The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-07-10
Condition of Liberia.

built up by philanthropic men, and
intended to furnish the negro with a
home where he should enjoy liberty
and self-government, it would appear
is in considerable trouble. It is more
than fifteen years ago since its legis-
lature seemed to imbibe the doctrine
from the United States that ga nation
al debt is a national blessing" au-
thorized President Royl to go to
England and contract loan of half
a million dollars. Royal and his cab
met appropriated the money to their
own use. The debt, with the unpaid
interest, now amounts to over a mil
lion of dollars, and the English cred
itors have recently begun to ''rise in
demand for their delay, and the poor
Liberians, not being able either to
pay or stand off the amount any
longer, are filled with the most gloomy
forebodings.
The English have already several
trading stations within the borders
of the Republic and manage to keep
up state of hostility, if not of actual
warfare, the greater part of the time
between the colonists and the native
tribes of the interior. The expenses
of these wars consume what little
revenue might be devoted to paying
the interest on the national debt, and
prevents to greater extent the de-
velopment of the country.
England has already acquired some
$4,000 square miles of territory
which was claimed by Liberia, and
the people are in constant dread that
she viii take possession of the capital
Itself and obliterate the Republic
from the list of nations.
According to recentreports Liberia
is much richer country SO far as
natural wealth is concerned than has
been heretofore supposed. Its fertile
soil, tropical vegetation, rivers almost
literally alive with fish and pastures
stocked with game and cattle are
some of its features. Besides the
mountains on the Eastern frontiers
are said to be full not only of the
richest iron and copper ore, but of
the native precious metals as WE'LL
The native tribes obtain considerable
quantities of gold by the rudest
methods of mining and refining,
and they barter large stores of ivory
and palm oil to the traders. These
riches are temptations which England
cannot long withstand, and if she
does not take possession Of the terri
tority absolutely, she will probably
assume a control of Liberian affairs
that will throw the rich resources of
the country into the hands of her
agents.
English control might result very
benefcially to Liberia If there was
any probability that the Republic
would be able in ten or twenty years
to pay the debt and become again
independent. England would see to
it, however, that her claims should be
permanently riyeted on the colonists.
Claims for expenses of government
defense, damages to various interests
would never cease.
Probably the best thing for the
liberty of Liberia would be for the
Colonization Society, that founded the
Republic and governed it for so many
years, to again take it in charge, pay
the debt and control the destinies of
the country until the negroes show a
much greater capacity for self-govern-
ment under the advice, if not the
absolute control, of those Americans
who have heretofore taken SO much
interest in its welfare.
The gratuitous interference of our
government in African affairs would
be matter of doubtful propriety.-
We have a suficiecy of vexed, and
perhaps dangerous, questions to deal