.). - --Cape Mesurado=Montserrado. Failure. Bacon returned; Andrus - and Winn dead. Wiltberger remained in Africa. - To Sierra Leone. - Fall. Dr. Ayres (Soc.) to Sierra Leone: Then by _Alligator_ - (Capt. Stockton) to Cape Mesurado. - Ayres and Stockton--King Peter and five chiefs. Buy land for - $300. - Differences; but colonists persevere. - Wreck palaver: Boatswain’s intervention. - - 1822 June 4. Dr. Ayres sailed; colonist in charge. - July. Final removal to mainland. - August 8. Jehudi Ashmun arrived. (Landing 8th to 14th.) - 18. Martello tower begun. - 31. Night watch established. - September 1. King George removed his town. - 15. Mrs. Ashmun died; only one person well. - November 7. Notice of planned attack. - 11. Battle. - 22. Parley. - 23. Day of humiliation, thanksgiving and prayer. - 29. Capt. Brassey’s visit. - December 1. Second battle. - 2. Night cannonading; _Prince Regent_ (Capt. Laing); - Midshipman Gordon and men remain. - 8. Columbian schooner; (Capt. Wesley). - - 1823 March 15. Remaining five children returned by natives. - 31. U. S. S. _Cyane_ (Capt. Spencer). - April 21. Richard Seaton remained: died in June. - May 24. Oswego arrived: Dr. Ayres and 61 colonists. - Intrigue and rebellion rife. - December; Dr. Ayres left. - - 1824 February 20. Liberia, Monrovia,--official names. - March 22. Ashmun farewell address; April 1 embarked for - Islands. - July 24. Ashmun-Gurley meeting on _Porpoise_; Ashmun returns - with him. - August 13. Gurley and Ashmun reach Monrovia: Gurley there until - August 22. New plan of government drawn. - - 1825 New lands acquired; Grand Bassa, New Cess. - - 1826 New lands acquired; Cape Mount, Junk River. - Trade Town war. - - 1827 August 27. The Norfolk, with 142 recaptured slaves. - - 1828 March 25. Ashmun left colony. - August 25. Ashmun died at New Haven, Connecticut. - October 28. New government adopted. - Digby incident; trouble with King Bristol; Lott Carey killed by - explosion of powder. - December 22. Richard Randall, new agent, arrived. - - 1829 April 19. Randall died; Dr. Mechlin, agent. - - 1831 James Hall with 31 colonists from the Maryland Colonization - Society, stop at Monrovia. - - 1832 Dey-Golah war (Bromley). - - 1833 Edina founded. - James Hall with 28 colonists; settle at Cape Palmas, “Maryland - in Africa.” - - 1834 Mechlin to the United States; John B. Pinney succeeded him. - - 1835 Pinney home; Dr. Ezekiel Skinner, agent. - Pennsylvania Colonization Society; Port Cresson massacre. - - 1836 Anthony D. Williams, agent. - January. Thomas Buchanan arrived; in charge of Bassa - settlements. - - 1837 Gov. I. F. C. Finley arrived; in charge of Mississippi in - Africa. - - 1838 Greenville established. - September 10. Gov. Finley murdered. - New Constitution drawn up by Prof. Greenleaf, Harvard College; - “Commonwealth of Liberia.” - - 1839 A. D. Williams gives up agency; Thomas Buchanan, governor. - Tradetown war. - - 1840 Boporo-Golah war=Gatumba’s war: Gen. Roberts. - Difficulty with Rev. John Seyes, in charge of the Methodist - Episcopal Mission. - English settlement threatens complications. - - 1841 September 3. Gov. Buchanan died. Joseph Jenkin Roberts, - governor. - - 1842 France attempts to secure Liberian foothold; Cape Mount, Bassa - Cove, Butu, Garawé. - - 1843 February 22. Treaty with Golah. - - 1844- Strengthening of Liberian position, by purchase and treaty. - 1845 6% ad valorem duty established; in Maryland as well; agreement - between Roberts and Russwurm. - - 1844 Roberts visited the United States; American squadron visited - Liberia. - - 1845 The _Little Ben_ seized; the _John Seyes_ seized from Benson; - United States inquiry. - - 1846 January. American Colonization Society decides to grant - self-government. - Continued land-purchasing from natives. - Release and “apprenticeship” of slaves. - October 7. Vote on Independence; opposition in Grand Bassa. - - 1847 July 8. Day of Thanksgiving. - 26. Declaration of Independence; Constitution. - August 4. Flag hoisted; recognition by Great Britain. - October. Joseph Jenkin Roberts elected president; installed - January 3, 1848. - - 1848 England, France, Prussia recognition. President Roberts visited - Europe. - Lord Ashley raised £2,000 for purchasing lands of Mattru, - Gumbo, Gallinhas, Manna, etc. British admiralty presented The - Lark. - - 1849 Roberts re-elected president; Robertsport founded at Cape - Mount. - February 26. English treaty ratified. - Portugal, Sardinia, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, - Brazil, Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck, Haiti, recognized republic. - March. New Cesters slavers cleaned up and region annexed. - September 19. Ralph Gurley arrived at Cape Mount; report - printed in 1850. - - 1850 Two German trading houses established; Vai, Dey and Golah - quarrelling. - - 1851 British Consul appointed; Mr. Hanson. - Roberts: third term. - Edward Wilmot Blyden arrived. - Interior troubles; Boporo. Grando war at Grand Bassa. Native - troubles in Maryland. - Governor Russwurm died; S. M. McGill, governor of Maryland. - - 1852 Roberts visited France and England. - - 1853 Roberts: fourth term. - - 1854 William A. Prout; governor of Maryland. - October 3. President visited Europe; proposed annexation of - Sierra Leone. - - 1856 Stephen Allen Benson, president. - Napoleon III equipment for 1,000 armed men and the - _Hirondelle_. - J. B. Drayton, governor of Maryland. - December 22. Cape Palmas battle. - - 1857 January 18. Sheppard Lake disaster, Grebo war. - February 18. J. J. Roberts and J. F. Gibson signed treaty. - 28. Annexation of Maryland. - Roberts appointed president of Liberia College. - - 1858 _Regina Coeli_ incident. - Seymore and Ash expedition; (R. G. S. 1860). - - 1860 John Myers Harris’ boats seized: rescued by a British gunboat-- - _The Torch_. - - 1862 Roberts sent to Europe; appointed Belgian consul. - President Benson in England; question decided. - Harris’ schooners again seized; Monrovia conference; Vai and - Harris war; Commodore Schufeldt. - October 22. Treaty with the United States. - - 1864 Daniel Bashiel Warner, president. - - 1865 Ports of Entry Law: Robertsport, Monrovia, Marshall, Grand - Bassa, Greenville, Cape Palmas. - Three hundred West Indian immigrants; A. Barclay. - - 1868 James Spriggs Payne, president. - Anderson’s trip to Musahdu. - - 1870 Edward James Roye, president. Went to England. - England agrees to Boundary Commission. - Vai attack Harris; Sierra Leone demands. - - 1871 £100,000 loan placed in England. - October. President Roye proclaimed term extended; attempted - bank seizure. - --26th. Legislative manifesto. - - 1872 J. J. Roberts again president. - Paid indemnity of 1869. - - 1874 Anderson’s second expedition to Musahdu. - - 1875 Grebo war; natives burned Bunker Hill and Philadelphia (near - Harper). - - 1876 James Spriggs Payne, president. - Chigoes introduced. - - 1877 Colonists from Louisiana; mainly along lower St. Paul’s R.; - some subsequently returned. - - 1878 Revived demand for £8,500 indemnity. - Anthony William Gardner, president. - - 1879 Order of African Redemption founded. - April. Entered International Postal Union. - Sierra Leone boundary commission wrangle. - German steamer _Carlos_ wrecked on Nana Kru coast; _Victoria_ - punitive expedition; £900. - - 1879- J. Buttikoper visits Liberia; zoological research. - 1887 - - 1882 March 20. Sir Arthur Havelock and gunboats; Mafa