The morning times., 1895-10-25

If the present programme does not his
carry it is more than probable that within
q few weeks n large delegation, repre-
scnting the INDECENT coiored population
of Washington viii have signed their
names, or affixed their ''cr0ss marks" TO
paper now i'll circulation, which means Il
sea trip to Liberia, otherwise known Us the
''Black Republic" which is situated on
the west coast OF Africa.
James a. Bassiord, Ihilantllrcpist of
Mississippi; EdW ard Green, editor Of the
African Call, and several others, are here
for The y urpose OF securing ernierants Tor
the republic in the far-away dark conti-
nent. They believe that there is q brighter
future in store for the negro In the Land of
his origin, where ilourishing republic
is in healthy existence, governed and IN
habitcd exclusively 10y colored men. They
claim they have many followers in the
South, " no are ready at few days notice
TO start for the tropics, as soon as ways
and means are provided. printed can
Is beng circulated among the negroes IN
Northeast and South Washington. In 1T
are liberal quotations from recent address
OF Mr. J. Ormond Wilson. ON Liberia rs
factor in the progress of the negro race.
HOW LIBERIA ORIGINATED.
The call refers to the colonization soci-
ETY., which owns aud occupies the tall
gray structure on the southwest corner OF
Pennsylvania avenue and Four-and-aThaf
street northwest. 1t says:
"On December 81, 1916, more than sew
cnty-ni years ago, little band OF phiian-
thropic men met in Washington and organ
lied a society having for its object to
colonize, with their consent, the free peo-
pie of color OF this country in Africa or
such other place rs might be deemed cx-
pedient. Among the fifty original MEN,
bers of the American Colonization So
ciety are TO be found names that have
prominent place in the history or the
United States-Henry Clay, Daniel Web
ster, Bushrod Washington, John Ran
dolph OF Roanoke, Fra ncis Key and others.
There was an encouraging response
to the call OF the society; branch orgauiza-
tions sprang up all over the country, and
liberal contributions flowed into the treas
ury. In December, 1921. Lieut.. Robert
+. Stockton. OF the United States Navy.
and Dr. Ely A yTes, agent of the colonial
tion society, obtained by purchase from
King Peter and other African chiefs Cape
Montserrado and n surrounding tract OF
country. eligibly situated on the west coast
of Africa. between the fifth and sixth
degrees of north latitude, nd in January,
1899. small company OF negroes from
the United States Were settled there.
"The colony Of Liberia, thus commenced,
grew in numbers, enlarged its territories
by repeated purchases and treaties, and
wasmanaged and controlledbythcA American
Colonization Society, with headquarters at
Washington, d. c., up to 1917. Then,
with the consent OF the society, 1t declared
its independence and established a national
government, republicl Uniform, andmodeled
after that of the United States, from whence
most OF the colonists had come.
TERRITORIAL ACQUISITIONS.
Addition after addition was made to
its territories until they reached from the
River Galinas, on the northwest, to the
River San Pedro, on the southeast, a dis
tance of between 500 and 200 miles, and
extended back from the sea cosst more than
200 miles TO the Kong Mountains. Liberia
now sta nds there onthe west coast of Africa,
encirclei by the great River Niger, like
sentinel, guarding q door and offering
welcome entrance to all the eNied sons
and daughters of Africa who desire to return
to the only spot in their fatherland not shad-
owed by foreign protectorate.
"Thc significance Of this little negro
republic away out on the west coast OF
sunny Africa is that it offers an asylum
a home-to the brethren of the colonists
who were left behind In the United States;
to the exiled negro wherever found In
other parts of the world, and to the two
hundred millions of aborigines who still
dwell on the great dark continent, the
ancestral home of the race"
Among the original purposes of found
ing Liberia, mentioned in the call, now
being circulated here, are these:
ITO establish state on the coast OF
Africa which eventually should become
powerful instrumentality in Christianizing
and civilizing the dark continent to Sc
cure place where the free people OF
color in the United States could have 4
fair and full opportunity to develop their
highest capacity; to relieve the country OF
a class of people not homogeneous or
desirable"
ITS TERRITORIAL AREA.
The territorial area of Liberia is stated
to be from 10000 TO 15o, 900 square
miles, about twice as large as the New
England States. The climate is agreeable
and healthful for the negro. The soil is OF
the richest and most fertile in the world,
capable of producing, not only everything
grown in the tropics, but many of the
fruits, vegetables and cereals OF the tenn
perate. zones. The population comprises
about 10000 cOloniSts and their descend
ants; members of the Christian church, and
bet wcen 100000 and 1000, 900 pagan
and Mohammedan aborigines-
The public school system OF the little