Evening star., 1897-01-19
THE WORK OF A YEAR
Annual Nesting Of the American Ooloni-
y zation Society.
Liberia Preke kents "A Fine Field for Inn
mfEraiiOn-dany Take Adj
vantage of 1t.

| AAAS NeelHlS VI Tie <AAieilSdi Soi-
onfzatfoh Society was held this morning in
the rooms of the society in the Colonization
building, Pennsylvania avenue and AZ
| street. In the5absence of Bishop Potter of
| New York, the president of the society,
| Rev. DR.. Byron Sunderland presided There
| were present as delegates from the Penn
! sylvania Colonization Society Pay Director
| Alexander w. Russell U.S.N.: Arthur N.
| Barton. John w. Dulles ard Gilbert Emley.
Mr.. Isaac T. Smith of the New York
| ciety was present also though not officially
as delegate. The local members present
vere Secretary ]. Ormond Wilson. Treas
trer Reginald Fendall and Rev. DR.. Sum
| derfand, DR.. W. w. Godding and Rev. A.
| }. Huntington. DID,, members of the ex-
&c utfve committee.
The business of the day consisted of the
reading of the annual report by Secretary
| Wilson. the appointment of committees and
| the election of officers.
After the business session a substantial
lunch was served. Committees were ap-
pointed as follows: On education and for
| eign RELATE ns-Dr. Huntir gton and Messrs.
| Dulles and Wilson: on accounts and finance
-Messrs. Dulles ad Wilson and DR.. God
| ding: on auxiliary societies and agencies
| Messrs. Dulles Fendall and Emley; on
| mlSrauon-Messrs. Burton. Wilson and
Emiey; on Observation-Disclosures. Burton.
| Russell nd Emley
| The election of the president and vice
| presidents resulted in the choice of Bishop
Henry c. Potter of New York as president
| Tor the sixth successive term. All the for
the addition of Bishop John F. Hurst of
this city and Mr.. John Welsh Dulles of
| Pennsylvania
The Annual Report.
| The eightieth annual report of the soci-
! ETY., submitted at the meeting today. began
| by paying a tribute to the memory of the
late Thomas G. Addison, DID,, and George
| w. Samson, DID, both of whom were men,
| bers of the executive committee and
| lively identified with the work of the soci-
| ETY.. The report then continued, in part as
| fellows:
| During the past year this society has
| nlade no expenditure account of trans
| portation of emigrants to Liberia. but nev-
! ertheless this years emigration was larger
IMAM X was in any other year for more than
| a quarter of a century. OF the hundreds of
| thousands of negroes in the United States
| IN condition of abject poverty, in the en-
ployment of or wholly dependent uDon 9th
ers, living from hand to mouth. and anx-
| ious to emigrate to Liberia any other
country, it may safely be stated in general
| that neither themselves nor the country to
| which they might go would gain anything
| by the change. Especially is it true that in
! Liberia. a country however boun tifully en-
| doWed by nature where the conditions are
Still primitive, the emigrant not sufficiently
| Intelligent, courageous ard industrious to
| rely upon himself and by the sweat of his
i"te ~ "IeSt MS INlng and fortune from
the SOIL had better remain where he can
! have the menial and subordinate employ
rncnts and assistance found only in co,n-
| tries having the older and more advanced
ciNlllZat16n which produces them. and the
| fact that he has in this country acquired
| the means to pay his own expenses in emf
grating and establishing himself in Liberia
| is the best evidence that he possesses these
entia1zquaiffca tions.
Reliable information has been received
| that not less than 323 negroes have emf
| grated from the Cnited States to Liberia
during the year, who went out of their own
| accord and received no pecuniary assist
ance from this society otherwise Under
| the old system of colonization at the ex-
| pense OF this society. il would have cos:
from $4,000 TO $4,000 to have given these
| 10 persons free transportation to Liberia
| ard support there for six months after
| their arrival. e
! Many of these emigrant; are renortad .S
| pleased with their new homes and doing
vel. "A Few have returned to the United
| safes ana demonstrated their unfitness for
me se!f-rellant. Intelligent and industrious
lie required of pioneer in a new country
ne number OF those who have put their
| ,and TO the plow and looked back however.
mas not been larger than accompanied the
eftlre experience of the colonization of Ii
IBERIA when this society was accustomed n
give coio7ists free passage out and fur
ntsh them with provisions for six months
after their arrival.
successful effort has been made to in
| terest !he younger and better-educated
| generation or negroes Of the United States
| In the welfare of Liberia and the excen
| tional opportunities it now offers to their
| race II they have any aspirations for an
| Independent and prosperous government in
any part OF the great continent of Africa
| winch now is passing rapidly into the
| hands OF the white races. much of it evil
| IDENTIFY to remain Under their control for q
long time to come To one familiar with
the changes that the map has already un-
| dergone. and which are still progressing
| 1t Is clearly evident that Liberia furnishes
| the last chance and hope of accomplishing
SO desirable object
| Under the pressure of the fierce comne
tition and struggle for place in this colln-
| try 1t is quite certain that the increasing
| number of young negroes educated in such
SchoolS Will more and more turn their at
tentlon to Liberia. where their services are
| greatly needed. and where they will not
| be driven to the wall by unequal competi-
| ton with the white race
Liberals commerce is of course a small
affair as get. but 1t Is to be regretted that
! it is almost entirely in the hands of the
| English and Germans whose steamships
on the west coast of Africa touch freuuent-
| ly and regularly at Lberian ports, and
some of whose enterprisng merchants are
| located in the more prominent seaport
towns of the little republic
American goods are preferred by the
| Liberians and are now used to a consider
able extent but they are purchased second
| hand in Liverpool and Hamburg instead
| of New York and Baltimore
In the earlier history of the country traf-
| fc with the native tribes of the hinterlands
| was almost the only occupation from which
the people derived money, but in recent
! years coffee raising has been taking its
| place-an industry requiring but little cap
| ital machinery. and in which the great
| body of her citizens can profitabIy engage.
| An unprejudiced examination Of ali the
| facts will furnish no reason for despairing
| of Liberals future. In no part of the
world has the negro during the same time
| done better If so Well The negroes of Ii
! beria taken as a whole, are today more
| competent for independent self government
! than those of any other part of the world,
more favorable than generally found else
| where.