New-York tribune., 1873-05-21
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE 1JBERIAN REPUBLIC.

THE llBERIAN hEibDiSAS' I
cA,,r sHrFrIDr's OFFICIAL REPORT On hi' N@'oli @
TO MoNRovIA--TIIE CONDITION AND rH"'''o
or THE YOUNG NATION. ..,,,.
W,su1NGroN. May 1S.-Commodore Shufeldt
, 5o the following interesting report TO the secre
sarv Of the Navy, on the subject of Liberia;
"N' " L. $ PLYMOUTH.
MoNRoyIA. LIBERtA, March 20, 1873
m, Hon. GEORGE NJ. robson Secretary @ nc Navy
SIN. Ibave the honor TO submit TO the Dopar'mehe
Ar ,ooVvnc report as the result Of the visit oil the
II,,mouth 10 Monrovia. There has been no American
spofvar here SINCE 1868 Oar arrival, therefore, WAS
botb unexpected and gratifying The Ioerans are
essentially American IN feelings yet they nnd 'eu-
selves at present being gradually shut IN ana ccuu
scribed by the evcr-increaSng extension OF BRUSH
mower upon this coast and they feel themselves growing
wear by year more helpessy within the control OF British
captal boundary difficulty on their northwestern
frontier arising ont OF the establishments OF Ehgsh
trading posts upon territory claimed by LiOera from
which have resulted Onerous demands by the EhEnSn
Government upon the treasury has also had the eec'
OF weakening the prestige OF the Republic among the
natives nv leading them 10 believe themselves moro
under the protection Of England than subject TO the
laws OF nation TOO weak and too htte respected TO en-
force its authority 1t is for these reasons among many
others that the herans have felt the need OF the quasi
protection which the presence OF our shps OF war hau
formerly given them but perhaps nothing would add
African republic than the establishment OF steam
communication between II and the mother country.
communication thus sustained would have an important
bearing upon our political and commercial necessi-
ties and create tho thing needfu TO the progress OF
this country. for am fully convinced that immigration
with moderate amount OF capital is all that is now re-
ouircd to place Liberia upon permanent footing and to
insure An increasing prosperity. This young nation,
we by virtue birth and inheritance is essentially
an American outpost upon the frontiers OF b1roarsm,
and H deserves this account the fostering care OF the
American people. II is struggling against thousand
adverse circumstances ignorance and poverty within,
heathensm without and vet appears to receive from
Us bat little private sympathy and no public aid
Liberial seems at present politically quiet.
President Roberts, whose term Of office will
expre in May next, has been nominated and
will probably be reelected. / have the honor
TO nclosc herewith exhibit OF the commerce OF the
Port of Monrova for last fca year. From this 1t
will he seen that fair proportion OF the trade IS with
the United States, aud that coffee and sugar. destined
no doubt TO become the staple products OF the country
are beginning 10 be exported. am informed that the
people OF Liberia turning their attention to agriou
ture with good suits There are at present nVe steam
sugar-ms in operation the 81. Paul River The fer
tity soil is beyond question. An exploring party
conducted by the President himself through Bassa
County has Just resurned to MOnrOyia, and reports
favOrahly OF the large mineral resources OF that dis
trict Education is in rather a languishing con-
dition from the want OF means, but there Is
good reason to believe that there is an increasing
desire the part OF the aborignes TO acquire know
edge and advance toward civilization. After an in
terya Of 26 years first visited MOurOva, do not
find rs much progress hoped for but there are no
evidences Of reuogressOn and this is in itself proof
that this people has secured too firm a foothod upon
African soil TO DO expelled The idea OF Christian
civilization is too firmly planted here to be uprooted
President Roberts entertained the officers OF the
Plymouth and myself. Two of the ex-Presidents and
the members Of the Cabinet present at dinner
given tous by Mr.. and Mrs Roberts passage IN this
ship as far as Cape Palmas offered TO the President
but declined for the that he is about to embark
for England public business.
am. very respectfully, &c. r. W. sHUFELDT. Capt