New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-18
FOR 4 RAILWAY IN liberia.
4 RECENT ARRIVAL FROM TIE WEST CoASr
EFpt BI,lC-GROWrU AND PROSPERITY.

! A RECENT ARRIVAL FROM TIE WEST CoASf
EEPvBrlC-GRowrH AND PROSPERITY
| Among the passengers arriving from Europe yes
,c-,,,y was william ". Davis. firm Liberia. the c"l
or,,l republic on the coast 4 africa. Mr. Davis.
h. has to tins country on business connected
with the Lilcrian College. i god specimen ~ tha
Afr,can tSl,c Of somewhat above I'll" me''ium
height, with eyes that Point 10 trarc OF African
blood Of splendid physique and strong face adorned
With beard slightly rinc.d with gray. II c0urtiy man.
nerI. and having an excellent command of words. ne
appears fine representative Of West Coast cirilzar
J ton.
He was asked: What. in your opinion. is tho
financial and industrial condition Of your country y
and H. answered:
Well. In ms opinion. Liberia was never IN
moro prosperous condition than II is at the present.
Tho old conservative spirit which stood out against
the bringing IN Of foreign capital. which would IN
50 many ways help the growth and development ot
the natural resources VI tho county. /, dying OUT
For instance, there ha, been recently franten 10 an
English company franchise 10 manufacture rubber.
whrh grows Wild and In great abundance all through
tho inferior There has also been granted To IN
American COMPANY Of rcnn>vlvana. the right TO
build a railway. which II Is proposed tn extend many
miles into the interior. \ number OF different persons
from Earopc and other parts OF tile world nave long
been making application TO the Government for this
franchise but the American company had the prefer.
Their contract requires that they not Only penn
work at a given time. but are. by rS terms, also
Compelled 70 complete IL before certain date This
railway will be a great boon 10 the country opening
M many parts Of II which are now practically In
accessible
How does your government treat tho question Oh
otucarion''
,ur government II as literally as Is possible
under existing conditions am now IN this country
ON business bcarn. upon the Interests 81 the Lioerin
nll,r there great desire on our part 10 mako
thi, institution II learning. oT' public
school system is not perfect in IT, operation as -
that OF this great country. but VIC are rpw"ne ana IN
time hope 10 be l.c III thu, particular "f cduch-
t,u with the foremost countries Of the world
What. Mr.. DAVIS. Is the attitude OF European Gov
crnmcnt> toward Your government -..-
This is a serious matter. There certainly exists
among my cointrymen q dread that tho inoidinato
rrrd that taken possession of the great European
pwrrs for African lands may cnianecr the perl"tiry
-, ma litctlan Republic. IecauSe. II Germany,
France or England should determine 70 gnbhlc us up
W. coud offer successful resistance II the nt.d
stn,c government however conld lie Induced IL make
demonstration II friendship toward IL. such rs pre-
.cnng us with n small gunoit "a guard our COASTS
ar make all Appropriation for the CONVEYANCE oi emil
grants, who nslt wis, Ia 10 10 Africa. that OF t>clf
,youd insure our prrprtuity. bcsausc no European
row,r would Intention lily incur the dspca>ne OF tho
United states. Then that would also lie '1e means
of solving your negro problem. There are Hundreds
az Thousands nf negroes IN America who are wJunH
Ia Gu to Liberia II they ronld feel assured Of ltS pe~
pctiity aud continued prosperity