R. boundary, - £8,500 indemnity. - September 7. Sir Arthur Havelock returned. - - 1883 _Corisco_ wrecked at Grand Cestos R.; Liberians punished - natives. - _Senegal_ wrecked and plundered. - March. Sierra Leone took land up to Mano River. - January 20. Gardner resigned; Vice-President A. F. Russell in - chair. - - 1884 Hilary Richard Wright Johnson, president. - - 1885 November 11. Boundary dispute settled; Mano R. boundary. - - 1885- Efforts at adjusting loan of 1871. - 1891 - - 1891 October 26. French claim Cavalla R. boundary. - - 1892 Joseph James Cheeseman, president. - December 8. Cavalla R. boundary accepted, after protest. - - 1893 Third Grebo war. - Kru declaration of adhesion. - - 1896 November. Vice-President William David Coleman takes - presidency. - Grebo trouble. - - 1897 German consulate offers protectorate. - - 1898 Liberia admits £70,000 to £80,000 on Loan of 1871. - - 1899 February 10. Hostain’s and d’Ollones’ expedition; affecting - Franco-Liberian boundary. - - 1900 Coleman expedition to subdue interior; resignation. - Garretson Wilmot Gibson, president. - - 1902 French boundary negotiations. - - 1903 French treaty fixing boundary; Liberia paid £4,750. - Anglo-Liberian boundary demarcated; Mano R.; Kanre-Lahun in - Liberia. - Missions to chiefs one hundred miles up the Cavalla River, also - up the St. Paul’s. - - 1904 Arthur Barclay, president. - Congress of kings--Golah, Boporo, Mpesse. - March. Effort to fix French boundary from Tembi Kunda to - Cavalla R. - May 19. German Government complains of Liberian judiciary. - August. Changes in Liberian Development Chartered Co.; also in - January, 1906. - - 1905 January. Permission given for British force to pacify the Kissi - district. - February. President Barclay visited Cape Mount and treated with - Vai. - July 27. Vice-President J. D. Summerville died. - - 1906 Arthur Barclay, president. - January 5. Agreement with Liberian Development Co., for a loan - of £100,000. - Lomax in Kanre-Lahun district. - - 1907 May 7. Amendment to Constitution lengthening presidential term - to four years. - Summer: Commission sent to adjust difficulties with Great - Britain and France. - August 29. President Barclay reaches London; Great Britain - demands reforms as condition to discussion of disagreement. - September 18. President Barclay yields to French demands and - accepts treaty. - Severance of relations between Liberian government and Liberian - Development Co. - Tripartite Agreement; Liberia, Erlanger Co., Liberian - Development Co.; Liberia takes over responsibility for loan of - 1906. - Trouble at River Cess. - - 1908 Arthur Barclay, president; four years term. - January. Major Mackay Cadell appears in Liberia. - January 14. Consul-general Braithwaite Wallis issues reform - demand. - British offer to exchange Behlu district for Kanre-Lahun. - May. Liberian Commission bring appeal to the United States. - July. Ex-President W. D. Coleman died at Clay-Ashland. - War-vessel _Lark_ purchased for £40,000; British Government - presents gun armament worth £1,600. - - 1909 February 11. Mackay Cadell’s frontier force in mutiny. - May 8. United States commission of inquiry arrived at Monrovia. - Trouble at River Cess and Grand Bassa. - - 1910 March 21. German cable line opened. - New Cess trouble; Grebo uprising. - - 1911 January. Behlu and Kanre-Lahun exchange consummated; - delimitation ordered. - May. French demand customs control of both sides of Cavalla - River. - September 26. American loan arrangement presented. - November 1. Free navigation of the Mano R. admitted. - - 1912 January 1-2. Daniel Edward Howard, president; inauguration. - January 1. Loan went into operation. - February 7. Edward Wilmot Blyden died. - Arrival of American military helpers--Major Ballard and - Captains Brown and Newton. - September. Lomax and Cooper trials; acquittals. - - -DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN CONVENTION - -Town of Monrovia; June and July 1847 - -We, the representatives of the people of the Commonwealth of Liberia, in -Convention assembled, invested with authority for forming a new -government, relying upon the aid and protection of the Great Arbiter of -human events, do hereby, in the name and on behalf of the people of this -Commonwealth, publish and declare the said Commonwealth a FREE, -SOVEREIGN and INDEPENDENT STATE, by the name and style of the REPUBLIC -OF LIBERIA. - -While announcing to the nations of the world the new position which the -people of this Republic have felt themselves called upon to assume, -courtesy to their opinion seems to demand a brief accompanying statement -of the causes which induced them, first to expatriate themselves from -the land of their nativity and to form settlements on this barbarous -coast, and now to organize their government by the assumption of a -sovereign and independent character. Therefore we respectfully ask their -attention to the following facts: - -We recognize in all men, certain natural and inalienable rights: among -these are life, liberty, and the right to acquire, possess, enjoy and -defend property. By the practice and consent of men in all ages, some -system or form of government is proven to be necessary to exercise, -enjoy, and secure these rights: and every people has a right to -institute a government and to choose and adopt that system or form of -it, which, in their opinion, will most effectually accomplish these -objects, and secure their happiness, which does not interfere with the -just rights of others. The right therefore to institute government, and -all the powers necessary to conduct it, is an inalienable right, and -cannot be resisted without the grossest injustice. - -We, the people of the Republic of Liberia, were originally the -inhabitants of the United States of North America. - -In some part of that country, we were debarred by law from all the -rights and privileges of men--in other parts, public sentiments, more -powerful than law frowned us down. - - We were every where shut out from all civil office. - - We were excluded from all participation in the government. - - We were taxed without our consent. - - We were compelled to contribute to the resources of a country, which - gave us no protection. - -We were made a separate and distinct class, and against us every avenue -to improvement was effectually closed. Strangers from all lands of a -color different from ours, were preferred before us. - -We uttered our complaints, but they were unattended to, or met only by -alleging the peculiar institution of the country. - -All hope of a favorable change in our country was thus wholly -extinguished in our bosom, and we looked with anxiety abroad for some -asylum from the deep degradation. - -The Western coast of Africa was the place selected by American -benevolence and philanthropy, for our future home. Removed beyond those -influences which depressed us in our native land, it was hoped we would -be enabled to enjoy those rights and privileges, and exercise and -improve those faculties, which the God of nature has given us in common -with the rest of mankind. - -Under the auspices of the American Colonization Society, we established -ourselves here, on land acquired by purchase from the lords of the soil. - -In an original compact with this Society, we for important reasons, -delegated to it certain political powers; while this institution -stipulated that whenever the people should become