The New York herald., 1877-11-14
THE AFRICAN REPUBLIC.

FROM wAsHINGToN-CoMMERcrA PRoMIsE-
NO INnIsc2ININArK EMIGRATION BIZ THE
FREEDMEN INTENDED OR DESIRED.
To THK EDITOR HERALp:-
recent report published by tho Department Of
State at Washington as to tho condition OF Liberia
has been made the basis by OF our leading Jour-
nails OF general dsparagement OF the condition and
frtureof this country In editorials jocoee and satr.
ica the Colonization Society has held up TO rd,-
Guile and thu African Republic represented the realm
of .'fever and poverty and idienesa" Exactly what
the information is, how full and by whom Furnished
on which these editors proceed 10 make merry over
"this would-pe Eden" OF blinded enthusiasts the
Washington report does state The gst Of tha
communication given to the press Is that the coast
the climate Is fatally malarious 70 Foreigners, that
horses mules ana donkcys canno endure II, and that
but ttlo civilization and very little agricultural enter
prise to be found .in Liberia. Whether this Is
furnished TO check tho emigration schemes OF
the freedmen the South or Is ths report Of somo
prcjudiced observer do not know; but that uis
coored and onesded report the facts given tho
public recently from many sources certainly indicate.
1t may DC truo that on the other hand the condition
and prospects Of Liberia have bcen 100 gowngly plc-
tured. The truth OF the lies doubtless somewhere
between these two extremes. 1t is but exhibit Of
Ill temper and Of short-sighted vision to caricaturs
this African State. II has peculiar claim upon the
sympathy and assistance Of the American people, and
Though It's progress has not been as rapid as many
hoped anu even predicted, yct Lbcrlans have mani.
tested thus lar patience, appreciation OF liberty,
respect order aud for their rights and obiga.
tions, which entities them to our highest commcnda
ton When we think OF what other Christian nations
have done to strengthen and develop their African
colonial possessions, and witness the earnest efforts
now beng made to open a~cgtimate trade through
with thus rich continent, 1t may we'll suggest to
our statesmen and merchants tho policy Of
couraging the negro Republic havo been
instrumental in forming Ia Western Africa
Both Lieut., Cameron and Mr.. Stanley igrco in
the African trade AS Que iuil Of
ana likely develop 10 large proportions. AL
ready, under English AUSPICES. has an international
exb Utiou at Cape Town. III South Airicn, been pro-
leclen, to be o,e encd ncxs Apr,l SIR Bartie Frere,
the Gov,rpor OF tue colony, who has donc SO much
Tor the suppression o the domestic slave trade and
to interest the CHRISTIAN world tue civilization Of
Africa is AT the head OF this eioft and Is sufficient
guarantee It's success. lh.s exhibition Is 10
brace agricultural department organized on large
Diplomas OF honor, anu gold silver and bronze
medals viii DO awarded Every facility VIII be gwen
sale OF articles exhibited as well AS for taking
orders the building II Will be divided into classes
winch include foods, drinks, chemicals, perfumery,
furniture. tabrcs, sowing machines, domestic applk
nnces, watches, ewoiry, hardware, edge tools, cut
lery, metals, agricultural Implements, machinery, &c,
CONDITION or LIBERIA
But now as 10 some facts about Liberia. 1t has al
ways becu known that the climate of the coast was
extremely unneaithy perous to all but natves but
the same OF Sierra Leone and the whole west
coast OF the Continent AT The same tune the intemor
IS pronounced healthy, productive and accessible AT
Boporo seventy-hve mics inland DR.. Biyden, an ac-
cumpiished negro scnoIar o international lame and
the acknowledged authority on llberan affairs. says
the country eievaeI, the climate invIgorating and
the soil grows cotton, and potatoes abun
dantly Among the settlers here IS former resdman
who out III 1869, aud Is now the thriving owner
OF a Plantation OF 1850 coffee trees. Blsnop Haven
predicts that Ave years the Liberian Conference VIII
meet at this place. Tho development Of agriculture
occupation OF farms Will create demand foi
the implements needed. Already has beginning IN
manufacturing been made. Mills for ,nc extraction
OF palm oil Tor making oil palm soap are to bc
found one or two points, also Tor the manufacture
o. sugar. no exhibit Of Liberan products at tho
NAL lcent to set beyond all question tho
richness Of the country ana the returns II makes 10
average industry.
