Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-17

The sixty-elghth anniversary meeting Of the
American colonization Society will take place in
this city tomorrow evening This anniversary meet
Ing OF the society will be the most interesting
held for the reason that ali the nations OF Europe
are now striving TO plant colonies I'm NegrOland,
Africa, which our country accomplished success
fully IS years ago. The international Congo con-
ference at Berlin, presided by Prince Bismarck
In which the United States took prominent part,
proves the great desire OF European nations for
African possessions, colonization ard commerce.
They all recognized that colonization is the regen-
Grafton OF the earth, OF which America Is the most
nlustrious example, which they now wish TO emulate
in Africa But it should be distinctly noted that
while European emigrantS cannot live in the Afri-
torrid zone, and hence the United States holds
a commanding advantage in having seven million
African black men precisely adapted 10 these hot
Ralar1al regions OF whom 1t is asserted at least
one million are anxious to return TO the homes
OF their forefathers, If they had the means, which
many Of them will soon have together with greater
facilities for emigration by steam.
Liberia is the largest aGd most successful colony
II blacks In Africa, but needs many colonists
and capitalists 10 develop and extend its rich re-
sources OF tropical products, both OF which our
country possesses in abundance 1t has been truly
called the "Open door, through which to cOlonizC,
oivilze. christianiZe and cOinmerciaiZc the
equatorial regions OF the vast African continent.
Il
the United States, has full nifty million people,
with cities OF from 1000 to 125,O0O inhabitants,
having an excellent agriculture, vast flocks and
herds, some coarse manufactures and IS Ear Better
civilized than the Congo region. To open up this
region, steamship line is needed to carry ont
thousands OF coored emIgrantS yearly, and rail-
road from Liberia 10 the rich and populous interior
OF the Niger and Congo valleys ultimately to cross
the entire continent to the Nile and the Red sea-
1t is argued that nowhere could suplus capital
be better employed to increase Onr depressed COM
merce and furnish an abundant market for our
OrmOus and constantly increasing surplus manu-
features, than in penetrating the rich tropical
gions or Africa, with their two hundred million
half civilized people, wanting nearly all kinds OF
manufactures
Friends OF the library building bill la the House
are on the alert for an opportunity to get that
measure up for action, ana Notwithstanding the
increasing pressure OF business they are hopeful OF
success. The importance OF providing some ade-
quate accommodations for the rapidly growing
library, coupled with the apparent danger OF the
destruction Of its valuable contents by fire. so long
as they remain exposed as at present. are largely
relied upon TO secure favorable consideration of the
bill But the members Of the library committee
are not depending entirely upon the acknowledged
merits OF the bill TO secure for it the consideration
II deserves They have been untiring in their
Efforts TO procure concert OF action among those
who believe in library building. and IN over
coming schemes for the defeat oil the measure engi-
neered by its enemies One of the objections most
frequently heard TO the bill is that the proposed
building Is entirely too costly IL is asserted that
the plan is expensive in unnecessary fancy work;
that plain but substantial building would be
more In accord with the notions and institutions OF
this country. There are some who object to the
site chosen. as requiring too great an outlay, but
none who have yet raised this objection have been
able 10 suggest suitable location that would cost
less money. The Senators who have worked so
unremittingly for suitable library building for
several years past have said that they are not
welded to the plan proposed in the bill. They are
willing to accept anything that Will offer building
commensurate with the importance ard value OF
the library and in keeping with the dignity Of the
nation They would not perhaps assent to d
small or cheap building, but should the House
amend The Gill SO as to provide Tor building OF O.
stately but less costly kind the Senate would In
a probability readily agree to it. The true friends
OF the bill are not disposed to contend for details
They want TO see the great and growing library
conveniently and colHmOdiousiy housed IA a home
o. It's own where the contents viii be accessible to
everybody, and safe from injury or destruction
-
1t is not among the impossibilties that there NAV
be an extra session, and, for number of reasons
such an episode need not be deprecated There
mis.rust representative institutions that the
country IS safe only when its Congress is disbanded
But those VINO look on Congress with more hone
VIII contemplate q spring session with eauanimity
One argument for such session is based on the
principle that legislative body sprlnging from the
people and responsible TO them should undertake
Its functions without long interval OF delay AS
1t Is now, more than year commonly intervenes
between the election OF Congressman ana the be-
ginning
been commented upon a. opposed to the spirit OF
cur laws, and Objectionable The election and the
service should be brought nearer together either
by spring eiecti ons or spring sessions There is
certainly no reason why OF two men elected 10 CO.
ordinate public trusts at the time one should
enter on Office on the fourth Of March and the other
on the first Monday OF the following December
But apart from the abstract questions involved
IL win scarcely be disputed by those at all familiar
with the work now thrust upon Congress that its
ordinary sessions are OF inadequate length TO
enable IL TO cope with It's legitimate business II
is true that much time IS now wasted ana that
more would be If the sessions longer but that
does not argue that Congress should not give itself
q fair chance TO do its work
As 10 the plea that It would be "imprIdent- for
the democrats 10 call Congress together at the be-
ginning Of a new administration. that can be left
10 be settled between those on the one hand who
lay STRESS On the advantageous transaction of the
public business and those. on the other hand who
put FORWARD party advantage as the chief object to
b considered.
Edmund Yates has declined TO appeal his case to
the house OF lords as final tribunal and Will take
MS sentence and serve his four months term of i'm
prisonment FOR libel And, Judging from the cable
account, he might well do So the alleged 1ncar-
ceration is little than the dignifed RET
OF a gentleman OF elegant leisure. His dungeon
cell" Is roomy, light and sumptuousIy furnished:
lie orders his own bill OF fare, and has the finest
foods and wines; he can pass four hours daily with
visitors In unrestrained Intercourse and Is master
OF his own time for the remainder OF the day: he
dresses 10 sun himself and, in short enjoys every
pleasure in life except bicycling and other perpa
tetlc sports.
1t is fair question OF law. We presume. whether
or not his ohense was deserving of Imprisonment.