capable of conducting -the government, or whenever the people should desire it, this -institution would resign the delegated power, peaceably withdraw its -supervision, and leave the people to the government of themselves. - -Under the auspices and guidance of this institution, which has nobly and -in perfect faith redeemed its pledges to the people, we have grown and -prospered. - -From time to time, our number has been increased by migration from -America, and by accessions from native tribes; and from time to time, -as circumstances required it, we have extended our borders by -acquisition of land by honorable purchase from the natives of the -country. - -As our territory has extended, and our population increased, our -commerce has also increased. The flags of most of the civilized nations -of the earth float in our harbors, and their merchants are opening an -honorable and profitable trade. Until recently, these visits have been -of a uniformly harmonious character, but as they have become more -frequent, and to more numerous points of our extending coast, questions -have arisen, which it is supposed can be adjusted only by agreement -between sovereign powers. - -For years past, the American Colonization Society has faithfully -withdrawn from all direct and active part in the administration of the -Government, except in the appointment of the Governor, who is also a -colonist, for the apparent purpose of testing the ability of the people -to conduct the affairs of Government; and no complaint of crude -legislation, nor mismanagement, nor of mal-administration has yet been -heard. - -In view of these facts, this institution, the American Colonization -Society, with that good faith which has uniformly marked all its -dealings with us, did, by a set of resolutions in January, in the Year -of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Six, dissolve all -political connection with the people of this Republic, return the power -with which it was delegated, and left the people to the government of -themselves. - -The people of the Republic of Liberia then, are of right, and in fact, a -free sovereign and Independent State, possessed of all the rights, and -powers, and functions of government. - -In assuming the momentous responsibilities of the position they have -taken, the people of this Republic, feel justified by the necessities of -the case, and with this conviction they throw themselves, with -confidence upon the candid consideration of the civilized world. - -Liberia is not the offspring of grasping ambition, nor the tool of -avaricious speculation. - -No desire for territorial aggrandizement brought us to these shores; nor -do we believe so sordid a motive entered into the high consideration of -those who aided us in providing this asylum. - -Liberia is an asylum from the most grinding oppression. - -In coming to the shores of Africa, we indulged the pleasing hope that we -should be permitted to exercise and improve those faculties which impart -to man his dignity--to nourish in our hearts the flame of honorable -ambition, to cherish and indulge those aspirations, which a Beneficent -Creator hath implanted in every human heart, and to evince to all who -despise, ridicule and oppress our race that we possess with them a -common nature, are with them susceptible of equal refinement, and -capable of equal advancement in all that adorns and dignifies man. - -We were animated with the hope, that here we should be at liberty to -train up our children in the way they should go--to inspire them, with -the love of an honorable fame, to kindle within them, the flame of a -lofty philanthropy, and to form strong within them, the principles of -humanity, virtue and religion. - -Among the strongest motives to leave our native land--to abandon forever -the scenes of our childhood, and to sever the most endeared connections, -was the desire for a retreat where, free from the agitations of fear and -molestation, we could, in composure and security, approach in worship -the God of our Fathers. - -Thus far our highest hopes have been realized. - -Liberia is already the happy home of thousands, who were once the doomed -victims of oppression; and if left unmolested to go on with her natural -and spontaneous growth: if her movements be left free from the -paralysing intrigues of jealous ambition and unscrupulous avarice, she -will throw open a wider and a wider door for thousands who are now -looking with an anxious eye for some land of rest. - -Our courts of justice are open equally to the stranger and the citizen, -for the redress of grievances, for the remedy of injuries, and for the -punishment of crime. - -Our numerous and well attended schools attest our efforts, and our -desire for the improvement of our children. - -Our churches for the worship of our Creator, every where to be seen, -bear testimony to our piety, and to our acknowledgement of his -Providence. - -The native African, bowing down with us before the altar of the living -God, declare that from us, feeble as we are, the light of Christianity -has gone forth; while upon that curse of curses, the slave trade, a -deadly blight has fallen as far as our influence extends. - -Therefore, in the name of humanity, and virtue and religion--in the name -of the Great God, our common Creator, and our common Judge, we appeal to -the nations of Christendom, and earnestly and respectfully ask of them, -that they will regard us with the sympathy and friendly consideration, -to which the peculiarities of our condition entitle us, and to extend to -us that comity which marks the friendly intercourse of civilized and -independent communities. - - DONE in CONVENTION, at Monrovia, in the County of Montserrado, by the - unanimous consent of the people of the Commonwealth of Liberia, this - Twenty-sixth day of July, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight - Hundred and Forty-seven. In witness whereof we have hereto set our - names. - - MONTSERRADO COUNTY, - - S. BENEDICT, _President_ - H. TEAGE, - ELIJAH JOHNSON, - J. N. LEWIS, - BEVERLY R. WILSON, - J. B. GRIPON. - -GRAND BASS COUNTY, - - JOHN DAY, - AMOS HERRING, - A. W. GARDNER, - EPHRAIM TITLER. - -COUNTY OF SINOE, - - R. E. MURRAY. - - JACOB W. PROUT, - _Secretary of the Convention_. - - -CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA - - -_PREAMBLE_ - -The end of the institution, maintenance, and administration of -government, is to secure the existence of the body politic, to protect -it, and to furnish the individuals who compose it, with the power of -enjoying in safety and tranquility, their natural rights, and the -blessings of life; and whenever these great objects are not obtained, -the people have a right to alter the government and to take measures -necessary for their safety, prosperity, and happiness. - -Therefore, we the People of the Commonwealth of Liberia, in Africa, -acknowledging with devout gratitude, the goodness of God, in granting to -us the blessings of the Christian Religion, and political, religious and -civil liberty, do, in order to secure these blessings for ourselves and -our posterity, and to establish justice, insure domestic peace, and -promote the general welfare, hereby solemnly associate, and constitute -ourselves a Free, Sovereign and Independent State by the name of the -REPUBLIC of LIBERIA, and do ordain and establish this Constitution for -the government of the