Tnerc is ood school system LIBERIA only needing,
IN order become oil vast usefulness, competent
leacnera Tho government sustains the primary
schools while the i've higher schools managed by
missionary societies, and the college Is by means
inefficient In the latter the study OF Arabic has been
introduced, winch is the language oi the larger and
| best portion OF Afrcas oi.uation and the number
students course Of instruction arc all that could
be expected in State so young and with SO much TO
efnbarrass its material ana educational growth. The
war which had been raging between Liberia and tho
natives Cape Pamas and which threatened to be SO
disastrous terminated, anu. through the efforts OF
Captain A. A. Semmes OF the United States steamer
Alaska, a satisfactory treaty has oeen agreed upon
which removes all cause oil offence Tor the iuturc-
THIS treaty was signed Marcn by Mr.. Payne, then
Prcsicent OF The Lhbcran Republic. The religious
Ard indicates q better state OF tn ngs than the
Washington report intinates. The Me thodst church
has rcsidcn bsnop, A local preachers 43 churchei
with 1000 COMMITMENTS, psrsona2es, 3S sunday
schools and s3i scholars. The Episcopal Church has
a MISSIONARY bishop, somewhat more tnan ~ churches
aud IL clergymen, ana 10 just now organizing new
mission at Cape Mount, ior,y miles northwest rom
Monrovia, which l. an extensively used highway to
The INTERIOR The Baptist and Peso omina-
tons are a so represented in Liberia, tho former
tanning school io teachers and prcachers. All these
ChrsaH bodies are pushing quite vigorously mission
work the abor gina the Republic.
| EMIGRATION OF FRkEDMsy
As to the emigration movement, which has developed
sron tfnnn
IT should be said tnat IL Is tue growth OF these more
II IS not political IN us origin nor II
the received IRON those in It are crilcfions 10
Judge by is IL fostcred by polIticans The indscrm
mate grafton Liberia is 10 be deprecated for many
reasons but wisely arranged emigraton to Africa Of
oil the colorcd people would ea good ,hing Tor
| them. Il would bc helpful TO thsc.ibernn Republic,
and woui indirectly result In ausmentng American
trade with the same. 'Fiity days from the swamps
| OF south Carolina" says Dr. Blyden, "would place
thosc willing and prepared to go in tho heart OF
country where every prospect pieases where health
may be enjoyed transmitted their children and
where the slightest industry would bring comfort ir
| NOT wealth. But they men whose strong
| arms are accustomed 10 wieid the aud noe"
'The natives, DotL pagan ana Mohammcdan, are anx-
ousn writes the same authority, a. late as July Of
| this year, Ito have Christian settlers occupy the
beautiful hills and fertile plains in their neigh0or-
| hood"
A townsman of mine has a specimen OF iron found
In Liberia, which Is proof OF the existence OF that
metal within ITS domain, who II Is known that Ed
ward Morris Il Co., OF Philadelphia, own coffee
plantation there, the yield OF which Is sold in that
SO great Is English interest IN the progress VI
Liberia that 1877 loan was obtaincd 10y the gov
crument OF S500UO0 IN London, and already mas eng
lands trade with Western Africa become extensive
tnat steamer runs Cory six days between u and
| Liverpool
Commodore r. W. Shucldt OF the United States
Navy. with a view OF building up as fast as possible
| American commercial interests with West Africa,
suggested recently, In public address, the running
OF small vessels between tho United states and
| Liberia In a short time merchantmen would follow
these and the increasing trade ~ Liberia be Sc
cured by this country Through this Republic
hn haI IN ltnt n
! commerce be carried on Bsnop Haven, when there,
was shown tho point St Pauis Rvcr, some distance
inland rom Monrovia wherc an opened travelled path
were recurring villages VII ch tue missionary and tho
! agent oil Il legitimate trade could safely enter.
We respectfully submit that it would be wiser
pocy the part os our government 10 take in-
lercst IN Libcran affairs ana encourage traffic with
that country Reports from Moarovia represent the
export OF coffee largely tho increase and that
foreign capitalists are leasing land ON the St Paul's
| River ior ITS culture.