Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-01-28
The Late War In Liberia.
70 the Editor ofthe Free Press and Times.

To the Editor ofthe Free Press and Times.
DEAR SIR Many inquiries have beer
addressed to me of late, both personally and
ny letter, asking for information respecting
the cause and the results of the recent wal
on the southern border Of the African Re-
public.
From correspondents in Liberia and from
recent communications from the Hon. E. S.
Morris, of Philadelphia, lately minister of
our government in Liberia, now resident
commissioner from that government to our
approaching centennial, gather the follow
ing facts:
The trouble grew out of an attempt of the
natives, within Maryland county, "a ter
ritory larger than the State of VermonD, g,
to repudiate the contract made by their
fathers and the native kings in 1882, by
which that territory was sold to, and honor
ably paid for, by the Colonization Society,
as the following facts will show.
The Maryland Colonization Society was
incorporated in 1872. At the session of
the Legislature, the same year the State en-
barked nobly in the great cause Of colonial
tion and made its munifcent appropria-
tion of $500, 900, or $4,000 yearly for
twenty years, for the passage and reception
of emigrants in Africa. 1t was determined
to establish an independent settlement and
Cape Palmas was selected as the site for the
new colony, its position making it most
important commercial depot.
November 28th, 1888, the brig Ann sailed
from Baltimore with goods and eighteen
emigrants. The expedition was under the
charge of Mr.. James Hall, a gentleman
whose experience on the African coast ad-
mirably qualified him for his position. The
Ann touched at Monrovia and Bassa, where
she received number of old settlers and on
February llth arrived at Cape Palmas
DR.. Hall found the kings of the different
| tribes prepared to treat with him for the
sale Of the country and the only difficulty
that presented itself grew out of his refusal
to make rum part of the consideration OF
the proposed purchase. However, the de-
| sire of the aborigines that the Americans
| should be one people with them overcame
their desire for rum, and the lands were
sold for a quantity Of trade goods
entirely satisfactory to them. The deed of
cession Is dated February 18th, 1884, and
signed by Parmah, King of Cape Palmas,
Weah Bolemo, King of Grahway and Baphro,
King of Grand Cayalla.
This Maryland colony Is 300 miles south
Of Monrovia, the capital. Ii has had a sue
cessful growth. 1t continued to expand; new
towns and villages arose, until March Sd,
1857, when the State Of Maryland, IN
LIBERIA was annexed to the Republic of
Liberia, and came under the care of the
American Colonization Society.
1t is TO recover these very lands that the
present generation of natives, especially
the Grebo tribe, have been instigated to
make war on the Americo-Liberians and
for this purpose, several attacks have been
made on the LiDerian towns by the Grebos
and other tribes. The first was on the Sth
of September, on the town Of Hoffman.
On Sept 10Th, Philadelphia was assault
ed but the natives were repulsed with heavy
loss. On the 18th, third attack was made,
with less than one hundred Liberians to re-
pei four times their number
Sept. 18th and 2Oth about 1000 Liberian
re-enforcements arrived, and on the 10th of
October. attacked the Grebos and were de-
feated with the loss Of their cannon and
much of their ammunition.
The latest reports state that the Liberian
forces have gained signal victory over the
insurgents. The hope Is cherished that the
war Is ended and that the Grebos have
learned lesson that they viii not soon
forget.
Our government has ordered the steamer
Alaska to proceed from Lisbon to Cape
Palmas. The Alaska carries twelve guns.
She Is ordered to remain at Cape Palmas for
at least 90 DAYS, and We earnestly hope she
may be ordered 10 remain on that coast 50
long as her protection Is needed. We owe
TO the Americo-L berians a great debt. By
( their long unpaid toll, they contributed
largely to our national wealth We are
bound to them in sympathy a. well as in
interest. There Is a close parallel between
their history and our own. Like Us they
went forth from a land of oppression to a
new home where they could be free. Like
our fathers they suffered priyation and
poverty, and dangers from savage tribes.