same. - - -ARTICLE I - -BILL OF RIGHTS - -SECTION 1. All men are born equally free and independent, and have -certain natural, inherent and inalienable rights: among which are the -rights of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, -possessing and protecting property, and of pursuing and obtaining safety -and happiness. - -SECTION 2. All power is inherent in the people; all free governments are -instituted by their authority, and for their benefit, and they have the -right to alter and reform the same when their safety and happiness -require it. - -SECTION 3. All men have a natural and inalienable right to worship God -according to the dictates of their consciences, without obstruction or -molestation from others: all persons demeaning themselves peaceably, and -not obstructing others in their religious worship, are entitled to the -protection of law, in the free exercise of their own religion, and no -sect of Christians shall have exclusive privileges or preference over -any other sect; but all shall be alike tolerated; and no religious test -whatever shall be required as a qualification for civil office, or the -exercise of any civil right. - -SECTION 4. There shall be no slavery within this Republic. Nor shall any -citizen of this Republic, or any person resident therein, deal in -slaves, either within or without this Republic, directly or indirectly. - -SECTION 5. The people have a right at all times, in an orderly and -peaceable manner to assemble and consult upon the common good, to -instruct their representatives, and to petition the government, or any -public functionaries for the redress of grievances. - -SECTION 6. Every person injured shall have remedy therefor, by due -course of law; justice shall be done without denial or delay; and in all -cases, not arising under martial law or upon impeachment, the parties -shall have a right to a trial by jury, and to be heard in person or by -counsel, or both. - -SECTION 7. No persons shall be held to answer for a capital or infamous -crime, except in cases of impeachment, cases arising in the army or -navy, and petty offences, unless upon presentment by a grand jury; and -every person criminally charged shall have a right to be seasonably -furnished with a copy of the charge, to be confronted with the witnesses -against him,--to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his -favor; and to have a speedy, public, and impartial trial by a jury of -the vicinity. He shall not be compelled to furnish or give evidence -against himself; and no person shall for the same offence be twice put -in jeopardy of life or limb. - -SECTION 8. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, property, or -privilege, but by judgment of his peers or the law of the land. - -SECTION 9. No place shall be searched, nor person seized on a criminal -charge or suspicion, unless upon warrant lawfully issued, upon probable -cause supported by oath, or solemn affirmation, specially designating -the place or person, and the object of the search. - -SECTION 10. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines -imposed, nor excessive punishments inflicted. Nor shall the Legislature -make any law impairing the obligation of contracts nor any law rendering -any acts punishable when it was committed. - -SECTION 11. All elections shall be by ballot; and every male citizen of -twenty-one years of age, possessing real estate, shall have the right of -suffrage. - -SECTION 12. The people have a right to keep and bear arms for the common -defence and as in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they -ought not to be maintained without the consent of the Legislature; and -the military power shall always be held in exact subordination to the -civil authority and be governed by it. - -SECTION 13. Private property shall not be taken for public use without -just compensation. - -SECTION 14. The powers of this government shall be divided into three -distinct departments: Legislative, Executive and Judicial, and no person -belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any of the powers -belonging to either of the other. This section is not to be construed to -include Justices of the Peace. - -SECTION 15. The liberty of the press is essential to the security of -freedom in a state; it ought not, therefore, to be restrained in this -Republic. - -The printing press shall be free to every person who undertakes to -examine the proceedings of the Legislature, or any branch of government; -and no law shall ever be made to restrain the rights thereof. The free -communication of thoughts and opinions, is one of the invaluable rights -of man, and every citizen may freely speak, write and print, on any -subject, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty. - -In prosecutions, for the publication of papers, investigating the -official conduct of officers, or men in a public capacity, or where the -matter published is proper for public information, the truth thereof may -be given in evidence. And in all indictments for libels the jury shall -have the right to determine the law and the facts, under the directions -of the courts; as in other cases. - -SECTION 16. No subsidy, charge, impost, or duties ought to be -established, fixed, laid or levied, under any pretext whatsoever, -without the consent of the people, or their representatives in the -Legislature. - -SECTION 17. Suits may be brought against the Republic in such manner, -and in such cases as the Legislature may by law direct. - -SECTION 18. No person can, in any case, be subject to the law martial, -or to any penalties or pains by virtue of that law, (except those -employed in the army or navy, and except the militia in actual service) -but by the authority of the Legislature. - -SECTION 19. In order to prevent those who are vested with authority, -from becoming oppressors, the people have a right at such periods, and -in such manner, as they shall establish by their frame of government, to -cause their public officers to return to private life, and to fill up -vacant places, by certain and regular elections and appointments. - -SECTION 20. That all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties; -unless, for capital offences, when the proof is evident, or presumption -great; and the privilege and benefit of the writ of _habeas corpus_ -shall be enjoyed in this Republic, in the most free, easy, cheap, -expeditious and ample manner, and shall not be suspended by the -Legislature, except upon the most urgent and pressing occasions, and for -a limited time, not exceeding twelve months. - - -ARTICLE II - -LEGISLATIVE POWERS - -SECTION 1. That the legislative power shall be vested in a Legislature -of Liberia, and shall consist of two separate branches--a House of -Representatives and a Senate, to be styled the Legislature of Liberia; -each of which shall have a negative on the other, and the enacting style -of their acts and laws shall be, “_It is enacted by the Senate and House -of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia in Legislature -assembled._” - -SECTION 2. The representatives shall be elected by and for the -inhabitants of the several counties of Liberia, and shall be apportioned -among the several counties of Liberia, as follows: The county of -Montserrado shall have four representatives, the county of Grand Bassa -shall have three, and the county of Sinoe shall have one; and all -counties