The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-03
LIBERIA.
Interesting stntemeulS Of PresItenI
Roberts.

Roberts.
Recently, at the Old John Street Methodist
Episcopal Church, New York, the Hon. 10.
seph j. Roberts, who was for eight years Pre-
sident of Liberia, made some interesting state
ments in regard TO the history aud condition
Of that republic. He said that the idea of
colony of emancpated slaves and free negroes,
to he established on the African coast, origi-
mated with Robert Finley and others, early in
the present century. Messrs. Mills and Bur
gess were sent out by them to fix upon the
site. They fret went to London, aud after
consultation with Clarkson and Wilberforoe
settled upon Sierra Leone. The first ship
sailed from New York in the winter OF lol9-20,
and the coonsts first landed in Sierra j. one,
but finding they were not cordially recsved by
those in power there, they established them
selves at Cape Mesurado. The offsets held in
view by those who projected the enterprise
were FOUR namely First, to establish an asy-
lum for the free negroes of the United States;
second to test the capacity of the negro for
self government; third, to check the slave
trade; and foarth, to carry civilization into
Anca. After the i'll success of the colonists
in Sierra Leone, they derived much benefit
from the advice Of Commodore Stockton, then
q naval officer in command of vessel on the
African coast, who recommended Cape M4su-
rado as an eligible seat for their future repub-
lie. AT this place there was large slave
mart. The strangers were at first received
with friendship, but the slave traders soon
melted the natives to hostilities against the N.
In November 1920 they were attacked by
1900 of these savages. Only 35 strong, they
succeeded in repulsing this formidable band.
They afterwards successfully warded off the
attack of a still more numerous force. The
Africans, melted hy the slave traders,
then called on King Bosun, the most
powerful chief of that region, to come
down and assist them. He came down
TO the coast, but as they could not satisfy him
that the Americans had done them any injury
he refused to interfere. 1t may be remarked
that the sister of this monarch was one of the
first converts to Christianity. The colonists
did not for several years set up an independent
government, but, at length, difficulties having
arisen out of the refusal of British traders to
pay duties on goods imported into the terri
tory which the colonists had bought, the con-
nection between Liberia and the American
Colonization Society was severed, and the Re-
public of Liberia established Government,
which has been recognized by fourteen of the
nations of the civilized world. The four
objects of the originators of the enterprise
have not proved to be visionary. Liberia did
and still does furnish an asylum for any who
choose to avail themselves of its ad-
vantsges. 1t has shown the capacity
of the African race for selfgOveru-
ment. 1t has been efficient in repress-
ment broke up all the barracoons along its
six hundred miles of coast, and has never
allowed any to be established there since. 1t
has had at least some civizing influences.
More than two thousand slaves taken out of
the holds of slave ships have been taught the
arts of civilized life and turned into good
citizens. Moreover, the chiefs and head men
of the surrounding tribes are now anxious to
send their children, that they may grow up
inf of tha Ehricf
republic. Although these chiefs have nothing
to pay, the people of Liberia receive their
children, and hundreds of them are constantly
residing among their more cultivated brethren.
As to religion, though there are but two or
three white missionaries, there are between 40
and so churches, nearly half of which are
Methodist.
The Rev. John Sais, American Minister,
resident and Consul-General to Liberia, fol-
lowed President Roberts, and gave very in.
teresting account of the progress of religion
among the native Africans. OF the four Pre-
sidents of Liberia, three have been Methodists
and two Methodist clergymen. The Methodist
Bishop of Liberia is a brother of President
Roberts. Over four hundred converts from
the natives have been made by the Methodist
Church alone, three hundred of whom are at
present full members of that communion.
In response to inquiries, President Roberts
stated that Liberia was deficient in the means
of education. They had some well-educated
men among them, but there was such a def
cheney of capital as to make it impossible for
their college and schools to meet all the de-
mands which were made upon them, As the
richest chief was he who had the greatest
number of wives and slaves, and the natives
were utterly barbarous, the Liberians were
obliged to take the children which were sent
to them and bring them up for nothing, aud
he was sorry to say that in some cases they
had been obliged to refuse applications. The
college, of which Mr.. Roberts is now the
President, had grand field, but was ham
pered by poverty. The population of Liberia
was stated by President Roberts to be about
100000 of whom from l5 900 to $4,000 were
American negroes. 1t is extremely to be re-
gretted thst the unfavorable weather pre-
vented full attendance at this interesting
meeting.