National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-05-18

the st. Paul river, Liberia, which happily
bears his name. He now proposes to sub
scribe $500 towards the expense of
thorough survey of the country from that
Place to the JOliba branch of the Niger,
and the construction of railroad to connect
those national highways leading to the
head of the continent.
Liberia represents in Africa our interest.
1t was established by us, fostered by our
care, and is modelled in its institutions and
society after ours. The projected explora-
ton has for its Interior object the advance
ment Of Liberian interests, and one Of its
leading results must be an increase OF
American commerce. English concerns in
Western Africa are well cared for by her
colonies on the Gambia, Sierra Leone and
on the Gold coast, and by large and active
naval force, and English mercantile capt.
tai and enterprise gives employment to a
fleet of sailing vessels and to two lines of
steamers, the latter of which affords weekly
communication from Liverpool for freight,
passengers and the mails, including those
from the United States On the other
hand, Liberia is weak and devoid of capital,
and is not aided by our Government. An
American man-of-war but rarely visits
Monrovia, and then remains long enough
only 10 take in water and fresh provisions.
Is it any wonder that British commerce is
rapidly increasing on that coast, and that
American trade has to struggle hard to
maintain its present limited existence?
Thus valuable traffic in raw products,
constantly in demand, is practically lost to
US and we ignore an illimitable market for
our tobacco, calico, silk and wooden fabrics,
hon, brass ard copper utensils, glass and
earhenware, arms and ammunition.
1t is high time that a more enlightened
and liberal policy be adopted by US. To
this end let our people promptly and heart
lily second the proposition now submitted
for an exploration of Western Africa. We
have money to spare for Polar expeditions,
for the survey of the Valley of the Jordan,
for watching solar eciipses, the transit of
Venus, and sounding the sea- Can we not
devote few thousand dollars to the eleYa-
ton of continent which we have wronged?
In whatever point OF view we contemplate
Liberia in its relations to the United States,
we shall find it deserving of all possible en-
CouGgement and assistance. The letter
referred 10 above is as follows:
LEEDs, ENGLAND, April q, 1875.
DEAR Mr.. C.: am very DESTROYS for US to
get oil with the work of bringing Africa COM
pletely within the circle of civilization, and l
have been seriously thinking lately that had
best propose to contribution, perhaps, rather
SUbScTiJc-E500, Give hundred pounds) toward
a sum TO be subscribed in America, at your re-
quest or instance, of a sufficient number of
Thousands of pounds to justify the constitution
of a company and the formation of directorate
of most carefully chosen men, in order to sur
vey, in the most thorough and scientific man
Paul's river, of Liberia, and the Joliba branch
Of the Niger, and to construct a railway there
on, just such as you have laid down at
so little expense, comparatively, l believe, from
the Eastern States of the Union to California.
think that if you arrange and prosecute such
a project with judgment and vigor it will be
well received in many quarters of the United
States, and we shall providentially advance
greatly in our great work of opening up and
evangelizlng Africa. Many individuals inter
ested at once in the Gospel and in commerce
would doubtless be likely to bid to the move
ment the boon of success, and some, while
they cherished the wish, would actively for
ward the object.
Make any use you Judge best of this commu-
nication.
Yours, very truly,
ROBERT ARTHINGTOS