Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-31
LIBERIAN REPUBLIC
Its Opportunities as Viewed by an
American Emigrant.
uIAITu Ann nIIMAMn nnNnINInNN
HEALTH AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
School and Church Advantages and
Social Status.
FOR A COLONY


Special Correspond ,nce of Til, Evening Star.
GREENVILLE, Since County, Liberia,
July 3, 1897.
1 left Summertown, Ga, on the 10Th day
of November 1894 for Liberia by way of
New York and Liverpool. l arrived in New
York Saturday, the oath of that month, and
at o'clock pm. of the same day boarded
the steamship "Aurania" of the Cunard
line, which at once sailed, and after de-
lightful voyage of seven days and a few
hours, arrived at Liverpool on Sunday, the
I'd of December. l remained in that city
three days, until Wednesday, the 9Th
when, boarding the steamship "Mandingo'
of the British and African line, we began
our voyage to Monrovia, Liberia. which
was reached, after a pleasant journey of
tWenty-three days, on the 18th of Deem
Der. The distance from Liverpool to Mon
rovia could have been made in fourteen
days. but the "Mandingo'' is a very slow
vessel, and it had cargo for every port be-
tW cen Liverpool and Monrovia, and there
fore had to stop at each.
L was agreeably surprised on reaching
Monrovia, to see its beautiful situation, its
size and the apparent prosperousness of
ITS inhabitants. 1t may well be called 1.-The
brick city of the West Coast of Africa
Many of the houses are well built and as
handsomely furnished as are those of the
well-to-do people of Richmond Charleston
or Savannah. All of them are owned and
occupied by negroes.
Seeking Information.
I remained in Monrovia about three
weeks before coming to Greenville. When
l left America l had no intention of COM
Jig here. In fact l do not think l had
ever heard of Since county before arriving
in Monrovia: but it so happened that when
1 arrived in that city the legislature was
in session, and two weeks later the su-
preme court of the republic convened, so
the opportunity was afforded me of seeing
and conversing with the leading men from
each of the four counties of Liberia, which
was very fortunate for me, because by
having the advantages and disadvantages
which newcomer" might expect to meet
in settling in either of the counties fully
presented l had a very good chance to de-
eide which one of them would be better
suited to myself.
My desire was to settle in county af-
fcIdinS an opportunity to select good gov
eminent lands well situated and adapted
to cultivation, and, at the same time, as
near, or far FROM the seaboard as l should
desire L also desired to settle in coun-
ty where, If l possessed any ability. l
might nave more speedy chance of utiliz-
ing 1t, and also to be where / might have a
fair chance to obtain any position to which
might aspire. Since my full intention in
coming to this country was to be and to do
something for my race, l thought / might
as well settle in place where l should
meet the least hindrance and opposition
and where. if a person possessed any abili,
W, II would be most needed and appre-
c1ated and soonest utilized. After hearing
an the evidence pro and con concerning
the dlnerent counties, and after weighing
1t all carefully, decided in favor of Since
county.
Satisfied With His Choice.
The decision in favor of Since was not
reached because 1t was the most highly
praised for noticed in Liberia the same
spirit that prevails in America; every one
speaks more favorably of his own county
than of that OF his neighbor
When had been here three weeks took
the oath of allegiance to the government
passed the required examination and at
once began the practice of law / was of
course, an attorney before coming here
but this being a foreign country it was
necessary that l should pass an examina-
tion and be duly admitted to the bar, in
accordance with the requirements of the
statute of the country
Fer two years. have been practicing in
all the courts of the republic, except the
supreme court, with success and remunera-
tiOn In order to practice in the supreme
court 1t is necessary that an attorney shall
practice law in the courts of quarter ses-
sions and common pleas of the republic for
the space of two years preceding the time
of applying fer admission thereto When
l had been practicing two years and one
day / made application, and was examined
and admitted to the bar of the supreme
court, which was at the January term Of
this year.
Nominated for Office.
While 1 was in Monrovia, in attendance
upon the supreme court, news reached me
that 1 had been nominated by the whig
Of 80
house of representatives OF the Republic
of Liberia. Our national election was held
the Attn day of May last, and although I
had been here only little over the requi-
site time to make me eligible to the office
of representative, ! received the next to
the highest vote polled in the county, and
was elected.
In the meantime, I have not neglected
farming. This occupation, above all 9TH
ers, is the best reliance of every country,
and more especially Of a new one like this.
1 have bought and paid for fifteen city
lots in Greenville, twelve OF which are
planted out in coffee, and four of them are
bearing. have also bought and paid for
seventy-five acres of farm land, twelve of
which are under cultivation.
Site for a Colony.
I have not drawn my government land
yet. because l have been waiting for the
next colony of immigrants to be sent out
which we are expecting this fall. I have
located beautiful site for a new colony,
just on the other side of Since river op-
posite Greenvilie. This land fronts on the
sea, with the river on the right side. 1t is
three-quarters of a mile nearer to where
all steamers anchor than Greenville is. It's
elevation is quite as high as that of Mon
rovia. and the most eligible location 1 have
seen along the Liberian seacoast. I am
indeed surprised that the first colonists,
who came to Since in 1899, did not settle
there instead of at Greenville. All the land
on that side of the river Is owned by the
government, and is subject to entry by
immigrants.
This is one of the most productive coun-
ties of the republic. and at the same time
is easily accessible and well adapted to
colonization purposes. The natives of this
county are peaceable as any people 1
have ever known, as a general thing quite
as peaceable as the American people are
In fact, SO far as hostility of the natives
is concerned, never give 1t thought,
Climate and Health.
might say word concerning health I
have been great deal more healthy here
than I was in America. It is true that.
in common with everybody else couafpor t<,