Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-29
Liberia and the Monroe Doctrine.

0efher.
Liberia and the Monroe Doctrine.
Under the above head communication ap-
peared some days ago in THE STAR in reply to
an article In this paper on European Designs
Upon Liberia" This communication has some
errors which need correction. The writer calls
In question our assertion OF an extraordinary
desire by France for territory on the west coast
of Africa, and he implies doubt as to an offer by
the French government OF protectorate Of IL
IBERIA Our authority for the first statement is
based on letter from prominent oficer of the
United States navy, at the time serving on the
African coast; and that OF the latter as an
nounced in communication, also addressed to
the consul general of Liberia in this city, Mr..
Coppinger from the vice president OF that re-
public.
The government of the United States has
always exercised protectorate powers over
Liberia 1t chartered and QUILTED the Eliza
beth-the May flower of Liberia gave free
passage in her to eighty-six colored people as
emigrants, sending the Cyane as convoy. 1t
dispatched, In 1920, the Alligator on a voyage
of exploration, and her commander, afterwards
Commodore stockton, with DR.. Eli AyreS,
agent Of the American Colonization So
Ciety, selected and purchased Cape Mes
urado. where now stands the city of Monroy1a-
1t has made Liberia the asylum of nearly six
thousand recaptured Africans, seized oy Ameri-
can officers and cruisers in carrying out the law
OF 1919 for the suppression Of the slave trade.
And it stipulates, In the treaty with Liberia,
signed at London, october 81, 1862, as follows
"Article 8. The United States government en-
cages never to interfere, unless solicited by the
government OF Liberia, In the affairs between
the aboriginal inhabitants and the government
of the republic of Liberia In the Jurisdiction and
territories of the republic" Under this unique
stipulation the Alaska was sent only four years
ago to Monrov1a to act In conjunction with the
authorities Of Liberia In suDpressing the revolt
of the Grebo tribe, at Cape Palmas, in which it
rendered valuable service and without firing
gun. In view Of the peculiar Intimate and foster
ing relation Of the government and citizens of the
United States and as colony Of people from
our very midst now republic, it remains to be
seen whether the President and Congress would
not promptly and decisively interfere, should
France or Great Britain by force attempt to
occupy" or annex Liberia to their possessions
In the same quarter.
The writer Of the communication in question
Is not the only one In America who remembers
that France has apparently abandoned some of
her possessions on the west coast OF Africa
There are those who are also aware that efforts
have been made by that sagacious government
W tACudIlSt ScNCldl VI Iucuu, duu OGuoi pOluUS
OF land, with Great Britain, for territory else
where, In order to concentrate French power
upon Senegambia and the adjacent region Of
Soudan, and ultimately, to make this territory
to France what the Indies are to England. Is 1t
not much wiser for her to lay open the trade Of
Soudan to the world than to be digging canal
across the Isthmus Of Dar1en?
The writer further denies our statement that
Soudan has population Of so OOO, 900, and at the
same time quotes the British Encyclopedia,
which gives it at 1900, 900! The fact Is that
this vast region has for centuries been traversed
by trading caravans from Mediterranean ports,
and within the last century it has been
visited by American and European travellers,
who concur In declaring that the country In
many parts, especially in the Niger Valley. is
densely populated, having walled cities of from
10000 to 10000 Inhabitants, only ten to twenty
miles apart with innumerable towns and vii
lagos between and likewise the cities Of Kong,
Sackater. Ttmbuctoo, Kano and Others, with
from 40, 900 to 900 residents, engaged prin-
cipally In manufactures and as center martS of
trade. And yet the writer compares its people
unfavorably with our NeZ PerceS and GroS-
Yentres Indians.
This writer further declares that to reach the
trade of this rich and populous interior the
only way is by caravans from Tripoli, and up
half a century ago, he would have said that the
proper plan to reach the Mississippi valley was
by Conestoga wagons from Philadelphia, and
keel boats up the Mississippi, Ohio and Mis-
souri, But the true way to reach the Soudan
country is by railroads from the west coast,
which is proven by the many contemplated
railroads from the British and French posses
sions, and Liberia has the shortest and best
route for these.
Liberia has population of about 800, 900, in
GLIDING the newly annexed Kingdom OF Medina,
and with a railroad from Monrovia to western
Soudan and the Niger Valley, she would COM
mand the trade to that vast region. The British
have three lines of steamers from Liverpool to
the West Coast, and one from Hamburg, show
ing what the commerce Is even now without
railroads to the interior, With the latter 1t
would doubtless be enormous, and yet not one
or all Of the powers OF Europe, can ever colonize
Western Africa, as they have not the people
that can endure the climate The United States
have the only population which can live and
thrive in Negroland and thus secure its trade
II our commercial and manufacturing interests
would but assist in the matter. Half a million
of freedmen are considering the subject of re-
moval to Liberia, and large numbers would go
II they were aided In their efforts. Let America
do this and thus reap the reward in a very
large, profitable and permanent trade with
Africa.
When the tariff question is brought up In the
House let some friend OF free trade and fair
play object to the owners of paper mills voting
to keep the duty on wood pulp, and let us see
what they Will do.-N. 7. World.
Why, they will decline to vote, Of course.
Rule VIII Of the new code, recently adopted by
the House. says: Every member