The New York herald., 1875-10-19
THE WAR IN LIBERIA.
The Causes Of the Native Rising
at Cape Palmas.
AN AMERICAN NEGRO REPUBLIC.

Amones Liberan coonists and their descendants, who
have established republic the OF Africa,
and the aborigines at Cape Palmas in the southern
part Of the country viii necessarily excite good deal
OF interest in the United Statea For twenty hvo years
after the nrs settlement made by free negroes the
colony remained under the supervision Of the American
Colonization Society and the emigrants were con-
stanty reinforced by arrivals from south
Of Mason and Dixons line Thousands
OF native Africans have become civilized and enlight
ened through their influence. They enjoy govern
ment of their own; they speak the English language;
have churches and schools and the Republic
s now recognized as an independent nation by the
principal Powers Of the earth, many OF whom, inolud-
ing tho United States maintain diplomatic representa-
tves at the capital Monrovia. The present difficulty
arises, several previous have, out Of disputed
boundaries, and the right of the aborignes to trade
without restraint with the English, French and Por
tuguese who have established factories on the coast
Cape Palmas, where battle fought September IT
and Afty killed and wounded settled In 1884 by
emgrants from Maryland, who sent thther by tho
Colonization Society of that State Under the Of
Lberan Maryland II now forms OF tho provinces of
the Republic Its territory extends from the Equator
several degrees NORTH and very little is known Of 1t be-
yond few miles from the coast The native popu-
lation consists of tribes called the Veys the Papens
the Bassas, tho Kroos, the Grebos, tho Mandingos
and others who nhabi the country back far 500
dan The boundaries north and south Of Liberia have
been questioned by both England and France. Lat
tery however these Powers disputed the sovereignty
OF the Republic ovcr large portion OF Maryland and
claimed the right trade with the natives who dwell
below the fourth degree OF north latitude, whore Cape
Pamas situate irrespective OF Liberian customs laws
The aborigines took the ground claiming that
these entirely independent and had never sur
rendered sold their titles to the territories they oc
cupy. About ten years ago President Roberts pro-
ceeded in a man -ofwar, with body Of troops, and
subdued rising in Maryland, and it is believed that
the malcontents on the present occasion will also be
put down. The claims OF England now principally
confined trade with natives the northern por-
tons OF Liberia until the question is finally decided by
the United States arbitrator as to whether the dis
puted territory justly belongs to Liberia or not
REPuBLIo or LIBERIA
The Republic of Liberia, stated, is the outgrowth
OF the American Colonization Society, which was
Chief Justice Marshall, John Randolph of Roanoke,
Bushrod Washington, and other eminent men. The
idea that many II not all, OF the liberated slaves in
the United States would prefer returning to Africa and
that through them colonization and the Christian religion
would thereby be introduced into that benghted quar-
ter of the world The emigration to the coast OF Africa
was commenced in 1920 and has continued unnterrupt
edy up to the present year The territory now occu-
pied was purchased from time the aborg-
ines, great numbers OF whom seem TO have yielded to
the influence of the new arrivals Of their own color
eventually settled at Cape Mesunadu in 1922 The
country has been prosperous and the experiment has
been considered very successful Thero are several
extending for hundreds of miles into the interior,
all along those streams and the spaces between them
the most productive tracts Of country stretches
OF beautiful valleys alternating with picturesque hills,
with wild and yet uxurant vegetation, await
ing only the hand Of industry TO develop Underlying
these largo evidences every and then appear
that there deposits of rich minerals The rivers,
with the flowing into them, furnish almost Him
liable sources Of water power Immense forests Of the
uninvaded Coffee thrives well Indeed It is claimed
that the quality Of this article Is unsurpassed Lberian
coffee commands higher price than any the heretofore
most favored specimens Sugar cane grows IN
rivaled luxurance canewood is produced in unlimited
quantities. indigo, arrowroot, lines and oranges are
| largely exported Ivory is easily obtainable. The
population ofhe Republic is about 600 000 but Of this
number only 600 civilized and the descendants Of
| American emgrants. large number OF the inhap
tants of the interior depend upon Liberia for Their
supply Of imported goods.
| INDEPENDENCE DECLARED
| Liberia declared its Independence In 1S47 and was
acknowledged during the following year by Great
Britain and France which made treaties for the abo-
ltion Of the slave trade, and in which compact the
Republic has faithfully performed its part The gov
There is elective President Vice President and two
houses Of legislature No white man, according to the
the first President He served from l64s to 1S56-four
terms He succeeded by s. E. Benson, J. Warner,
James s Payne and K. J. Roye. The latter, In 1870,
while acting as President went to Europe and there
contracted loan for $500,00o and his return
accused Of having appropriated the money thus OBJ,
his Cabinet popular rising took place in Liberia
Roye fed and Roberts, the first President, placed
at the head Of the government Roye attempted to
his claims to tho Presidency by force and
put prison. He effected his escape, and in making
effort TO get on board outward bound vessel was
drowned in 1872 At the general election held last
| May James s. Payne, native OF Richmond, Va,
elected President and S J. Crayton Vice President
President Roberts has been on visit England for
months and the Vice President acts head or
| the government during hts absence.
BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
The dispute between Great Britain and Liberia as to
the boundaries Of the republic has been Of long stand
Il lpn ThO late rla farwf th0
northwest to the Ganas river the southeast TO the
San Pedro River, distance Of 600 miles; the east
to the interior there is practically no limit 10 its bor
dor England is Of course interested only in the coast
trade and has frequently complained Of restrictive
toms regulations injurious to her commerce which the
Republic has imposed in the nature Of import and ex
port duties The climate OF the main land Is deadly TO
Europeans and factories, mentioned before, here
and there maintained for trading purposes In tnat region
outside the limits Of Liberia In examining the latest
maps it will be observed that the Atlantic washes the
four states OF the Republic from the northern line OF
Guinea TO the southern line Of Senegamba Lines indi-
the particular tracts OF territory purchased from
tho natives at different periods The English govern
ment however takes the ground that il impossible
to decide upon tho validity Of the deeds OF transfer and
hold they simply pdr documents that tho abo-
rigines refuse to recognize. III 1868 q commission was
appointed to examine into the question, and partial
settlement was reached by which the sovereignty OF
Liberia acknowledged over q territory named Saga
This established its authority to solyman River
in the northwest, which appears to be distance
above the Mamma River, the extreme point north
that the maps show Liberian purchases from
the natives. 1t is tho country lying between
Ln0 hAnna anu IOuHB rivers bhht pToVOkeS
discussion. Within these limits England claims the
right Of trading with the Interior unnterfercd with by
the Liberan authorities and where the demands OF tho
two countries clash Five six years ago England
ready to recognize at the sovereignty OF the
Republic the greater part Of these countries
II not her government alleged that OF the ma
tive chiefs denied any cesson Of their territory
that Liberia had any claim to it; that Great Britain
therefore unwilling to hand these chiefs with
whom she had treaties that faithfully observed
against their wishesand upon insufficient evidence Of
title to the jurisdiction OF Liberia IL was further
stated that tho justice Of these pretences could only be
satisfactorily established by strict and impartial inves-
lgation tho spot into tho title deeds upon which
Liberia rested her claims and into any evidence against
their validity thai might be produced by the native
chies Matters rebs1ned In this condition up 1873
/ the English trading tho coast in dispute
regardless Of the claims Of LIBERIA but occasion
British vessel was driven on by the Liberan officers
L ~nd fav nh