Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-11-26
LIBERIA.
interesting Statement Of lts Hlsto1y
ana present COndiffon, ~ Ax-Fresa-
deMt Roberts. 81

LAOnnAAs
rntarestinU Statement OF lts Hiatofy
ana Present Condition., ~ Ax-Fresi-
dent Roberts.
We COPY the following report nom the
New York Tribune Of the 2d inst.
Last evening, at the Old John-Htreet
Methodist church, the Hon. Joseph =. |
Roberts, who was for eight years President
al Liberia, made some interesting state |
ments In regard to the history and condl-
tion of that republic. he said that the
idea of colony of emancipated slaves and
free negroes, to. be established on tne
African coast originated with Robert FINLEY
and others, early in.the present century.
Messrs. Mills and Burgess were sent out
by them 70 FIX upon the site. They nrst
went to London, and after consultation
with Clarkson and Wilberforce, settled
upon Sierra Leone.
The frst ship sailed from New York in
the. winter of 1619-20, and the eolonists
frat landed in Sierra Leone, but finding
that thew were not cordially received by
those in power there, they established
thenselyec at Cape Mesurado. The OBJ
iects held in view by those who projected
the enterprise were four, namely first to
establish an asylum for the free negroes OF
the United States; second, to test the ca.
pacity of the negro for self-government;
thiFd. 10 check the slave trade, and fourth,
"a carry civilization into Africa. After the
ill success of the cslonists in Sierra Leone,
thew derived much benefit from the advice
of Commodore Stockton, then a naval OH
car in command of o vessel on the African
coast, who. recommended Cape Mesurado
as an eligible seat for their future repub-
lie. AT this place there was q large slave
mart The strangers were at first received
with friendship, but the slave traders soon
melted the natives to hostilities against
them.
In November, 1920, they were attacked
bv /. 500 of these savages. Only thirty-five
atsono. they succeeded in repulsing the
formidable band. They afterward sue
Eeessfully warded off the attack Of q still
more humorous force. The Africans, incl
ted by the slave traders, then called on
King Bosun, the most powerful CHIEF OF
that region, to come down aud 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. II may be remarked that the
sister of this monarch was one OF the hrst
converts of Christianity. The colonists did
not. for several years, set up an indepen-
dent Government, but, atlength, difficulties
having arisen out of the refusal OF British
traders to pay duties on goods imported
into the territory, which the colonists had
bonpht. the connection between Liberia
and the American Colonization Society was
severed, and the Republic OF Liberia es-
tablished a government, which has been
recocnized by fourteen of the nations oi
tbe Civilized world. The four objects OF
the originators of the enterprise have mol
4 proved to be visionary
Liberia did and still does furnish on asy'
lum for any who choose to avail them
selves of its advantages. 1t has shown the
oonacity of the African race for self-gov'
ernment. It has been efficient in repres'
sing the slave traffic. Years ago the Gov
eminent broke up all the bOrroons along
its GOO miles of coast, and has never allow
ed anv TO be established there since. Ii
has had at least some civilizing influences
More than two thousand slaves taken ou
Of the holds of slave ships, have beer
taught the arts Of civilized life and turned
into good citizens. Moreover, the chieii
|, and head men of the surrounding trloei
are now anxious to send their children tina
they NAV grow up under the civilizing in
fuences Of the Christian republic. AL
thouoh these chiefs have nothing to pay
the neople of Liberia receive their children
and hundreds of them are constantly re
siding among their more cultivated breth
rem, As to religion, though there are bu
two or three white missionaries, there ar
between forty and fifty churches, nearl
half of which are Methodist.
The Rev. John Seis, American Minister
, resident and Consul General to Liberia
! followed President Roberts, and gave
! yery interesting account Of the progress
! RELIGION among the native Africans. [
!. the four Presidents of Liberia three hav
1 been Methodsts, and two Methods
!, clerovmen. The Methodist Bishop
!, Liberia is a brother of President Robert
q Over 400 converts from the natives haV
beer, made by the Methodist church alon'
q 400 of which are at present full member
/. Iof that communion.
n In response to inquiries, President Rol
IS erts stated that Liberia was deficient In u
n means of education. They had some we
le educated men among them, but there WI
le such deficiency Of capital as to make
d impossible for their college and schools
i, meet all the demands which were made {
N them. As the richest chief was he WI
y had the greatest number Of wives al
o. slaves and the natives were utterly barba
rs ous, the Llberians were obliged to take Il
i'd children which were sent to them and bril-
of them up for nothing, and he was sorry
th say. that in some cases they had bet
ID obliged to refuse applications: The &C
lg lege, of which Mr.. Roberts is now u
s, President, had grand field, but is haI
m pered by poverty. The population OF L
ut IBERIA was stated-by President Roberts
m be about 100000, of which from 5000
"a 10 On0 xtere American negroes.