The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-06-30
THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA,

A Dishearteneng Picture of Its Condition.
The scheme of colonizing Liberia with
negroes from America originated some
sixty years ago, the American Colonization
society sending out their first company of
eighty-si emigrants in 1920. Short sight
ed philanthropists expected throug ii it a
solution of the American slavery question,
and also the evangelization of western Afri-
ca. The American negroes increased
much more rapidly, however, than
they could be transported, even if slavery
had not been an obstacle to emigration,
many of those vino started for Liberia died
The experiment has assumed more and
more of the utopian phase, with spasmod-
ic leases Of life as interested persons of
some influence have seen fit to associate
themselves With it or speak in it's favor.
In response to the printed statements of
Secretary Coppinger of the American Col
onization society, which would create the
impression that Liberia is the promised
land to which American negroes should
fly, George T. Stetson, of Boston, publish
es counter assertions, backed up by the
testimony of travellers, missionaries and 9TH
ers. From these it seems that 20 of the SO
colonist sent out in 1920, and 81 of 149 emf
grants in 1851 died before they had been in
Africa year; up to 1859 the colonization
society had sent out 10, 900 emigrants at an
had died or LETT the country. In 1S47, when
the republic was formed, the Africans from
America numbered 5000 and the aborigi-
ners 100000, which in 1873 the figures were
respectively $4,000 and FOL 600. 1t is safe
to conclude, therefore, that the republic is
unhealthy for American negroes, at least.
Slavery is also found in Liberia under a
system of Apprenticeship" or "involuntarv
selvitude," which the authorities can not
destroy. William Nesbit, an intelligent
negro, who has returned from Liberia, and
is now notary public at Altoona. Pa, says
slavery, as abject and far more merciless
than is to be found almost any where else, !"
exists there universally" the slaves being
purchased from their parents for from So
to SIS apiece as they become old and big
in the hands of colored people is morked
with incapacity, corruption, mismanage-
ment. and disaster. The republic is financi-
ally bankrupt An English writer, Keith
johnson, an excellent authority on African
matters, said in 1872: in place of having
exercised a civilizing influence on the
natives, tho American negroes seem only
to have relapsed into barbarisn,. The
schools are in most deplorable condi-
tlon, morality at low ebb, and the peo-
pie generally, oppressed with heavy taxes,
are lazy and INDECENT" The Liberia col
lege, established by Christian philantro-
pists from Boston and elsewhere some
years ago, is a failure. and the buildings,
erected at great expense, have been al
lowed to go to ruin. The pay of laborers
is small, while the prices of ife's neces-
saries are high. Domestic animals DO not
thrive in the Liberian climate, and man
has to bear many burdens which in Amer
lea would be placed upon. beasts. Ill feel
ing is also springing up between the
natives and the colonists, and there is
movement among the former to prevent
futher aggressions on their territory.
From present appearances, it seems very
much as if the Liberian colonists, instead
of shedding the bright light of civillza-
ton and Christianity upon their barbarian
neighbors, were drifting into darkness
themselves.