New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-01
TRADE WITH LIBERIA.

THE NEW UNITED STATES MINISTER'S VIEWS or
MIR. TURNER'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
INCREASING THE COMMERCE BETWEEN THE
TWO COUNTRIES.
John II. Smyth, the new United States Min
ster to the Republic OF Liberia. sailed on Saturday In
the steamship Erin ~ the National Line. Mr. smyth
succeeds j. Milton Turner VINO. in recent Interview,
declared that the scheme OF the Emigration Society
and OF the other smar organizations 90 COLOMBO Africa
from the Southern OF the greatest frauds OF
the century," and followed this declaration with many
statements concerning toe population and climate Of
Liberia OF a To discourage emigration OF the
blacks from this country. Mr. smyth, like Mr.. Turner
Is purc-booded negro, and Is between thirtyiye and
forty years OF age. He educated at the Quaker
school in Philadelphia when the principal was Mr.. Bias
sett who for nine years United States Minister to
Hayt Mr. smyth studied Law In tue Office Of the Hon.
j. NJ IangstOn, and hs home is in Wilmington, n. C.
When he received his present appointment he was a
clerk In Controllers Department At Washington He
has taken part In politics since 1879 He has fine
head n tall wcll-proportoned frame, and the appear
ance and speech OF thoroughly educated man. He Will
remain for several days In London before sailing from
yerpoo FOR Liberia where he expects TO arrive In the
latter part Of August His wife and child remain at
home
Mr. smyth was asked for his opinion OF Mr.. Turner's
statements regarding Liberia.
81 have never been 10 LIBERIA" he said, and have
not seen Mr. Turner for eight years have read his
dispatches TO tho State Department and also his news
paper statements His dispatches have much merit. GER
tainly M literary performances. His views published
in TIE substantially the opinions expressed
in his dispatch on emigration"
"Haye you special directions from the Government
regarding the encouragement OF commercial intercourse
between the United States and Liberiap
"Yes and 20 give that subject special and almost
my undivided attention would be profitable for
the Government to send out Minister on salary OF
$4,000 year merely for political reasons. am In
clined to think that the commerce between the two
countries might be developed TO very considerable
extent with profit to both The palm Indigenous to Ii.
IBERIA produces a leaf whcI is being shipped TO this
country and manufactured into paper Of fine quality
II is great coeeproducing country. OyerimmgratiOn
would be injurious The country must develop gradually
Perhaps there with the notion that
they to be oflieeboIders and were little better
than the people they would find there Such immigration
doesn't build up country. People may expect too much
Also of n Government OF colored people, established as
that Liberia has BEEN They have not had long enough
experience aud nave not been long enough I'm the enjoy
ment OF Independence. Time should be granted for
growth and develOpcmont Judging by what the Eng
sh have done their neighbOring colonies Of Sierra
Leone and also Of Liberia, It 10 that
there Is opportunity for great progress m Liberia tue
trade with Liberia, venture the opinion that WI,
not be many years before the English VIII
practically be IN possession OF Liberia. They see an
opportunity for profitable commerce and they are work
ing for t. shall not be In Liberia long without send
home
United states under moral obligations TO do what
they for the growth aud welfare OF the little repnb
lie.
SECRETARY oRCUTT's OPINION.
John orcutt General Secretary OF the American Col
onzatiOn Society, present TO wish Minister smyth
safe voyage and prosperous mission In conversation
he SAID that Mr. Turner had stated facts and made
other statements which he thought msrepresented the
conditian OF affairs IN boria. II true that tho
climate on the coast scky. For forty years the
average life OF white men in Liberia had
been only three and half years. This he
thought providental, as IL would pre-.
vent the whites from going In TO reap the profits OF
the coffee plantations at the expense or cOlOred labor
The Interior healthier and while the roads were
poor they were than In the Republic OF Hayt
IL was true that -four $14 and $40 barrel and cal
leo 80 cents yard to subsis eheaply In Liberia IL
was necessary natural products OF the country
The English were striving 70 get the commercial aseen
Liberia which Mr. Turner had said could not be profit
ably worked They had also offered to loan 81 100000
Government for 90 In return for the priv
lege building railroad with certain monopoly of
the railroad business The English Invested thirty mil
lions their Sierra Leone Colony some ten fifteen
wears ago. and he thought they had got their money
back with interest. woman In Liberia sent him four
sacks OF coffee with directions TO invest the proceeds
$780, In Calico etc. These articles would be worth
$3.50 out there. Trade must be encouraged with
Liberia. A movement was on foot. few days ago a
the purchase ship steamship for the Liberia trade
Tue English dispatched weekly steamship from LIVER
pool, which touched at MOnrova.