The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-08-29

s0dltllys auyUHuy AeetluS w uu0eIotduu
them. As we'll as can make out, how
ever, one party "Republicans" or "True
.Iiberians'' favor the. borrowing of what
money is to be borrowed by the govern
Inent from LibeTiaps, and generally con-
seryatiye course. The other side are
more liberal, and wish to borrow from
outside, and also to modify the laws in
some respects-especially regarding the
white man. The former party isnow in
power, their ticket having been elected,
SOFT is said, by 1900 majority. Cam
paigns are warm, however, and detach-
ments of the $500 voters manage occa-
sionally to get up very decent riots
among themselves, there being the full
est scope for q display Of demagogry.
The President tells me that
THE GOVERNMENT INCOME
from duties is about $3.50, 900, and from
internal revenue about 5000. Total,
S165O00. The government tax is half
per cent. on real estate and personal
property, besides which there is usually
municipal tax lit must be recollected
that the municipal officers, officeholders
and expenses are not included in the:
aboye estimate1 OF the same, the total
taxes being generally one per cent.
There are complaints made that proper
ty is greatly oyeryalued, although as
the above revenue returns show taxes
paid only3on less than 100000 of real
and personal property in the country,
& there being poll tax of 81 that can
hardly be possible. Some person or
persons, in England, was or were foolish
enough to make up loan to the Liberi-'
an Government of one hundred thous-
: and pounds sterling, for which bonds
were Issued. Some of the Liberian Of
ficials, who were sent to London. for the
money, succeeded in "losing" consid-
cradle portion, while much of the re-
nainder wss squandered by a ring COM
posed OF other Liberian officials and
English contractors and agents. The
Public debts now stated to be ESQ., 900,
The remaining $4,000 having either
been paid, or 'tthe bonds securing It having
5seea lost blythe holders That's the tale
that somebody told me. Liberia has
y rinned much of her faith on
s,Blest, paper credit; last and best supply
That lends corruption lighter wings to fy."
She has
PAPER CURRENCY
SOFTEN up in astyle that reminded me
siorcibly of old Confederate dollars.
They promise on their face 70 pay the
bearer in gold SO much, no date, howey-
ler, being specified. As long as the gov.
ernment had gold, matters progressed
very Sell, but by and by hitch occur
red in the arrangements. In 1876 an act
WAS passed authorizing the signing and
Issuing of 100000 additional currency.
Then the paper went down, and down,
until st length it became so per cent.
below par. The act authorizing the is
sue was repealed last year, aud the cur
rency has been gradually getting back.
Now it is only at q discount of from II
to Is. per cent. Even this price, how
eve., is paid principally I expect, because
the mouey is receivable for duties.
There appears to be q lack of confidence
in the government. In the matter of
currency, by the by, Liberia is thoroughly
cosmopolitan. Anything in the shape of
money is received. One lime in hand
full of change for half sovereign I
found Mexican dollar, a French five
franc piece, two English sixpences,
United States coin and notes, and Libe-
rian currency. This is another point of
difference between Monrovia and Sier-
ra Leone. Atthe latter place anything
{ but English money was rejected scorn-
fully, and Uncle Sans promises to pay
were evidently little trusted. The con-
: troll of politics in Liberia is largely in
the hands of a class, consisting of the
older settlers and their descendants.
Many of these persons are, as before hint
ed, par erceLlence, demagogues. We can
respect and sympathise with shabby gen.
tility, generally, in the South, on the
principle that fellow feeling makes US
wondrous kind) and be dazzled by the
Z displays of shoddyism with its barbaric
splendor, but
Z. SHABBY sHoDDYIsM
4 is an altogether disgusting spectacle.
That's the class in which the political
men in Liberia most frequently may be
found however. They will incur
; .triling debts to Kroo boys rather than
carry parcel home through even the
unobseryant streets of Monroyia. They
belong to that species that glories IN lin
en- bosom and coarse cotton body to their
physical and moral shirts, scrupulously
particular and yulgarly extravagant as
to what is in sight, caring nothing how
many rents, and stains, and crooked brass
pins there may be beneath the outward
gloss either on mind or body, and de-,
lighting in cheap champagne and flash
cigars. / formed this opinion from my
own observation. There are, doubtless,
q few exceptions, but saw only uery
ter0. =
was not surprised to hear that such
persons were anxious to devise means to
keep back the intelligent and wealthy
immigrants, whom they expected, and Ct
whom they were already jealous. 1t is
only fair to say, however, regarding this
: last statement, that have it only on
{ hearsay evidence, and that the general
run of people seem to appreciate the I'M
4 portance of immigration, and to be anX-
ious to encourage and disposed heartily
to welcome it. I will dismiss the SUBJ
ject of politics with the statement that
there is said on good authority to be a
deficiency of $4,000 and over in the
budget this year, which is attributed to-
war debts. This government is FORUM
ate in having no paupers to look ont Tor;
The President says there are only two OF
that class in the territory. This speaks
well for the soil. One thing gives me
hope of Liberia, and that is the ap-
parentiJ
UNIVERSAL RELIGIOUS FEELING.
From the highest to the lowest all
seem to have an unalterable faith in the
Almighty, and believe in His active in
reference in human affairs. Solomon,
was wise man, and knew more and had
seen more of real life than nine hundred
and ninety-nine thousandths of US with
all our steam and telegraph, and when
he said Gin all thy ways acknowledge
Him and he shall direct thy paths" he