Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-26

THE AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
To the Editor of the Journal

attended recently, at Washington, u.
c., the 9th anniversary of the American
Colonization Society. The proposed work
OF this society has proved triumphant
success. 1t is only little more than fifty
years since the first company of Liberia
Pilgrims landed on Cape Mesurado, west
Africa.
The founders of the Colonization Society
proposed four specific objects to be ac-
complshed.
/. They believed that the establishment
of colony of colored men in Africa, would
furnish both the opportunity and induce
ment to humane masters to emancipate
their slaves. In this they were not disap-
pointed. Out of the first 1900 sent to
Liberia before emancipation, nearly 1000
were set free by their masters and S44
bought their freedom.
2 They believed that the establishment
of civilized colonies on the west coast of
Africa would aid materially in breaking up
the slave trade. Rev. DR.. Humphrey of
Louisville, KY, says that Liberia has
done more to cleanse from the brow of
America and Europe the leprosy of the
slave trade,-a leprosy Of three hundred
years standing,-than the combined Dip
lomacy and naval forces of both continents
had been able to accomplish. " Commodore
Foote of our navy, who spent two years
on the African coast in command of our
African coast guard, fully confirms the
above statement.
3. Another most philanthropic object
with the founders of the society, was. to
provide a safe receptacle for recaptured
slaves, taken by our coast-guard. II an
American cruiser seized a slave ship, what
was to be done with the hundreds of mis-
erble victimsi found between? 1t was
as impossible to restore them to their
homes, as it would be to pick up the fall
len leaves of autumn and restore them to
the branches on which they grew. If
barely landed on the coast, they would be
seized by the hunters and pirates and put
aboard the next SLAYER. What has been
done in the interest of humanity in this
one particular is worth all the three mil
lions of dollars expended by the society
in its fifty years work.
Thus three OF the leading purposes of
the founders of the Colonization Society
have been ccomplished-fully accomp-
lished under the blessing of God. But,
4. The founders of the Colonization
Society believed that christian colonies Of
colored men on the west coast would most
effectually prepare the way for the spread
of the gospel and a christian civilization
among the millions of interior Africa.
This work is fairly begun. The surround
ing regions have been explored, and the
moral lights, kindled up in Liberia, have
already sent their rays hundreds of miles
into the interior, rolling away the dark
ness of thousand generations.
RESULTS OF FIFTY YEARS WORK.
What do we see, to-day, as the results
of fifty years labor of the Society as
missionary power.
We see the foreign domestic slave-trade
utterly abolished on 1000 miles of the west
coast. We see there well regulated Re-
public, geographically as large as New
England. with a Constitution like our own.
wisely administered by colored men. We
see 5000 Americo-Liberians. in some 40
different settlements; 800 re-captives
from slave-ships. civilized, educated in
the Liberia schools, assimilated to christian
habits, and received as citizens into the
bosom of the State. Some of these re-
captives are now effective preachers of
the Gospel, and members of the Legis-
lature.
We see 100000 of the native population,
within the Republic. cheerfully obedient
to its laws, speaking the English language.
and having already civilization of
higher order than that of the masses of
ancient Greece and Rome,-for it is a civ
ilization that is informed and nodded, to
some extent by Christianity.
We have a College there with an able
faculty of literally educated colored men,
and 40 students in the collegiate and
preparatory departments; three Acade-
mics, and our New England system of
District Schools introduced.
The steam engine is there,-the sugar
mill and the printing press-that great
instrument of civilization. Two or three
newspapers are published there, edited
with ability, in the various columns of
which we see all the indications of pros
porous and thriving State.
But more and better still, there are some
sixty churches in Liberia, with about l5,-
600 communicants-more than one-half of
these are converts from the native popula-
ton. We are doing there the Foreign Mis-
sionary work-certainly as fast and effect
ually as it is done by any Ecclesiastical
Board. Why, then should not this cause
have as high place in the sympathies,
prayers and contributions of Christians as
any Foreign Missionary BoardP We owe
greater debt to tie heather of Africa
than to any other race; debt that we
shall never pay. for we have inflicted on
the African unutterable wrongs; but God
has opened a way in which we may make
some restitution for the wrongs inflicted.
Thus, in the language of President Lin
coin in January, in 1865, 1.-The Coloniza-
ton Society has proved triumphant sue
cess" It's plan was a noble conception,
encircling in its wide and benevolent en-
brace, a nation of slaves, continent of
heather and the future peace and quiet of
our own country. There are facts and sta
tistics to show, that under the divine bless
ing, it has accomplished as much for the
continent of Africa in the fifty years since
the first sable colony was planted, as the
Purtans accomplished for the continent of
North America, in the first fifty after they
landed on Plymouth Rock
Another important and significant event
is noteworthy. An English company have
recently applied to the Liberian Govern
ment for permission to land submarine
telegraphic cable at Cape Palmas, in LII
beria. This cable is to be laid under the
Mediterranean and through the straits OF