hereafter which shall be admitted into the Republic shall have -one representative, and for every ten thousand inhabitants one -representative shall be added. No person shall be a representative who -has not resided in the county two whole years immediately previous to -his election and who shall not, when elected be an inhabitant of the -county, and does not own real estate of not less value than one hundred -and fifty dollars in the county in which he resides, and who shall not -have attained the age of twenty-three years. The representatives shall -be elected biennially, and shall serve two years from the time of their -election. - -SECTION 3. When a vacancy occurs in the representation of any county by -death, resignation, or otherwise, it shall be filled by a new election. - -SECTION 4. The House of Representatives shall elect their own Speaker -and other officers; they shall also have the sole power of impeachment. - -SECTION 5. The Senate shall consist of two members from Montserrado -County, two from Grand Bassa County, two from Sinoe County, and two from -each county which may be hereafter incorporated into this Republic. No -person shall be a senator who shall not have resided three whole years -immediately previous to his election in the Republic of Liberia, and who -shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of the county which he -represents, and who does not own real estate of not less value than two -hundred dollars in the county which he represents, and who shall not -have attained the age of twenty-five years. The senator for each county -who shall have the highest number of votes shall retain his seat four -years, and the one who shall have the next highest number of votes, two -years; and all who are afterwards elected to fill their seats, shall -remain in office four years. - -SECTION 6. The Senate shall try all impeachments; the senators being -first sworn or solemnly affirmed to try the same impartially and -according to law; and no person shall be convicted but by the -concurrence of two-thirds of the senators present. Judgment, in such -cases, shall not extend beyond removal from the office and -disqualification to hold an office in the Republic; but the party may be -tried at law for the same offense. When either the President or -Vice-President is to be tried, the Chief Justice shall preside. - -SECTION 7. It shall be the duty of the Legislature as soon as -conveniently may be, after the adoption of this Constitution, and once -at least in every ten years afterwards, to cause a true census to be -taken of each town and county of the Republic of Liberia; and a -representative shall be allowed every town having a population of ten -thousand inhabitants; and for every additional ten thousand in the -counties after the first census one representative shall be added to -that county, until the number of representatives shall amount to thirty; -and afterwards, one representative shall be added for every thirty -thousand. - -SECTION 8. Each branch of the Legislature shall be judge of the election -returns and qualification of its own members. A majority of each shall -be necessary to transact business, but a less number may adjourn from -day to day and compel the attendance of absent members. Each House may -adopt its own rules of proceedings, enforce order, and, with the -concurrence of two-thirds, may expel a member. - -SECTION 9. Neither House shall adjourn for more than two days without -the consent of the other; and both Houses shall always sit in the same -town. - -SECTION 10. Every bill or resolution which shall have passed both -branches of the Legislature, shall, before it becomes a law, be laid -before the President for his approval; if he approves, he shall sign it; -if not, he shall return it to the Legislature with his objections. If -the Legislature shall afterwards pass the bill or resolution by a vote -of two-thirds in each branch it shall become a law. If the President -shall neglect to return such bill or resolution to the Legislature with -his objections for five days after the same shall have been so laid -before him, the Legislature remaining in session during that time, such -neglect shall be equivalent to his signature. - -SECTION 11. The Senators and Representatives shall receive from the -Republic a compensation for their services to be ascertained by law; and -shall be privileged from arrest, except for treason, felony, or breach -of the peace, while attending at, going to, or returning from, the -session of the Legislature. - - -ARTICLE III - -EXECUTIVE POWER - -SECTION 1. The supreme executive power shall be vested in a President, -who shall be elected by the people, and shall hold his office for the -term of two years. He shall be commander-in-chief of the army and navy. -He shall in the recess of the Legislature have power to call out the -militia, or any portion thereof, into actual service in defence of the -Republic. He shall have power to make treaties, provided the Senate -concur therein by a vote of two-thirds of the senators present. He shall -nominate, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint and -commission all ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls, -secretaries of State, of War, of the Navy, and of the Treasury, Attorney -General, all judges of courts, sheriffs, coroners, registers, marshals, -justices of the peace, clerks of courts, notaries public, and all other -officers of State,--civil and military, whose appointment may not be -otherwise provided for by the Constitution, or by standing laws. And in -the recess of the Senate, he may fill any vacancies in those offices, -until the next session of the Senate. He shall receive all ambassadors -and other public ministers. He shall take care that the laws are -faithfully executed:--he shall inform the Legislature, from time to -time, of the condition of the Republic, and recommend any public -measures for their adoption which he may think expedient. He may, after -conviction, remit any public forfeitures and penalties, and grant -reprieves and pardons for public offences except in cases of -impeachment. He may require information and advice from any public -officer touching matters pertaining to his office. He may, on -extraordinary occasions, convene the Legislature, and may adjourn the -two Houses whenever they cannot agree as to the time of adjournment. - -SECTION 2. There shall be a Vice-President who shall be elected in the -same manner and for the same term as that of the President, and whose -qualifications shall be the same; he shall be President of the Senate, -and give the casting vote when the house is equally divided on any -subject. And in the case of the removal of the President from office, -or his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and -duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President; -and the Legislature may by law provide for the cases of removal, death, -resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, -declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer -shall act accordingly until the disability be removed, or a President -shall be elected. - -SECTION 3. The Secretary of State shall keep the records of the State, -and all the records and papers of the Legislative body, and all other -public records and documents not belonging to any other department, and -shall lay the same when required, before the President