Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-30
COLONJsTs FOR LIBERIA.
The Colonization Society Asserts That One
Million Negroes Want to Emigrate.

1
THE PLAN OF ENroRArIoN AND WHAT IT COSTS
| TIE ORIGINAL EXPEDITIONS AND THEIR RE-
sULrs-THE CLIMATE AND SOIL OF LIBERIA
APPROPRIATIONS OF THE COLONIZATION 90
cIKrx.
According to the assertions Of the American
Colonization Society l, oo0, 600 colored people
are seriously looking forward to Q change OF
residence from the United States to Africa
This organization, which has its headquarters
at Washington, created Liberia seventy years
ago and has contributed the greater part Of its
civilized population up to the present, and tits
said that it has never had SO many applics-
tions a. now for passage to that re-
public. They come from all parts OF the
south, and especially from Arkansas and Indian
territory. If there was money at hand for
| the purpose it is claimed that 100, 900 negroes
would accept free transportation to the dark
continent within six months. Many petitions
| have been presented to Congress. seeking ap-
preparations for conveying them in large
numbers to their ancestral cline. Nearly all
Of the departments are constantly applied
to for advice and assistance in the
| same direction. Only the other day Postmaster
General Wanamaker received letter from a
COioT6u dsSOChtlOu III hiSsIselppl ooyihS shab
| there were 1000 members who were ready to
| take advantage Of the first opportunity to emf
gate. In short it is said that there seems to be
| a growing feeling of unrest among citizens Of
African descent in this country.
IN LIBERIA.
There are at present in Liberia q. 900 ne
groes of American birth or paren:age and
1000, 900 natives. Naturally the civilized emil
grants run the country and incidentally the abb
original populati on is being slowly and surely
elevated out Of savagery. The government is
modelled in all essential respects after
that Of the United States, including
president two houses of congress,
supreme court, DC. There are plenty
of schools and churches and ed
rovia. has 5000 inhabitants, 1000 of them be-
ing from America. There are no railways or
horse car lines, but there are excellent shops,
goods for which are imported mostly from
England. Sixty or seventy steamers, some of
them of 1900 tons burden, run for trading
purposes between Liberia and European ports.
THE CLIMATE OF LIBERIA
is very much the same as in the latitude of
Washington. although much more equable, the
thermometer rarely going below GO degrees
and never rising above 80 degrees. People
wear the same clothes as are worn here. The
uncivilized natives are content with
breechclouts, but they are not al
lOWeU 10 come INTO tn0 towns unless
they attire themselves more properly, n
law being strictly enforced on this subject
White people are apt to die of fever in that
country, but it is very healthy for puro-bred
colored folks. For muiattoes it does not do 30
we'll
THE COST OF EMIGRATION.
The Colonization Society sends out as many
emgrants as it has money to pay for. 1t costs
500 to transport and settle one colouist in
Liberia During the year 1891 ia individuals
were carried over. The expense of transporta-
ton is $50 head and $50 more is allowed for
getting a start in the new country. Vessels
are dispatched every spring and fall. Sailing
craft owned by traders are selected for the
purpose because of cheapness. The voyage
occupies thlrty-hve days. Each person Is
advised to carry warm clothing, bedding.
some small furniture, tools, agricultural i'm
PIGMENTS and especially seeds of useful kinds,
including those of common vegetables for the
garden. Ten acres of land are given to each
grown emlgrant, while family re-
ceives twenty-five acres. The prop
erty is conveyed in fee simple and
without a mortgage upon it. Each expedition
sent over forms village by itself. Most of the
colonists become farmers, while mechanics es-
The soil is rich and productive. Coffee is the
most important product. Other notable ones
are sugar, arrowroot. peanuts, peppers. ginger,
oranges, lemons lines. potatoes, beans. car
rots, peas and yams. Bananas are cultivated
SO easily ami supply SO pleatiful a crop Of nu-
trltious food for the labor involved that they
furnish rather an obstacle to industry.
THE FIRST EXHIBITIONS.
The society sent out its first expedition in
1920, soon after it was organized, with Bush
rod Washington president. Transporting
eighty colored people to Sierra Leone, to the
north of what is now Liberia A second expe-
dition dispatched during the next year
sailed on the Shark. commanded by Lieut..
Stockton. with thirty-two emigrants. This
second expedition secured Liberia from its
native proprietors by purchase, the deeds
being made out in the name of the
society. The people who had gone to Sierra
Leone Joined the others and thus the new
African republic was called into existence. In
1S47 the society turned over oil its rights to
the government of Liberia 1t has sent out
altogether about 200 expeditions. For a num-
Der of years 1t owned sailing ship and used
it for the purpose. Two or three per cent Of
the colonists returned to America, but the
rest remain and are content.
THE ORIGINAL OBJECT
Of the American Colonization Society was to
provide homes for the colored people Of the
United States where they could enjoy freedom
and independence. 1t was at first proposed to
establish settlements Of them in the northwes.
territory, where the state of Ohio is now To-
Gated, but it was objected that in the course of
time that part OF the country would come
under domination by the whites. There
fore it was decided to plant the. colonies
in Africa, where the black man would be given
an opportunity to demonstrate his capacity for
self-goverument With this end in view many
people in the south before the war
emancipated their slaves and paid their pass
age out. 1t is at present the belief Of
the society that white prejudice against the
negroes is not at all decreasing in the United
States and that it will last for centuries undi-
minished The dominant race is continually
elbowing the colored people out Of the way.
In Liberia they have no social or other disa-
biiities to contend against.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CURIOSITY.
For forty years the society has had on exhi-
bition at its rooms q very extraordinary curl
osity in tho shape of a skull. 1t is described as
having once belonged to a wild African chief
named Columbia, who made descent with his
tribe upon n village in Liberia for the purpose
of wiping out the emigrants from America
who lived there. He did not approve Of
them, and it was with much Anticipated
pleasure that he brought with him kettles and
other utensils for making a stew of the unfor-
tunate colonists. However, he was defeated
and his Uranium was sent hither to adorn the
| museum OF the society. Perhaps the most re-
markable thing about it is that a naturalist who
examined it the other day recognized it at once
as the skull OF an adult male gorilla.
Getting His Moneys Worth.
ths HOS