New-York tribune., 1878-06-26
NOT THE LAND OF PROMISE.
RosY DREAMs oF LIBERIA DIsPELLED.


PLACE FOR nMIGRANTs-PIAIN TALK FROM
Tx-MINsTER TURNER.
j. Milton Turner, ex- Minister from the United
States to Liberia was in New-York ON satur-
day. In conversation with a TRIBUNE reporter
he described the present condition of Liberia and the
prospects Of the cOlored people who had gone there
from the Southern States after the close OF the reDeOn
Mr. Turner is pnre-blooded of large frame He
has been well educated and expresses his opinions Win
decsi and confidence. The picture that he gives OF
Liberia is not an encouraging for the negroes VINO
have been hoping TO better their condition by crossing
the Atlantic to find new homes there.
Liberia" said Mr.. Turner, is Republic, with
government modelled generally after that Of the United
States Il ordinarily peaceahe, there having been no
revolution 1871, when the President other OIL
GERS were killed The financial system is in very bad
condition the country has money. President Gard
ner recent inaugural address, said that there was
not "a 900 in the hands OF the Government There s
debt Of Million which they cannot pay the Interest
The current expenses are than they realize om
taxes The most Of the natives very poor ard are
content 10 remain The man wears kerchief ABOUT
his lons and another His wife is attred IN
the same way and his children naked. If be has
enough to eat satisfied but he hates all nruders
as he considers those be who come from America"
"What your opinion of the prospects Of these negro
eolonsts from Amenca, and Of tho probability OF their
success 2" was asked
irration Society and Of the similar organizations,
TO coonze Africa from the Southern States Is one OF the
greatest of this century. American phhanthro-
psts influenced by the belief that they arc assisting the
elevation and webeing of unfortunate class aud at
the same time promoting the eyangezBtion and ciyi-
zaton Africa contribute TO the funds Of these sOcie-
ties Their subscriptions 90 support scheme which,
it seems to me- only impotc, but IN majority OF
instances injurious resus The enterprise kept
alive this country by few active agents. OF the socie
who represent to the inexperienced immigrants only
the most attractive phases Of life IN Liberia. They
speak the truth when they say that immigrants VAL find
the soil fertile that constant Summer prevails, that
there are valuable minerals beautiful landscApRs luxu
vegetation and tropical fruits Of every description
But they don't add that only the primitive agricu
tural implements arc used such cutassrs bihOOks
ETC.. and that neither horses, mules nor dOnkeys can
stand tine climate the coast. Although II Is SUM-
mer year through the masma caused by the heavy
rains alternating with hot sunshine produces sckness
half the year Du1ng the rest Of tho year, tho
heat Of the sun such asstude that foreign
endure work under IT, In fact after has
once had the everas nearly every one does VINO goes
there-he IS never strong again. am noS suffering
much the effects OF IT, There H. iuNu-
RANT vegetation, but It Is thai peculiar TO
the deadly mangrOye swamps. TnerO Is mineral
wealth there coal ana there are no resources
country produced enough food 70 supply the
consumption Of the naive nha6tants Imported rice
sold at 81 bushc and then becomes IN the absence or
money. the only currency for barter The Immigrant
hast tn paV a
cessities prices proportion In the face OF
an these facts he mas 70 compete with the native for
labor The native Is strong and hardy with very few
wants aud abe at % or 80 cents day, 10 perform the
labor usually assigned TO horses In other countries For
ordinary services ali that an Immigrant can expect Is
"Do not the emigran socetes fulfil their promises TO
help the immigrant on his arnyalf"
"ihese societies." answered Mr. Turner, "promse
six months support 10 the immigrants. At the oxpr-
tou OF that time The coOnists are left helpless and with
meaus Of livelihood ignorant OF the ways OF the
uuF1n he Y and
probably suffering from disease At the departure OF
every vessel for America there many who beg 10 be
taken back The captains refuse carry them, n
they money 10 pay their passages for the captains
saw II they allow these g back tell Of
actual condiuon OF affairs the colony, the Emigration
Society viii no longer employ them And so the mni
| grants remain TO suffer aud de-"
Arc all parts OF Liberia as unattractive as those
! where the colony Is lOcatedP
Probably not; the inland portions OF AFRICA are per
haps But there no means Of access to them
only footpaths cut by the natives, along when tEey
! Intervening forests almost impfegnabe, and the
/ petty kings along the are sometimes hostile, and
any treaties with them would have TO DC enforced Dy arms
| MR. TURNER'S SUGGESTION OF REMEDY.
Have you remedy TO propose -
Comparatively speaking the English policy Is better
than the American. The English found, In organizing
their colonies that first plan Of taking natives TO
Europe educate them as teachers Of their brethren
did not work well the educated pupil went back with
ideas Of civilization suited for the purpose for which
! he had been trained Then the English adopted tho
pan of the FUurah Bay College OF Sierra Leone, where
| natives were trained al home Tor directwork among
their people. This has been most successful. These
| pupils have made possible education, and there
fore eiyzaion among ihe othgT ,ln nfbSe'' ana anu
| tons as teachers, lawyers, leglslalOIs, etc
which the neghbonng tribes might unite into power
ful civilized nation. Let the money contributed by PHI
native manual labor schools, which shall supply the
class OF men needed IN the country, free from ali the
Vel tribe Is strongest nOblrst and most intellectual
u Lbera-the only tribe that has invented an alphabet
and they anxious to learn This trne IS toe best me-
dun for the preparation Of civilization 70 the Interior
tribes OF Africa Ultil something Of this kind has been
done the present plan Of uniung the American negro
! and the African negro Is preposterouS"
Is there then no oisposl2n on the part OF the ma
tiyes and Immigrants mn to coaleSee . ,.r, ,o,, ~
EO 81 5he sv b SRe and M thew 5S gPe e
bearing in body the fruits Of that slavery Toe
who leave TINS country are actually lower In the
scale OF civilization than those whom they lind In Africa
Tne African has seeu much less OF civilization tban the
other but he has always been Free ana KNOWS no higher
condition than that which he enjoys. And 30 they begin
! by hatUg each other at hrst slght You cant bring
them together Nothing VIII lnuuce them t"lbterblAry
TIE natives offer Inducements TO the immigrants 70
SETTLE but IN lazy kind OF way make 1t as uuconiOrta
| HE fgr them as possible"
| Mr. Turner showed a number Of afldays OF immi-
grants male MOnroyla, the capital of Liberia which be
WIS about u transmit Sectetary Evarts, In report
which he preparing These a1dayt5 set forth the
harsh treatment which the ants assert that they have
suffered at the hands OF lberlan officials, and OF the OIL
| cers Of the Emig alOn Society.
lone OF the principal reas0ns," continued Mr.. Turner
why immigrants fare 50 III Is that they have no money
TO start with U Is impossible for them 10 succeed with
out taking considerable money with them. The only
Immigrant who has succeeded went there with a small
capital and Is worth $35, ,00O and runs several fac
tories Immigrants with combined cap tai could maze
money in coffee raising. Liberia grows the finest coffee
in the world. But 10 start coffee farm would require
100000 and would be three years before the
would begin TO get OF any such scheme
Is imposs BILE for the ordinary immigrant This not
exaggerated statement OF the unfortunate condition OF
| tine LiberiaD eolOnsts."
CONDITION or THE SOUTH
Mr. Turner Ia familiar with the political condition Of
the Southern States He asked TO give his views
10 the probable results of the election in the South
on the House Of Representatives He answered that be
considered the prospects good for the Republicans The
negroes "a they became better informed more
.hr tanir hnna Inv n the Ranmhllenn RlIIY