or Legislature. -He shall attend upon them when required, and perform such other duties -as may be enjoined by law. - -SECTION 4. The Secretary of the Treasury, or other persons who may by -law be charged with custody of public monies, shall, before he receive -such monies, give bonds to the State, with sufficient sureties, to the -acceptance of the Legislature, for the faithful discharge of his trust. -He shall exhibit a true account of such monies when required by the -President, or Legislature, and no monies shall be drawn from the -Treasury, but by warrant from the President in consequence of -appropriation made by law. - -SECTION 5. All ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls, the -Secretary of State, of War, of the Treasury, and of the Navy, the -Attorney General and Post Master General, shall hold their office during -the pleasure of the President. All justices of the peace, sheriffs, -coroners, marshals, clerks of courts, registers, and notaries public, -shall hold their offices for the term of two years from the date of -their respective commissions; but they may be removed from office within -that time by the President at his pleasure; and all other officers whose -term of office shall not be otherwise limited by law, shall hold their -offices during the pleasure of the President. - -SECTION 6. Every civil officer may be removed from office by impeachment -for official misconduct. Every such officer may also be removed by the -President upon the address of both branches of the Legislature, stating -their particular reason for his removal. No person shall be eligible to -the office of President who has not been a citizen of this Republic for -at least five years, and who shall not have attained the age of -Thirty-five years, and who is not possessed of unencumbered real estate -of the value of Six hundred dollars. - -SECTION 7. The President shall at stated times receive for his services -compensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the -period for which he shall have been elected; and before he enters on the -execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or -affirmation:-- - -_I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the -office of President of the Republic of Liberia, and will, to the best of -my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, and enforce -the laws of the Republic of Liberia._ - - -ARTICLE IV - -JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT - -SECTION 1. The judicial power of this Republic shall be vested in one -Supreme Court, and such subordinate courts as the Legislature may from -time to time establish. The judges of the Supreme Court, and all other -judges of courts, shall hold their office during good behaviour; but may -be removed by the President, on the address of two-thirds of both houses -for that purpose, or by impeachment, and conviction thereon. The judges -shall have salaries established by law, which may be increased, but not -diminished during their continuance in office. They shall not receive -other perquisites, or emoluments whatever from parties, or others, on -account of any duty required of them. - -SECTION 2. The Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction in all -cases affecting ambassadors, or other public ministers and consuls, and -those to which a country shall be a party. In all other cases the -Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and -facts, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the -Legislature shall from time to time make. - - -ARTICLE V - -MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS - -All laws now in force in the Commonwealth of Liberia and not repugnant -to the Constitution shall be in force as the laws of the Republic of -Liberia until they shall be repealed by the Legislature. - -SECTION 2. All judges, magistrates, and other officers now concerned in -the administration of justice in the Commonwealth of Liberia, and all -other existing civil and military officers therein, shall continue to -hold and discharge the duties of their respective offices in the name -and by the authority of the Republic until others shall be appointed and -commissioned in their stead, pursuant to the Constitution. - -SECTION 3. All towns and municipal corporations within the Republic, -constituted under the laws of the Commonwealth of Liberia, shall retain -their existing organizations and privileges, and the respective officers -thereof shall remain in office and act under the authority of this -Republic in the same manner and with like power as they now possess -under the laws of said Commonwealth. - -SECTION 4. The first election of President, Vice-President, Senators and -Representatives, shall be held on the first Tuesday in October, in the -year of Our Lord, Eighteen Hundred and Forty-seven, in the same manner -as the election of members of the Council are held in the Commonwealth -of Liberia; and the votes shall be certified and returned to the -Colonial Secretary, and the result of the election shall be ascertained, -posted, and notified by him, as is now by law provided, in case of such -members of Council. - -SECTION 5. All other elections of Presidents, Vice-President, Senators -and Representatives, shall be held in the respective towns on the first -Tuesday in May in every two years; to be held and regulated in such a -manner as the Legislature may by law prescribe. The returns of votes -shall be made to the Secretary of State, who shall open the same and -forthwith issue notices of the election to the persons apparently so -elected Senators and Representatives; and all such returns shall be by -him laid before the Legislature at its next ensuing session, together -with a list of the names of the persons who appear by such returns to -have been duly elected Senators and Representatives; and the persons -appearing by said returns to be duly elected shall proceed to organize -themselves accordingly, as the Senate and House of Representatives. The -votes for President shall be sorted, counted and declared by the House -of Representatives; and if no person shall appear to have a majority of -such votes, the Senators and Representatives present, shall, in -convention, by joint ballot, elect from among the persons having the -three highest number of votes, a person to act as President for the -ensuing term. - -SECTION 6. The Legislature shall assemble once at least in every year, -and such meetings shall be on the first Monday in January, unless a -different day shall be appointed by law. - -SECTION 7. Every legislator and other officer appointed under this -Constitution shall, before he enters upon the duties of his office, take -and subscribe a solemn oath, or affirmation, to support the Constitution -of this Republic, and faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of -such office. The presiding officer of the Senate shall administer such -oath or affirmation, to the President in Convention of both Houses; and -the President shall administer the same to the Vice-President, to the -Senators, and to the Representatives in like manner. When the President -is unable to attend, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may -administer the oath, or affirmation to him at any place, and also to the -Vice-President, Senators, and Representatives, in convention. Other -officers may take such oath, or affirmation before the President, Chief -Justice, or any other person who may be designated by law. - -SECTION 8. All elections of public officers shall be made by a majority -of the votes, except in cases otherwise regulated by the Constitution, -or by law. - -SECTION 9. Officers created by this Constitution, which the present -circumstances of the Republic do not require that they shall be filled, -shall not be filled until the Legislature shall deem it necessary. - -SECTION 10. The property of which a woman may be possessed at the time -of her marriage, and also that of which she may afterwards become -possessed, otherwise than by her husband, shall not be held responsible -for his debts, whether contracted before, or after marriage. - -Nor shall the property thus intended to be secured to the woman be -alienated otherwise than by her free and voluntary consent, and such -alienation may be made by her either by sale, devise, or otherwise. - -SECTION 11. In all cases in which estates are insolvent, the widow shall -be entitled to one third of the real estate during her natural life, and -to one third of the personal estate, which she shall hold in her own -right, subject to alienation by her, by sale, devise, or otherwise. - -SECTION 12. No person shall be entitled to hold real estate in this -Republic unless he be a citizen of the same. Nevertheless this article -shall not be construed to apply to colonization, missionary, -educational, or other benevolent institutions, so long as the property, -or estate is applied to its legitimate purpose. - -SECTION 13. The great object of forming these colonies being to provide -a home for the dispersed and oppressed children of Africa, and to -regenerate and enlighten this benighted continent, none but persons of -color shall be admitted to citizenship in this Republic. - -SECTION 14. The purchase of any land by any citizen, or citizens from -the aborigines of this country for his or their own use, or for the -benefit of others, as estate or estates, in fee simple, shall be -considered null and void to all intents and purposes. - -SECTION 15. The improvement of the native tribes and their advancement -in the art of agriculture and husbandry being a cherished object of this -government, it shall be the duty of the President to appoint in each -county some discreet person whose duty it shall be to make regular and -periodical tours through the country for the purpose of calling the -attention of the natives to those wholesome branches of industry, and of -instructing them in the same, and the Legislature shall, as soon as it -can conveniently be done, make provisions for these purposes by the -appropriation of money. - -SECTION 16. The existing regulations of the American Colonization -Society, in the Commonwealth, relative to immigrants, shall remain the -same in the Republic until regulated by compact between the Society and -the Republic; nevertheless, the Legislature shall make no law -prohibiting emigration. And it shall be among the first duties of the -Legislature, to take measures to arrange the future relations between -the American Colonization Society and this Republic. - -SECTION 17. This Constitution may be altered whenever two thirds of both -branches of the Legislature, shall deem it necessary; in which case the -alterations or amendments, shall first be considered and approved by the -Legislature by the concurrence of two thirds of the members of each -branch and afterwards by them submitted to the people, and adopted by -two thirds of all the electors at the next biennial meeting for the -election of Senators, and Representatives. - - DONE in CONVENTION, at Monrovia in the County of Montserrado, by the - unanimous consent of the people of the Commonwealth of Liberia, this - Twenty-sixth day of July, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight - Hundred and Forty-seven, and of the REPUBLIC the first. In witness - whereof we have hereto set our names. - - (As before.) - - -AN ACT AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC of LIBERIA - -1907 - -An Act proposing Sundry Amendments to the Constitution of Liberia. - -_It is enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the -Republic of Liberia in Legislature assembled_:-- - -SECTION 1. That the following Amendments shall become part of the -National Constitution and be submitted to the people at the ensuing -biennial election to be held on the first Tuesday in May, A. D. 1907, -throughout the several counties of the Republic for their consideration -and approval, or non-approval, and the ballot shall be written -“adoption, or no adoption.” - -SECTION 2. That Article 3rd, Section 1st be made to read, “The supreme -executive power shall be vested in a President, who shall be elected by -the people and shall hold his office for the term of four years and be -elected quadrennially.” - -SECTION 3. That Article 2nd, Section 2nd, after the words “Twenty-three -years” be made to read, The Representatives shall be elected -quadrennially and shall serve for four years from the time of their -election. - -SECTION 4. That Article 2nd, Section 5th, after the words, “Twenty-five” -be made to read “The Senators shall serve for six years and shall be -elected quadrennially, and those elected May, A. D. 1905, shall retain -their seat for six years, from the time of their election, and all who -are afterwards elected, six years.” - -SECTION 5. That when a vacancy occurs in the office of Vice-President by -death, resignation or otherwise, after the regular election of the -President and Vice-President, the President shall immediately order a -special election to fill said vacancy. - -SECTION 6. That Article 5th, Section 13th be made to read “None but -Negroes or persons of Negro descent, shall be eligible to citizenship in -this Republic.” - -SECTION 7. That Section 3rd, of Article 4th, be made to read, “The -judges of the Supreme Court shall be the Chief and two Associate -Justices.” - -Any law to the contrary notwithstanding. - - -SUGGESTIONS - -Made by the Liberian Government to the American Commission in 1909 - -1. That the Government of the United States be requested to guarantee as -far as practicable the independence and integrity of Liberia, either -alone or in conjunction with certain European powers. - -2. To advise and counsel the Government of Liberia on international -affairs and with respect to reforms. - -3. The Government of the United States be requested to liquidate the -foreign and local indebtedness of the Republic, taking over the control -of its financial and customs administrations for a period of years -sufficient to effect a reorganization and systematization of same under -American experts and allowing to the Republic an annual sum to be -hereinafter agreed upon for the payment of the expenses of the -Government and for internal improvements until the amount advanced by -the United States for the liquidation of the indebtedness of the -Republic be paid. - -4. That the United States Government be requested to furnish the -Republic with experts for service in such departments of government as -may be deemed necessary--at the expense of the latter--in order to -facilitate and carry out the necessary reforms. - -5. That the Government of the United States be requested to use its good -offices in inducing American capitalists--either in conjunction with -foreign capitalists or alone--to establish a bank in Liberia which shall -receive the revenues of the Republic and make advances to the Government -upon terms to be agreed upon, and also to construct and run railways and -other improvements. - -6. That the Government of the United States be requested to enter into -an arbitration treaty with Liberia, and to use its good and kind offices -with the European powers interested in West Africa to enter into similar -engagements with the Republic. - -7. That the American Government be requested to use their good offices -to secure the equitable execution of the boundary arrangements entered -into between the Government of Liberia and the Government of Great -Britain and France, especially to assist the Government of Liberia -diplomatically to secure possession of the Kanre Lahun section and other -sections in the north of Liberia, now occupied by Great Britain, which -by the Anglo-Liberian boundary commission were acknowledged to this -Republic, as well as the securing to Liberia the hinterland recognized -as Liberian by the conventions concluded between her and France, but -which has been materially altered to the detriment of Liberia by the -delimitation commission of 1908-9. - -8. That the Government of the United States be requested to undertake a -scientific research of the country with the view of ascertaining a more -accurate knowledge of its mineral, vegetable, and other resources, and -to interest American capitalists in the development of the same; and -also to aid the Government of Liberia in the establishment of a school -for scientific medical research with particular reference to the study -of tropical diseases. - -9. To aid the Government of Liberia in establishing industrial schools -in one or more of the counties of the Republic with a view of promoting -a knowledge of such trades and industries as will render the Republic -self-reliant. - -10. To aid in establishing civilized centers on the frontiers and -hinterland in order to accelerate the uplifting and improvement of the -natives and perpetuate the object of the American founders of Liberia. - -11. To supervise the organization of a police and frontier force under -American officers. - -12. To request the United States war ships to visit Liberia annually, or -oftener. - -13. It is the anxious desire of Liberia that closer business relations -and a substantial sail or steam service be established between the -mother country and ours, and to this end we earnestly ask that the -United States will encourage and foster a regular line of steamers (by -an American company) to carry mails and passengers to and from Liberia -as well as African produce to the American markets. - -14. The Government of Liberia here express its willingness to concede to -the Government of the United States any rights and privileges for the -construction of coaling stations or any other enterprises which she may -deem necessary to enter upon that would be beneficial to the people and -Government of the United States, the same not being inconsistent with -existing treaty stipulations with other foreign powers. - - -LIBERIAN OFFICIALS - - -AGENTS AND GOVERNORS - - Eli Ayres[D] 1822 - Frederick James 1822 - Elijah Johnson 1822 - Jehudi Ashmun[E] 1822 - Lott Carey 1828 - Richard Randall[F] 1828 - William Mechlin[G] 1829 - John B. Pinney[H] 1834 - Ezekiel Skinner[I] 1835 - A. D. Williams 1836 - Thomas Buchanan[J] 1839 - Joseph J. Roberts 1841 - - [D-J] Indicates white men. - - -GOVERNORS OF MARYLAND - - James Hall[K] 1834 - J. B. Russwurm 1836 - S. F. McGill 1851 - William A. Prout 1854 - B. J. Drayton 1856 - - [K] Indicates white men. - - -PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC - - Joseph J. Roberts, Monrovia 1848 Nathaniel Brandes - A. D. Williams - Stephen A. Benson - Stephen A. Benson, Buchanan 1856 Benjamin Y. Yates - Daniel B. Warner - Daniel B. Warner, Monrovia 1864 James Priest - James S. Payne, Monrovia 1868 Joseph Gibson - Edward J. Roye, Monrovia 1870 James S. Smith - Joseph J. Roberts, Monrovia 1872 Anthony W. Gardner - James S. Payne, Monrovia 1876 Charles Harmon - Anthony W. Gardner, Monrovia 1878 - (Alfred F. Russell) 1883 Alfred F. Russell - Hilary Richard Wright Johnson, - Monrovia 1884 James Thompson - Joseph J. Cheeseman, Edina 1892 William D. Coleman - William D. Coleman, Clay-Ashland 1896 Joseph J. Ross - Garretson W. Gibson, Monrovia 1902 Joseph Summerville - Arthur Barclay, Monrovia 1904 Joseph Summerville - 1908 James J. Dossen - Daniel E. Howard, Monrovia 1912 Samuel G. Harmon - - -SECRETARIES OF STATE - - Hilary Teague - J. N. Lewis - D. B. Warner - E. W. Blyden - J. W. Blackledge - H. R. W. Johnson - J. E. Moore - W. M. Davis - Ernest Barclay - G. W. Gibson - A. Barclay - W. Y. Gibson (_pro tem_) - H. W. Travis - - -NATIONAL ANTHEM - - All hail, Liberia, hail! - This glorious land of liberty - Shall long be ours. - Tho’ new her name, - Green be her fame, - And mighty be her powers. - - In joy and gladness, with our hearts united, - We’ll shout the freedom of a race benighted. - Long live Liberia, happy land. - A home of glorious liberty by God’s command. - - All hail! Liberia, hail! - In union strong, success is sure. - We cannot fail. - With God above, - Our rights to prove, - We will the world assail. - - With heart and hand our country’s cause defending - We meet the foe, with valor unpretending. - Long live Liberia, happy land, - A home of glorious liberty by God’s command. - - - - -[Illustration: MAP OF LIBERIA] - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - - Footnotes have been moved to under the paragraph or other element in - which they are referenced. - - Inconsistent spelling (including spelling of names) and hyphenation in - the printed work have been retained; spelling variants have not been - standardised, except as mentioned below. - - Page xiii: Inconsistencies between the Table of Contents and the text - have been retained. - - Page 24, Footnote [A]: the numbers given for the settlements in St. - Paul’s do not add up to the total given. - - Page 33: ... much headway is making: as printed. - - -Changes made: - - Some obvious minor punctuation, capitalisation and typography errors - have been corrected silently. - - Page 18: Mioceme changed to Miocene - Page 21: Congo, Belge changed to Congo Belge - Page 30: Hiliary Teague changed to Hilary Teague; Russwarm changed to - Russwurm - Page 33: west coat changed to west coast - Page 48: the island Burkom changed to the island Borkum - Page 78: “ inserted before I regret to say ... - Page 108: ” added after ... Government. - Page 143: column headers added to table (b) - Page 147: natives boys changed to native boys - Page 163: 1782 schools changed to 1782 children - Page 175: ” added after last signatory - Page 203: Careysberg District changed to Careysburg District - Page 205: ” added after ... for the whole loan. - Page 250-257: lay-out standardised - Page 253: Gallhinas changed to Gallinhas - Page 255: Corsico changed to Corisco - Page 273: ” added after ... six years. - Page 275: Jehudi Ashman changed to Jehudi Ashmun - Page 276: Hiliary Teague changed to Hilary Teague. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Liberia, by Frederick Starr - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIBERIA *** - -***** This file should be named 54542-0.txt or 54542-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/5/4/54542/ - -Produced by Larry B. 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