Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1878-07-18
LIBERIA NOT a PARADISE.


ions of our day is the Liberian move
ment among the colored people. Utterly
ignorant of the country to which they
wish to emigrate. and deceived and
hood winked by the specous and false
statements of designing persons who are
trying to make money at their o1pense,
the colored people fall as easy prey to
tho rapacious sharks. and only find out
how terribly they have been "sold''
when they fall victims to fever, or land
strangers on the shores OF a country that
is every thing else than land OF prom
Use.
The New York Tribune Is un intensely
Radical sheet 1t cannot hc suspected OF
working against the colored people. 1t
has lately interviewed the returning
United States Minister to Liberia, who is
an intelligent colored man. and who
spent many years in that country. Ills
name is J. Milton Turner. and he is
pure -blooded neg %. What he says ought
to be believed by those of his own race.
We rive some extracts from the pub
lishcd interview
Liberia" says Mr.. Turner. sis Re-
public. with a government modelled gen.
erally after that Of tho United States. 1t
is ordinarily peacesble. there having
been no revolution since 1871, when the
President and other officers were killed.
The financial system is in very bad
condition the country has no money.
President Gardner. in recent in"ugural
address, said that there was not Ss.O0c in
the hands of the government There Is
a debt of million. OH which thoy oan-
not nav tho interest. Tho current expen-
ses are more than they realize from
taSes. Tho most of the natives are very
moor and are content 10 remain so. The
man wears n handkerchief about his
loins and another at his neck. His wife
is attired in the Samo way, AID his chill
dren go naked. If hO has enough to eat
he is satisfied, but he hates all intruders,
as he considers those to bo who como
from America."
"What is your opinion OF the pros
poets of these negro colonists from
America. and of the probability OF their
success ~ was asked.
"I think. was the reply. that the
scheme of the Immigration Society. and
of the. other similar organizations tn col
nniZe Africa from tho Southern States is
one nf the greatest irands OF this centu-
ry. They speak the trrih when
th.v say that immigrants will find the
soil fertile, that constant summer pre-
walls. that there are valuable minerals.
beautiful landscapes, luxuriant vegeta-
ton and tropical fruits of every descrip-
ton. But they don't add that only the
most primitive agricultural implements
are used. such as cutlasses, bi!l-hooks,
&c. and that neither horses, mules ncr
donkeys can stand the climate on the
sea coast. Although it is summer the
wear through, the miasma, caused by the
heavy rains alternating with hot sun
shine. produces sickness half the year
During the rest of year the extreme heat
of the sun causes such lasSitude that few
foreigners can endure any work under
il. In fact, after one has once had the
fever-as nearly every one does who
goes there-he is never strong again.
There is great deal moro OF the same
sort. This is not an encouraging view.
Our advice to the colored people is to
live where you are, and work out your
destiny as best you may. 1t is the most
hazardous and unwiso thing you can
ever do when you break up and go to
that land of savages and sickness and
extreme poverty and death.
We must give one more extract from
the ex-Minister's account Of Liberian
life and theexperience of the unfortunate
and deceived immigrant. Hesays:
"These societies." answered Mr.. Tur-
ern. "promise six months support to
the immigrants. At the expiration of
that time the colonists are left helpless
and without means of livelihood, igno-
rant of the ways Of the country. hating
tho native and hated by him, and proba-
bly suffering from. disease. At the de-
parture Of every vessel for America
there are many who beg to be taken
back. Tho captains refuse to carry them,
even if they have money tn pay their
passages. for, the captains say. II theyv
allow these men to 20 back, and tell Of
tho actual condition of affairs in the
colony, the Immigration Society will 10
longer employ them. And so tho imm'-
grants remain to suffer and die"
What fearful picture of misery, de-
serLion and ruin! There is no remedy
and no relief until death comes, and
thus closes the sad tragedy. Take heed
to the warning given.