The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-08-05
NEGROES PROMISED LAND.
How June Moore, of York, has Prospered
in Liberia.


in Liberia.
YonKylLLE, July 27.-Twenty-fve
years ago a poor day laborer in the
cotton fields of York County, to-day
merchant prince and one of the lead
ing citizens Of a hourishing little re-
public. Such, in brief, is the romantic
story of June Moore. a negro who left
this country in 1871 for Liberia, and
who is just now making his first trip
back. June is splendid specimen of
physical manhood lie is six feet
high, weighs abouttwo hundred pounds,
and is 50 years of age. Though he
has had but few school advantages he
is very intelligent, a good talkcr, and
seems to be unusually we'll Informed.
| have just had talk with him, and
he has a wonderful story to tell. |
have reason to believe that what he
says is true. For most of it he fur
nishcs the proof, aud notwithstanding
the fact that he is only negro he
does not fail to make an impression
that he is also man.
81 left York" he said, con account
of the Kuklux and went to Liberia
There were 166 in our party, all from
the same section of the county. ".
sailed on the Edith Rose Two or
three died on the way, and thirty-six
grew faint hearted and returned to
America. OF the balance nearly all
are doing we'll, and not one Of them
would be willing to come back to this
country to live.
Moore was we'll dressed in a neat
and substantial outfit from head to
foot. There was in his face and in
his general appearance that which un.
mistakably indicated the we'll to do
business man, and l remarked the
fact.
"Ycs, sir, bless the Lord, I am doing
we'll. When | first went out to Liberia
| had nothing but good health, but
now | am comfortable.
asked him to tell me his story
from his landing in Liberia until now.
He did so willingly.
"When We first went out there, he
commenced, Solomon Hill and my
self-we were partners then, aud have
been partners ever sincc-took up
twenty-five acres of land apiece. The
Government gave it to us. 1t still
gives twenty-five acres to heads of
families and ten acres to single men.
We had no money, so we planted our
land in ginger and coffee, and then
commenced to saw lumber with whip
saw for 80 cents day. After three
years our ginger began to yield little
something, and then after five years
we also began to realize from our cof-
fec. We got a little money ahead and
went into merchandising. AS we were
able we bought land and set out more
coffee trees. We now have fifteen
hundred acres of land apiece, and two
hundred acres of it arc yielding coffee.
This year our coffee crop amounted to
80, 900 pounds, and we have sold it at
10 cents pound. The cost of putting
it on the market is about 5 cents. ln
addition to our coffee plantation We
also have three stores, one at Arthing-
ton, another at Monrovia and another
at Nlillsburg, but our principal place
of business is Monrovia.
Here" said Moore, producing a
small paper box, lis a sample of our
coffee" noticed the unusually large
size of the grain, and asked him if the
coffee was not especially selected for
show. "No," he said, II just took
that out of a bag that | brought home
to my people. | sold two hundred
bags in Liverpool and brought one
home. 1t was to get an American
market for our coffee that | left Liberia.
This is called elephant coffee. We
have been selling it in England and
Germany. 1t is there regarded a.
ranking with the finest in the world.
We have never sold any to this country
direct, but before | 90 back expect
to make arrangements to do so. y
asked Moore about the efficiency
of the Liberiau Government. lie re-
piled
"You would, of course, be willing
to make some allowance for Us on
account of our ignorance, but we will
not ask much allowance. Of course,
you know we have Republic just like
the United States. Our President is
J. }. Chceseman, son of an American
slave, but native Liberian. He is
an able, just and patriotic executive.
There is very little corruption in any
part of the Government, and our pco-
pie are always quick to tear it down
whenever they become convinced of
it's existence. Crime is punished
quickly and surely. Murderers are
usually hanged. 1t is only an ex-
ceptionally clear case of self-defencc
that will warrant an acquittal, and
there is very little distinction between
murder and mansaughter. Where
there seems to be any question the
jury generally calls it murder Our
laws against immortality are very strict.
No man is allowed to have more than
one wife at time, and if a man is
found living in a single-roomed house
with two women he is severely pun
ished for lewdness. Drunkenness is
as common in Liberia as it is here,
but am pleased to say that it is not
more so.
Moore showed photographs Of the
residences of himself and Hill. They
were frame structures, two stories
high and neatly painted. One contains
sixteen rooms, aud the other seventeen.
lie also had photographs Of the wives