Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-04
THE AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
Minister Smiths Sanguine Expectations
Of Liberals Future.

A resident Of this city has received from
Rev. Ezekiel Ezra Smith, United States minis
ter resident and consul-general to that republic,
letter descriptive of Liberia, in which he says:
I'm order to acquaint myself with the condi-
ton Of the people of Liberia, have, during
the five months that I have resided here,
closely observed and studied their customs and
institutions. I have had the pleasure to meet
and converse with, at different times, his excel
lency the president, the members Of his cabi-
net, the chief justice of the supreme court, the
judges and officers Of the lower courts, the diff
ferent members of the two branches of the
national legislature the pastors of many of the
churches OF the various denominations of the
republic, the faculty of the college and leading
educators generally, the merchants, traders,
farmers, and mechanics, all of whom seem
hopeful and speak encouragingly of the future
of Liberia.
''But aside from this class of evidence-testi-
mony OF interested parties, one might say
cheerfally state, in addition thereto what has
passed under my own observation. have Wis
lted many OF the churches and schools here,
and on every occasion have been made to re-
jolce at beholding the skill and ability which
are being put forth through these channels to
disseminate and inculcate those essential re-
quisites of head and heart so necessary to make
man, people. and nation useful and pow
erfuL / have visited, too, the courts of JUS
tice, which / found presided over by men of
ability, with the attendance of an array of able
attorneys. The business of the courts seem to
be dispatched with rapidity and equity. have
had the pleasure also to visit the two branches
of the Legislature, each of which assemblies
transacts its business in such way to i'm
press a looker-on with the fact that its men,
bers are indeed interested in the veal of the
country and anxious to devise such measures
as will inure to the prosperity of its citizens
have visited, at different times, various set
Elements along the 81. Paul river, where the
hand of industry has been diligently at work,
and the once dense forests have been, and are
being. converted Into delightful farms If a
thing Of beauty is joy forever, certainly must
ones joy be endless when once he beholds the
beautiful coffee farms along the st. Paul river.
Many of the owners of these farms live COM
fortably in beautiful brick house, which are
servations have gone the citizens are
struggling manfully to build up a pros
porous people and grand country
When behold the glorious results which have
been achieved here, l am inspired to believe
that there is abundant hope for the future of
Liberia. l have rarely heard sermon or an
address since reaching this city in which there
was not an urgent appeal for greater effort to
be put forth to bring in the native and practi-
cally incorporate him in the body polite. 1
have just returned to-day from Clay Ashland.
a very prosperous settlement some Is miles ND
gathering Of people, the occasion being the
annual meeting of the Providence Baptist asso-
citation. There were delivered during the
session several able and instructive sermons
and addresses. Rev. DIR. E. w. Blyden de-
livered a very fine address on Saturday, the
Sth inst, to a large and appreciative audience.
The address was replete with food for thought.
On Sabbath morning Rev. r. B. Richardson,
the able principal of the Kicks institute,
preached to very large audience an eloquent
and forceful sermon, in which he clearly
pointed out the true line upon which the Afro
American must move in order to do effective
work among the natives. Rev. r. B. Richard
son preached in the afternoon. Such pertinent
discourses delivered at times SO opportune
must surely bear fruit. Both these men were
born here Of American parents. The legisla-
ture is in session, also the quarterly court,
hence the representative men Of the nation are
in the city. The presbytery of West Africa
will convene here on the 18th inst. My in
terest in Liberia and my hopes for great
negro republic increase as grow familiar with
the country and its institutions"