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

hardly anybody seems to understand |
them. AS we'll as l can make out, how
ever, one party t'Republicans" or "True
Liberians'') favor the borrowing of what
money is to be borrowed by the govern.
ment from Liberians. and a generally con-
servative 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 is now in
power, their ticket having been elected,
20 it is said, by 1900 majority. Cam
paigns are warm, however, and detach-
ments of the $500 voters marriage occa-
sionaily to get up very decent riots I
among themselves, there being the full
est scope for display of demagogry. |
The President tells me that
THE GOVERNMENT INCOME
from duties is about $4,000. and from |
internal revenue about $4,000. Total,
&iG5,O00. The government tax is half
per cent. on real estate and personal
property, besides which there is usually
n municipfi tax lit must be recollected
that tLe municipal officers, ofiiceholders
ana expenses are DOT included ir the |
above estimate) of the same, tho total
taxes being generally one per cent.
There are complaints made that proper.
ty is greatly ovcryalued, although ms
the above revenue returns show taxes
paid only on less than S3.000,000 OF real
ard personal property In the country,
lthere being poll tax of 81 that can
hardly be possible. Some person or
persons, in England, was or we're foolish
enough to make up loan to the Liberi.
an Government of one hundred tho 5.
and pounds sterling, for which bonds
were issued. Some of the Liberian of.
ficials, who were sent to London for the
money, succeeded in "loaing" a consid.
erable portion, while much of the re-
mainder was squandered by ring COM
posed of other Liberian officials and
English contractors and agents. The
public debt is now stated to be 100000,
the remaining 10000 having either
been paid, or she bonds occurring Il having
been lost by the holders" That's the tale
that somebody told me. Liberia has
pinned much Of her faith on
''Blest paper credit; last and best supply
That lends corruption lighter wings to fly."
Sho has t.
PAPER CURRENCY
gotten up in astyle that reminded me
forcibly of old Confederate dollars.
They promise on their face to pay the
bearer in gold 30 much. no date, howev-
or, being specified. AS long as the gov
ernmene had gold, matters progressed
very we'll, but by and by hitch occIr-
red in the arrangements. Iu 1875 an avt
was passed authorizing the signing aud
issuing of 100000 additional currency.
Then the paper went down, and down,
until at length it became 90 per cent.
below par. The act authorizing the is-
sue was repealed last year, aud the cur
Tency has been gradually getting back.
Now it is only at discount of from IL
20 10 per cent. Even this price, now
ever, is paid principally Iexpecs, because
the money is receivable for duties.
There appears TO be o lack of confidence
in the government In the matter OF
currency, by the by, Liberia is thoroughly
cosmopolitan. Anything ID the shape OF
money is received. One time in hand
full Of change for half sovereign I
found Mexican dollar. q French five
franc piece, two English sixpences,
United States coin and notes, and Libe-
rian currency. This Is another point of
difference between Monrov;R aud S;sr-
ra Leone. At the latter place anything
but English money was rejected scorn-
fully, and Uncle Sam's promises TO nav
were evidently little trusted. The cons
troll of politics in Liberia il is:geiy in
the hands of clGss, consisting of the
older settlers aud their descendants.
Many OF these persons are, as before hint
ed, par ercellencc, demagognes. We can
respect and sympP- hisa with shabby gen.
tility, generally, the South, on the
principle that q fellow feeling makes us
wondrons kind) and be dazzlcd by the
displays of shoddyism with its barbaric
splendor, hat
SHABBY jsHoDDYIsM
Is an altogether disgusting spectacle.
That is the class In which the political
tfaen in Liberia most frequently may be
found however. They viii incur
trifing debts to Kroc boys rather than
carry q parcel home through even the
unobseryapt streets of Monrovin. They
belong to that species that glories In lin
en- bosom and coarse cotton body: TO their
physical and moral shirts, acEupulously
particular and yplgarly extrayagant as
To- what is in sight caring nothing how
pins there may 5e beneath the outward
gloss either on mind G body, and de-
Lighting in cheap champagne and nash
cigars. / formed this opinion from my
own observation. There are, doubtless,
. few exceptions, but saw only pery.
!. ..Jsa5s e..
I wns not sufpriaed to. hear that such;
pafaopB Wero anxious TO devise means to
a keep back the Intelligent and wealthy
immigrantas whom they expected, and CO
u t.0ui sii5y weIe already jealous. Is is
only fair 20 Say, however, regarding this
Inst statement that I have 1t only on
I hearsay evidence, and that the general
s run OF people seem to appreciate the i'm
portance of immigration, and to be snx-
TO welcome it. will dismiss tho sub
jece of politics with q statement that
there ie said on good authority 70 be.a
deficiency Of si2 900 and over in the
budget this year, which is attributed TO-
WaF debts. This government is fostun-
ste in having no paupers 10 look ont for.
3Ehe preaident says there are only two Of
that class in the territory. This spsaks
well for the sol One thing gives me
hope 1; e Libefia, end that is the ap-I
UNiEEAs Al AELI IaYoUs SERLIEG. 4
From the highest TO the lowess all
eeeEl to have IN unalterable faith In the.
Almighty, aud believe In His actiya in-
serference in human affairs. Solomon,
Z was q wise man, and knew more and hid 1
{ seen tnose pf real life thin niue hundred
and ninety -rine thensandths of us with
AZ our steam and telegraph, and when
ne said IN all thy waya acknowledge
4 1fifn and 4s sLsall direct tEy paths. 2 30
atlst bate meant it; Or looking at it
shers Is other proposition, Christian.;
lts where ~ ex lats, Ianst be progreasive.;
A 4