Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-07-11
5flistellameuns &eadima.
From the New York Tribune June, 26.

Misfellameons &eaaing.
From the New York Tribune June, as.
THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT LIBERIA.
j. Milton Turner, ex-minister from the
United States to Liberia, was in New York on
Saturday. In conversation with Tribune
reporter he described the present condition Of
Liberia, and the prospects of the colored peo'
pie who had gone there from the Southern
States after the close of the rebellion. Mr..
Turner is a pure blooded negro of large frame.
He has been we'll educated, and expresses his
opinions with decision and confidence. The
picture that he gives of Liberia is not an en-.
couraging one for the negroes who have been
hoping to better their condition by crossing
the Atlantic to find new homes there.
Liberia" said Mr.. Turner, "is q Republic,
with government modelled generally after
that of the United States. It is ordinarily
peaceable, there having been no revolution
since 1871, when the president and other
officers we're killed. The financial system is
in very bad condition the country has no
money. President Gardner, in arecent inau-
gural address, said that there was not $4,000
in the hands Of the government. There is a
debt of a million, on which they cannot pay
the interest. The current expenses are more
than they realize from taxes. The most Of the
natives are very poor and are content to re-
main 80. The man wears kerchief about
his loins and another at his neck. His wife
is attired in the same way. and his children
90 naked. If he has enoug to eat he is sat-
isfed, but he hates all intruders, as he con-
siders those to be who come from America"
what your opinion of the prospects Of
those negro colonists from America, and of
the probability of their success?" was asked.
II think" was the reply, "tbat the scheme
of the Emigration Society and of the other
similar organizations, to colonize Africa from
the Southern States is one of the greatest
frauds of this century. American philan-
thropists, Influenced by the belief that they
are assisting the elevation and well-being of
an unfortunate class, and at the same time
prompting the evangelization and civilization
of Africa. contribute to the funds of these
societies. Their subscriptions 60 to support
a scheme which, it seems to me, is not only
impolitic, but in ma jority of instances in.
furious in its results. The enterprise is kept
alive in this country by few active agents
of the societies, who represent to the inexperi'
enced immigrants only the most attractive
phases of life in Liberia. They speak the
truth when they say the immigrants will 6nd
the soil fertile, that constant summer prevails,
that there are valuable minerals, beautiful
landscapes, luxuriant vegetation and tropical
fruits Of every description. But they don't
add that only the most primitive agricultural
implements are used such- -as -outlassss, bill
hooks, &C., and that neither horses. mules
nor donkeys can stand the climate on the
sea coast. Although it is summer the year
through, the miasma, caused by the heavy
rains alternating with hot sunshine, produces
sickness half the year. During the rest oftbe
year, the extreme heat of the sun causes such
lassitude that few fore gners can endure any
work under it. In fact, after one has once
had the fever-as nearly every one does who
goes there-he is never stroag again. l am
now suffering much from the effects of it.
There is 'luxuriant vegetation,' but it is that
peculiar to the deadly mangrove swamp.
There is mineral wealth but there is no coal,
and there are no resources for working the
mines. The soil is fertile; but the country
has never produced enough food to supply
the consumption Of the native inhabitants.
Imported rice is sold at 81 bushel, and
then becomes, in the absence of money, the
only currency for barter. The immigrant
has to pay S14 to $19 barrel for -four, 81 a
pound for butter, 35 cents yard for calico,
and for other necessities prices in the same
proportion. In the face of all these facts he
has to compete with the native labor. The
native is strong and hardy, with very few
wants, and able, at 25 or 30 cents day, to
perform the labor usually assigned to horses
in other countries. For ordinary sevices all
that an immigrant can expect is 50 week.
do not the emigrant societies fulfil their
promise to help the immigrant on his ar
rival ?"
"These societies." answered Mr.. Turner,
"promise six months support to the immi-
grants. At the expiration of that time the
colonists are left helpless and without means
of livelihood, ignorant of the ways of the
country, hating the native and hated by him,
and probably suffering from disease. At the
departure of every vessel for America there
are many who beg to be taken back. The
captains refuse to carry them, even if they
have money to pay their passages, for, the
captains say, if they allow these men to 60
back and tell of the actual condition of sf-
fairs in the colony, the Emigration Society
will no longer employ them. And so the i'm
migrants remain to suffer and die"
"Are all parts of Liberia as unattractive
as those where the colony is locateds p
"Probably not; the inland portions of Al
RIGA are perhaps better. But there are no
means of access to them-only foot-paths cut
by the natives, along which they transport
goods by carrying them on their heads. The
intervening forests are almost impregnable,
and the petty kings along the way are some
times hostile, and any treaties with them
would have to be enforced by arms.
MIR. TURNER'S SUGGESTION OF A REMEDY.
"Have you a remedy to propose ?"
Comparatively speaking, the English poll
cy is better than the American. The Eng
lish found, il organizing their colonies, that
their first plan Of taking natives to Europe to
educate them as teachers of their brethren did
not work we'll the educated pupil went back
with ideas of civilization ill.suited for the pur-
pose for which he had been trained. Then
the English adopted the plan of the Fourah
Bay College of Sierra Leone, where natives
were trained at home for direct work success
fully. These pupils have made possible edu-
cation, and therefore civilization, among the
other natives, and they are themselves occu'
pying prominent positions as teachers, lawyers,
legislators, &c. Now Liberia should be the
nucleus around which the neigbboring tribes
might unite into powerful civilized nation.
Let the money contributed by philanthropists
in America be expended in establishing ma.