Like US they have struggled with poverty
and neglect. Like Us they have established
hOurishing republic, with constitution
like our own, and like Us they have had
their war of rebellion from a portion Of the
native population who owed allegiance to
the Republic whose protection they enjoy
ed, and have, as We hope, subdued this re-
belion.
have thus given some Of the leading
facts in relation to this native outbreak in
Liberia.
WHAT WIRE TIE REAL CAUSES or THIS WAR.
! = -.
our minister to Liberia, ana who is well
acquainted with the condition Of that coun-
try, answers the question. He says
'The cause Of this war is not .iberian it is not
African in its inception, II IS English England de
sires TO monop0lIe AfrSan business, as she has
uonopollred that 0f India and Australia. She ha:
colonies at Sierra Leone and Cape Town on the At
lantic, and she has just pushed her Cape posses
sions north TO Walursch Bay. There is 10 real OBJ
stacle TO her connecting the two and controlling
the whole coast but the Republic Of Liberia. A
native attack, promoted from Sierra Leone princi
pally. by disturbing Liberia, would enable In =
land TO do what she has Just done at CO0massie-
from Zanz bar, at Deegra, and elsewhere. And she
has melted the ignorant natives, through her rep
resentItives to make the war for whcn Il IBERIA Is
denounced There is another strand in this cord.
A lew years ago an English trading company offer
ed the Lberians pecuniary consideration for a
law that would give England a monopoly Of Libe-
risn trade. such law was introduced and favored
, by lew Liberians. But poor and needy as the
country was, the Legislature spurned the bribs by
an unanimous vote in both houses. Foled IN their
craft, the English then tried to do secretly what
they could not do openly, and plotted with the
tiyes, who are jealous OF the superior wealth aud
refinement OF Liberia. They did precisely what
they did in Ably ssinis and Ashantee, and for the
same greed, and 10 market the wares OF Birming-
; ham and Manchester. The action harmonizes with
all English action everywhere. at all times. in
India, in Australia, in New Zealand and in feeiee
where domestic troubles were fOmsnted TO gam her
: a footing. This Is not contradicted by any earlier
English friendship for Liberia. England favored
that Republic only while its being was a repreach
on American slavery. She sssailed II as so2n as
American slavery is abolished and Christian Lihe-
ria becomes the open door 10 heather Africa
Americas door TO trade wuh the great INTERIOR
trade that En- gland seeks to monOpOlre.
England has never hefriended Republics. She
attacked our own IN its infancy, and followed that
by bloody war with the French. No sooner had she
rest in Europe than she provoked another war
here; andkou certainly know now the love for tree
dom and Tree institutions her government aud citi-
OF all classes display ed IN promoting anc
, porting the bloody rebellion in This country for
which she was found guilty and punished by the
, International Commission al Geneva"
/ | have thus given, for the information OF
, the public, as far as am able, the leading
facts and results of the late troubles III
Liberia. j. X CONVERSE.
District Secretary of Am. Col. Society
Why THE SUN-DAL FAuED-Old Mills
the optician at New Castle, sold sun-da
to Pitman, few weeks ago, with the as
surance that it was quite a reliable time
keeper About fortnight afterward, Pit
man called at the shop and said "Say
Mills, that sun dial is not worth cent. IT.
; no good as a timepiece, any way" May
; be you haven't got it fixed in good place,
said Mills. "Yes, have, replied Pitman
but tell you it won't work. There must
be something wrong about it." 'No; it.
: in perfect order, said Mills. -Did you
ever time it by you watch ?'' Certainly
did I've stood clost to it hundred times
exactly at the even hours, and the cussed
thing has never struck the time oncet
; "Merciful Moses ! Why you didn't expect il
to strike the hours, did you? Thunder
why, it don't strike, Of course. 1t has nc
works inside That's what get me. said