The Virginia star., 1882-12-23

y
ware aided by the American Colonl-
zation Society, an organization OF
white men torred in the interests
ot African Colonization. The Doctor
interestingly described the terrible
hardships they had to encounter: the
dread malaries of tue awampy west
ern course, the dangerous machlna-
tons of the Spanish. Portuguese and
English slave traders, the artfnliy
kindled prejudices Of the natives; ov-
or all of which they eventually
triumphed, and laid upon the west
coast of Africa the foundation OF
modern Carthage whose Hannibals
shall be spiritual conquerors under
whose sacred banners the hundreds
of millions Of Africa shall enlist In
the great battle for God and humanity.
He said the tribes dwelling along the
coast were in every way inferior to
those dwelling inland, because the
former were corrupted and degradet
bv association with wicked white men.
In a serious onset between one ct
hostile tribes and the young colony
the leader Of the latter was Lott Ca
nv. q former member of the First
African Baptist church. He was at
that time the Governor Of the colony.
They had to go with the trowel in
one hand and the sword in the other
a difficulty between the English ira
ders and the Liberians after conside-
rable reprisal and retaliation on both
sides. resulted in the Liberians
appealing to the English government
for redress which eventuated IN the
recognition Of Liberia as an indepen-
dent nation by England, placing her
on a footing with other nations.
France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and
the United States followed suit. He
said Liberia had all the elements Of
an independent country. 1t compris-
es six hundred miles OF African terri
tory, has President, Vice President,
Cabinet, Legislature and Judiciary.
In adopting the constitution q
clause was inserted prohibiting any
white man from voting or owning real
estate in the Republic. They were
permitted TO hire houses and for a
term Of years to lease land; but had
no. part in the government. This
was done tor self-protection. 1t was
deemed unwise to open way through
suffrage and the acquisition OF prop
erty tor the predominance of the
wealth and politics of Europe in the
government of Liberia.
Ten acres of land is given to every
Negro settler; if married, twenty-five
acres. The Doctor said some who
have taken up land are getting on
remarkably we'll. There are five
steam mills in Liberia, and the
we2lthiest planter is a colored South
Carolinian, who is engaged III the
sugar business.
The Doctor said a steamer arrives
at Liberia once a week, and that
here are three lines of ocean
steamers carrying on commercial
business between Europe and Africa
There are SIX ports of entry, at some
one of which every foreigner is requir
ed by law to enter. Such q vessel
moming at any other than those
specified ports violates the maritime
laws of the Republic. This is done
to prevent smuggling, slave'tradlna
and an evasion of the payment Of the
revenue.
The polished speaker alluded to the
pleasure it afforded him to address
the Colley and Cosby missionary
societies organized for sending the
Gospel INTO the African wilds. He
said there had not been a year since
1920 that some emigrants did not
arrive from the United States. The
stream of immigration, he SAID, was
swelling. He said that there were
tribes in Africa who work iron, gold
weave cotton, etc. The studs he
Wore were made of African gold from
the interior.
DR.. Corey asked the speaker about
what time, did he think, would white
men be allowed to vote in Liberia
The reply was that the question could
probably be answered by the time
Liberia obtained 3O,00O,O00 Negro
4 voters. In reply to another question
he said that the popular conception
of the Desert of Sahara was mytl
Of geographers. In reply to anothe1
question he said that Liberia hat
about Is, 900 voters who were divided
into two parties called respectively
Wings and Republicans.
At the conclusion Of DR.. Blyden'
remarks, DIR. Hoge, the distinguished
pulpit orator was introduced to tn
audience by Rev. Q. Ii. Payne, to-
President of the occasion. Dr. Hog
spoke at some length, praised tn
address of DR.. Blyden saying tina
! there was great deal more OF com
mon sense N it than many peopl
would dream Of He endorsed til
Liberians for refusing to allow tn
whites to vote on the ground Of pc
I. litical self-protection. He said tia
9 he did not believe that two dltferer
J races could rule in the same countr.
the flooding of this country wit