The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-20
C0LORED EMIGRdTTON 10 LIBERIA.
Conclusive Reasons why Il should not he Tn
dertnken.


cral OF the Southern States. by associations said
to be- organized at the North to promote emf
grafton to Liberia. under the promise that it
opened n wider field Of expansion and advance
mcnt to the colorcd race than exists in their
present condition. When this proposition was
first suggested. with plan to procure small
subscriptions from tho ignorant blacks for the
purchase Of Steamers to transport them across
the ocean and for outfits. our suspicious were
excited that the whole scheme was aspcculation.
The arts and devices used to get deposits from
the poor negroes in the Frcedman's Bank were
30 exactly repeated in this project as Mt once to
excite dstrust, and we took occasion to warn
the public against II as Il new invention to plum
der an unsuspecting and easily dcluded people.
Still it seems to have met with some degree of
success. for only last month large number OF
the victims Of this outrageous deception found
their way from Georgia to Charleston, with their
little household goods. expecting to embark for
Liberia. Of course there was neither vessel to
receive them nor agent to answer for the heart
less imposition.
The colored people Of the South arc far better
Off in every respect than the Africans of Lbe-
ria. They are frcomcn. they enjoy the privilege
Of suffrage. their children have the means Of
education they are the owners Of their own
labor, and IN the race Of life they have the same
opportunities Of success that the white man has
1t s true. they have to contend with the prcju-
dice against their color. and with the dis
advantages Of former condition Of slav-
cry. But these prcIudrcs are fast wear
ing of. and the rising generation Of blacks will
be intelligent in the main. educated. and able To
exert an influence in the direction Of public
affairs. Already the colorcd vote is appealed to
in Louisiana and other States. and in the coming
M.
factor. a. it may be used for good or for evil.
1t is cruel therefore. to hold ont temptations
to this people, now comparatively happy and in
contact with an old civilization TO improve them.
which are false dclusive. and wholly inbound
ed. There Is nothing in Liberia. after an OK
pertinent OF more than fifty years. which offers
the least induccmcnt TO the negro TO emigrate.
The climate Of the coast is deadly, and the inte-
rior is inaccessible. There is no civilization
worthy Of the name. There are no schools. in
any large sense. and the country does not pro-
duce enough for the support Of It's own pOpula-
ton. In order that the colorcd race may not be
misled or cheated by knavcs in the disguise Of
phianthropisis. We give below extracts from II
despatch Of J. Milton Turner to Mr. Eyarts on
this subject Mr.. Turner has been for seven
years Minister to Liberia. and il an educated
colored man. who speaks in the interest Of his
people:
No 273.l LEGATION OF THE TNITrD STATES
MoNEoNIA. Liberia. sept. ,. 1871
American philnnihropsis. influenced by the
belief that they are assisting line elevation and
Wrll-hring oi an unfortunate class, and at the
same tim" aiding the oNangcllHatl"n and civli-
support "a SCHEME which II mot nlon" impolitic
hut ia a majority Of INSTANCES. absolutely in
furious ia results This entire enterprise H.
Kept alive ia the United States by a few active
gents of tl'r" societies. WHO rcpr sent. usual
IT, To- the moro inexperienced of III" class they
desire To- operate upon ms rmiEraui-. only what
il Of a nature best adapted To- deceive the I'M
wary into the belief that the abundant wealth
which mature has luNi~hrd upon Africa il not
locked securely within the cnvirons Of these
deadly climatic Influences.
These agents speak the truth when tho repre-
sent that the cmigtnnts will lind the soil feriil"
that constant summer prevails: that there are
mineral wealth. beautiful landscapes. luxurious
81. But They should add that the most primitive
agricultural appliances are u-ed Tor tllling tins
most fertile s'ii. such n cutEtsscs. hoes. bill
hooks. a.. Such think a. "a plough il not To-
he found in use in Liberia II has been demon
-lrated mat neither horses mules, nor donkeys
Horses are found in the Interior. but whom
brought 10 the coast they Sirh,u and dic. Al
though constant summer prevails. ~ 10 tenn
pcrature. the miasnlniic iniiurur" rnuScd 10y the
heavy rain alternating with hot sunshine. cuus"s
sickness during -iN months of the year. and
during the remaining siA months of the year.
thc power ~ the sun Is such that II II almost
as IL produces incrtin. lassitude want Of en-
orgy. Indeed alter u man has once had tie
ieNer, he never. IN Africa, resains the energy lie
was possessed of before.
II IL true there is mineral wealth but the pro-
curing 81 tll7 wealth Is more ihun countrrhal-
anr"d 10y the sacrifice and difficulty necessary
Tor people poor in the knowledge Of IN" econ
omy Of government, 4nt pogr H. we'll IN midi
vidual conpei"ncc. Rich ~ the country H. nat
uruiy, l-lN"rlu has mover been ntl"pcndrut 10
loose herself from other countries enough To
produce food for her daily home cons sumption.
Although rcc-grlWnE land. rice IL Imported
from England and other countries. and sold Tor
- per bu-hcl. when better rice ran be- grown
pal breadsiun | havcncvrr seen -four 81 a less
price than 81 per barrel; hutor ~ u per
pound hams from - To - Gu IA other proYis-
IONS Iropurtionably high. In the face oi these
ihris, Inc American cnlsrant has To- compete
witt the native for labor Tho native j. stronl.
and hardy. with very few wants. and able. al
my cents per day, to perform th" labor usually
asSlgned y horses in other countries:
When thrs" agents, by reason ~ such cN
purte representations have succeeded first in
producing dlsronteni, Thereby inducing these
unsuSpecllng persons to qult homes and sur;
roundinGs already known and possessed and
I" migrate across an ocean o. IA land unknown
70 themselves and the world impossible hopes
ar" afierward raised. superinlucrd 10y those
distorted statements. OF empire and national
greatness, They are left. at the expiration OF
six months OF ,so-callcdl support, without
If amy. communication with their former friends
and homes, without knowledge Qi the customs
come, suffering from the despair and discour-
agrm"nt occa-ioncd 10y the ac'hmation fever
aud. alas in too many cnsc-. mourning the
loss PERHAPS OF their entire families save the
one thus lcil muurucr; III ia ar" only anxious
10 return f.om whence they cumo.
may here remark. ! have never known Of
the departure of II vessel 90 America without
receiving. frequently. "a doI n Applications To
b" sent back. nder the law am ppwcrlcss To
help them. IT, prr'hanrc tl,r children OF u
iaMiiI sur,iNe. A. Is iralurnuy lhr 'a,e, The
have l"it u country Wh"rc "a public school ~ys-
tom ur"Naii- lHr. One wherc the elm idren Will be
deprived 20 ih.- h.ncnt Thus ,on,rontrd on
a N..