The New York herald., 1879-07-07
BOUGHT WITH AMERICAN MONEY
HOW the British BroWbeat
the Negroes.
THE REPUBLIC MUST BE AIDED.
A Chance for Some Ambitious
Congressman.
UNITED STATES STEAMSHIP TIcoNDERoaA,
orr SoLYMAN, West COAST AFRICA.

After more than three months of patient waiting
and attendance upon the movements of the commits
sion appointed to settle the long disputed question
Of the northwest boundary at Liberia this vessel
sails tomorrow for Monrovia. on its way south, in
pursuance of the original plan. which was entirely
of Q commercial nature. To-day the commission ad-
journed sine die. having accomplished nothing
to leave the Liberians in still greater doubt Of the
sbility to maintain their rights to section of
eountry which is undoubtedly theirs by every law
Of justice.
In giving the results Of the working Of this COM
mission can think Of satisfactory way than
10 sum up the whole affair from beginning to end.
Some twenty-five years ago the dispute to terri
eoral boundaries first arose, and at that time the
French whose interests this coast are manifold.
desired to be represented in any commission that
might be appointed. Nothing. however. was done
ut that time and 1t only Of late years that the
matter Of commission assumed definite shape. Mr..
Boxer of Philadelphia. first invited to act
arbitrator, but he declined. Then Commander Brad
ford. commanding the United States ship Marion
on the European station, was appointed to act in
that capacity. delay occurring in the meeting of
the commission. Commander Bradford returned in
the Marion to the United States. and hence 1t came
about that the position of arbitrator was given to
Commodore Shufeldt. who was to touch 1t Liberia
on his cruise around the world.
WHAT EXPECTED.
The invitation to the United States government
was to the effect that they should appoint commis
were to act in conjunction with the English and Lii
berian members. When the commission first met
Il Sierra Leone the Liberians claimed that the
arbitrator should preside at all sittings This was
strongly objected to on the part Of the English
as In their view tho arbitrator had nothing to do
until called in to decide any question that might be
submitted to him. Mr.. Streeton, Of the English
commissioners. remarked that should Commodore
Shufedt have voice in the discussions there
you'd be virtually three Liberians against two
Englishmen. He evidently regretted making such
statement. az he attempted to Withdraw it. but the
LtoeriaLs insisted that 1t should appear upon the
Sinutes OF the proceedings. That question
finally compromised by the Lberisns requesting
the Commodore to be present visitor all ses-
aons. and the English Informing him that he could
only for . day or two and then withdrew to await
their action. At the very beginning the question
tsse Is ua 70 'ns which should be
journed until April without 80 much as consult
Ing with the arbitrator.
. FINAL MEETING.
Then the Tcondercga sailed south touching st
different ports Of the Liberian coast and
OIL Solyman on the LIST OF April. In the meantime
tle Liberian government dissatisfied with the man
ner in which their commissioners had conducted
themselves appointed new ones in their stead. and
Her Majesty's ship Boxer appointed as SUPER
numerary to act in case OF sickness Of one Of the
meeting the work Of the English. and it was a
point they rigidly adhered to. 1t Is here that Mr..
Harris has his factory This Mr. Harris is the who
has had frequent trouble with the Liberian govern
ment. and has ever been of the chief agitators
OF the boundary question. 1t is through his in
duence and that of his agents that the English have
been enabled to collect such OF native testi-
mony in their favor. and from other place could
such an advantage be gained So Soiyman was
al fha aiaad hut fl,xa
Liberians. Solyman is only few miles below
Gallinas River. and the landing is not only difficult
beating the shore No ships boat live in the
SURF and the boats built expressly tor the pur
pose and manned by expert kroomen oftentimes
come to grief.
Every paper. letter or pcrishable article Of that
nature sent from there is wrapped in oskin to pre-
vent its destruction by any possible accident.
There u only one surfbost here aud that is owned
by Mr.. Harris. ALI the houses shore belong to
him his dependents, and therefore 1t is only
through his courtesy that any one can visit the
shore with any degree Of safety. When the COM
mission met here another invitation was extended to
Commodore Shufeldt to be present. but he could only
DO so by using Mr.. Harris boat and accepting the
hospitality of his house. This the did
care to do. He suggested that the commission meet
board the Boxer. and this not finding approval
he named Cape Mount the Sugury River, eighteen
pailes below. Ms suitable places. No change was
made. however, and the Commodore has remained
on board during the whole time. When We found 1t
necessary to go to Sierra Leone for coal and pro-
visions The commission objected to the arbitrator
leaving the ground. asserting that they should need
his services in u few days. As the 4 mmodore had
waited SO long to suit their convenience IL was not
asking much from them to wait day or two should
his services be needed before his return. aud we
sailed to Sierra Leone.
TAMplHNa WITH THE WITNESSES
No such contingency arose. however, and on our
return we found still nothing to be submitted to
were auout fourteen hundred natives and eighty
Or ninety chiefs shore. who had come from the
interior to testify against Liberia. These natives
were drinking the rum OF Mr. Harris and eating the
rice that had been expressly sent down to them from
the government Mt Sierra Leone. great deal OF
testimony taKen and the purchase papers or the
Lberians examined, and this rather peculiar state of
Affairs arrived at. In these L'berian papers
tbe country claimed was expressed as the
Mamma country. the Sugury country, and so on.
When the Anal point reached the English
said that the Liberians had established no claim to
that countryin the hrst place, and. In the second.
lhcy had not proved that such countries existed.
The question was that of boundary line and they
The Liberians wished to refer the matter 10 tho
arbitrator. but to this objection was raised the
ground that they had no case to submit. Let MS
leave It to the judgment OF the arbitrator whether
not we have n case. said Liberia; but.
no. the English would consent to no such
,nns and adjourn M 'hs the %assr sS~a Se a
for IL clearly impossible for them to accomplish
anything to gain one single point IN their iavor:
Before they adjourned. however. IL was moved that
thc record OF tho proceedings should be submitted
TO Commodore shufeldt Strange to say, the English
objected this. saying that as no question had
bcen submitted to him there was no necessity for
his having any copy Of the record. 1t was only by
tho Liberians refusing to adjourn AT all unless SUCH
Q step was taken that they managed even this.
WHAT BE DONE.
The commissivn therefore, has adjourned. ana
the question is still open one What VIII he done
is n question not easily answered. IL IS hardly
probable that the United States will take any action
In tho matter unless explicitly invited by the Libe-
fian government 20 protect them. This tho
Libcrians may possibly do; but in the face OF all
this uncertainty OF the future of this country the
only newspaper of Monrovia comes out with an edi-
toria denying that there liz any need for Liberia to
scck protection make an alliance with any Power;
that IL is only necessary to cultivate friendly
relations with the natvcs and peace and
prosperity will follow. Such policy IL
utter folly, and II pursued will assuredly end In
the extinction Of this Republic What is the effect
on the natives produced by this commission? Here
nearly fifteen hundred of them eating and drink
ing ut the expense OF the English government.
There IL n failure In the rice crop of the interior and
food IL scarce. The Colonial government will sup
ply them and for the present Keep them from want.
And thase natives are those VINO occupy the lands
elaimed by Liberia; but they have been SO skill.
fully worked upon by Harris Go. that 1t Will
not now be safe Tor Liberians to put foot on their