Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-28
THE FUTURE OF LIBERIA.
rroPosed Changes in the Work of the
American Colonization Society.

now IT IS THOrGHT THE AFRICAN REPUBLIC
MAY BE srRENGrHESEo-BESEFIT OF 4
CLOSER COMMERCIAL UNIoS-TiOw THE MAT
TER OF EMIGRATION ,IIGH5 BE xspE 20 TAXI
CARE OF ITSELF
The November bulletin OF The American
colonization Society announces new and most
important movement in the work Of the society.
HE society has reached the conclusion that its
original and leading purpOse--the improvement
OF the condition Of the comparatively few free
negroes at the time Of its organization-is no
longer the first work Of the society. II believes
that instead Of sending out more coionists to
Liberia its efforts should be devoted to adj
vancing and strengthening the government
of Liberia and Its people. In their November
bulletin the future work Of the society is ex-
planned as follows:
The death of bdsh the president and the sec
Rotary OF the American Colonization Society.
coming so closely together. made II necessary
for its executive committee to give closer per-
sonal attention to the details of the admins
tration of the affairs of the society. and while
mus engaged their investigations led them to
the conclusion that the time had come for max
ing come changes in the agencies to be employed,
the work to be undertaken and the general policy
TO be pGrsued.
When the society was FIST organized domes-
TIC slavery in this country existed in Its full
vlSor. but the foreign slave trade had been
abolished by law. The leading purpose of the
society was to improve the condition of the
comparatively few nCSrOe- who were then free
or might thereafter bcset free by their masters,
and to provide for those recaptured from slave
vessels still pursuing their ne;arOus and at that
time unlawful traffic. Various projects were
deliberately considered. and it finally de-
cided to return them To their native land and
found colony on the west coast of Africa
Hence came Liberia. with H. erentful culmiua-
non IN an independent serubiic. as we find 1t
today. and rs seveniy-Eve years of most inter
esting history.
CHANGED CONDITIONS.
Tho abolition of slavery in the United
States. the Acknowledgement of the negro. the
equal rights and opportunities provided
by Law for him. have changed his environment
10 such an extent that emigration TO land of
freedom is no longer the Indispensable requisite
10 the improvement OF his condition that u
IN the earlier DAYS Of colonization. But no
legislation can abolish race prejudice and social
discrimination. and il Is believed that the
negro can have q freedom for development in
Liberia which no laws. however Just or favor
able, VIII secure 10 him i'll this country. But
aside from this ought not the success or failure
of Liberia to be matter of especial interest to
the negro IN whatever country he may choose
20 make his home? Is not the civilized world
interested in the result of the experiment she is
making; shall Ii be said for centuries to come
that the negro race in and of itself is inherently
incapable OF taking place among the nations
founded by other races of rnanhind> Shall
Liberia be pointed to another evidence OF
the inferiority and incapaci:y Of the negro?
How can the more Intelligent negroes Of the
United States expect to overcome the prejudice
here. OF which thew so bitterly complain. if the
"a " here 81 he ~iC apI
eiaIy in Africa its ancestral home for centuries.
Is forever to be IN a state OF barbarsIn. anarchy
or serylle dependence on nations who claim
racial superiority!
The American Colonization Society is not
now engaged III the work OF soliciting or slim
ulating the emigration OF negroes FROM he
United States to Liberia. u has ON its records
at this time many thousand applicants for pas
sage. while II has the means to assist but a very
small fraction Of this number.
How BEST TO HELP LIBERIA
In the present judgment of its executive
committee, even if it had the means. it would
no. be wise TO send out many of these appli-
Giants. for they do not answer Lord Bacon's de-
scripticn of good co!onists nor are thew the
material which Liberia nov needs to develop
her resources and strengthen her as a weak
young nation.
Blu: this society. encouraged and aided by the
government of the United States. having
founded the colony out of which Liberia has
developed. Is now bound by the highest moral
obligations to stand BY its progeny and give it
all the aid and support in its power.
Under these circumstances the point Of view
Is changed and the question. how can the
society best help strengthen Liberia and comes
TO the 'front.'
OF cou-se the work of the society under its
Charter must continue TO be essentially COLOMBIA
ton. but this can be carried on with less refer
ence TO the pressing opportunities Of appE-
ceEts and more regard to the wants of Liberia;
in other words the word Of the society NAV
hereafter wisely be colonization for the sake OF
African civilization. And aside from the
pecuniary aid which the society may be able to
AFFORD emigrau:s il has an important field Of use
fuluess il supervising and guiding emigration
from this country to Liberia for MANI years to
come.
THE PLANS FOR TEE FUTURE.
A brief statement of the views of the execu-
tive committee may be summarized as follows
l. Colonists hereafter TO be selected with spe-
cial reference TO the needs Of Liberia and to be
located there with more care and 10 better adj
vantage TO themselves.
2 Funds held in trust for education to be ap-
Piled IN WAYS to stimulate the Liberian govern
ment to more energetic action In establishing
and fostering a system of public schools rather
than TO the support Of inder endent schools.
D. To and Ia collecting and diffusing more full
and reliable information about Liberia.
4. To promote IN every possible way the es-
tablishIES OF more direct. freqCeu. and quicker
communication between the nited States and
Liberia Direct steam communication i now
the pressing need, and 1t Is believed 10 be
practicable solely from commercial point Of
view. There now steamers running to
Africa from Hamburg. Hsyre. Narcotics
Cadz and Lisbon, and two week-sOne as
large as 1909 tC.s-leaNe liverpool alone for
the west coast Of Africa. Surely here Is Il field
for commerce worth the attention of CONNER
cial capitalists in the nlted states
:. The chief end OF the work OF the society
TO be III the line of enabling and stimulating
Liberia to depeud less and less upon others and
more and more upon herself.
Under the pressure Of a Cishearteniuc and in
creasing competition The time i coming when.
L. obedience to one OF the srca; Laws Of our ma
tI-e. the more intelligent negroes OF the United
State. IN larger numbers. will cone under
the efficient motive which propcls man to ali
enterprises desire to better his condition"
ard they will turn their faces toward the land
whence they came. When quicker and cheat,er
communication il acconp!i- ned a. il surely
Will be at no Ill .tant day. and the Passage can
b. made in eight or ten days. instead Of taking
. month as 1t now does and the people of the
two countries can communicate back and forth
at short intervals. colonization will begin 10
take care of itself and Liberia will receive A
fresh and powerful impulse. The great gain in