The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-12
Our Only COLONY.

dependence may be called colonization.
yet the only colony founded by Americans
under the patronage of the United States
is that of Liberia, now an independent
nation.
The proposition to make the Philippine
Islands an American colony makes timely
and suggestive thu interesting history OF
the African nation. For twenty-five years
it was under the tutelage of the United
States, until finally !, established a gov
eminent of Its own.
1t was early in our history that the
experiment was made. Governor Harper
OF Washington City in 1916 started the
movement which led 10 the formation Of
the American Colonization society. This
society believed that the solution Of the
slavery question was the return OF the
Africans 10 the land OF their birth. In
1882. with the assistance OF the United
States government. it sent out a commits
sion to select site for the colonization
of the American negro upon African soil.
The site of the present nation OF Liberia
was chosen as a suitable spot. and IN
May Of that year a party Of freedmen
who wished TO enjoy the political and
social rights denied them in America set
out for Africa. They landed in Sierra
Leone. where the British had already
made refuge for freed slaves, but, being
looked upon as interlopers. they moved
southwark and settled at the present site
OF Monrovia, the capital. whose name is
in honor of President Monroe.
For twenty-five years the colony remain
ed under the direct patronage Of the Uni
ted States Its governors were white
men sent out by the American COLOMBIA
ton society. and their salaries were paid
by the United States government. As
compensation for this outlay on our part
the Liberians gladly permitted the United
States TO use their harbors and territory
as a place Of refuge for recaptured slaves
taken from vessels engaged in the traf-
fc These, landed upon the free shores
of Liberia, became citizens, and many
of them were among the best in the
colony.
The colony got along very well with
this kind OF government for twenty-five
years. but. on attempting to put into force
their tariff laws, the English traders re-
fused TO recognize them, claiming that
Liberia was not a nation. The colony
had now reached a stage when 1t must
be absolutely under the protection Of the
United States or else independent. The
decision of the United States supreme
court that a slave was a chattel decided
the question. With full knowledge that
subordnation to the United States. while
such decision was recognized as law,
would mean the return Of escaped slaves
10 the United States, the cOlonists, at
the advice of the American Colonization
society. declared themselves Independent
and established republic The provision
was made that only negroes should be
eligible to citizenship, or should be able
TO own real estate.
The constitution was closely modelled
on that of the United States. The govern
ment consists of a president, a senate
and house of representatives, together
with a supreme court. 1t was provided
that there should be militia but no
standing army 10 bring in its wake the
train of revolutions that have occurred
in the South American countries, and
perhaps it is on this account that Ii
IBERIA has been free from internal disOr-
ders. those in South American states be-
ing usually due to the rival ambitions
of military leaders.
Independence dates from July 90, 1Si7
The United States did not approve Of the
proceeding, and withheld recognition from
the new republic. Great Britain was
more kind In lS4s Liberals independ-
ence was recognized by the queens gov
eminent and England presented the in
FAINT nation with man-of-war and as
sisted it in other ways. France follow
ed with recognition and a present of 5000
uniforms for the militia.
The opposition of the slave owners of
the United States was strong enough to
prevent the United States from
granting recognition. and it was not un-
til the war of secession in 1861 that the
I
Yet the influence of the United States
has always been potent in iberia's ar
fairs. The leading men of the republic
have been American negroes or their de-
scendants. and had it not been for Uncle
Sam Liberia would long ago have been
gobbed up by England or Franco. The
negroes sent by the United states as min
listers have always given European pow
ers to understand that the United States
considered Liberia her protcge and would
not tolerate the annexation Of the re-
public to their lands. Despite the pafr0p-
age of the United States. the Liberians
have gradually suffered a loss Of territory.
This has been seized by means of bound4-
~ disputes. the familiar device Of greedy
Europeans. Originally the nation extend
ed from Sherboro to the San Pedro river.
But England has gradually enlarged its
Sierra Leone boundaries and France that
of its Soudan territory until they have
annexed some 12000 square miles Of the
81. 900 which the Iiberians had originally.
The latter secured their land by purchase
OF the natives but pretexts were easy
for France and England. The seizure
made by England IN 1s4 IS typical Brit
ish traders who had settled Ia the Nor n
west Territory refused 10 acknowledge
the sovereignty Of Liberia over the ground
they held. Four British meu-of-war
steamed up to Monroyia in March Of that
year and demanded that President Cor
diner consent to fix the northern bound
arv at the Mamma River. He signed the
treaty. but the senate refused 30 ratfy,
while the government appealed 70 other
powers. The United States alone paid
any attention. and as that was % advise
compliance with English demands there
was nothing else for The republic 20 do
France tried the same trick or two later
occasions. and the last cession of terri
tory 20 France was made IN ls9t
As the only self-g0verning community
OF Africans in Africa liberia occupies
UNIQUE position. The experiment is sac
oessful In that % stands and shows no
prospect q dissolution. Yet * aas failed
in the result intended Now thai p9ii'-
zeal freedom is possible ia the United
States the emigration 20 Liberia has De-
creased for TIE negroes prefer - re-
main here. especially when life i1 Ll1sTi8
iz unpleasant because Of the tropical c.i-
mate. which few American negroes are
able % endure There are but lss1
Arne-sco-I -iher-ans IN the population q
5s5 80 Lacking grafton from Amer
lea the I1bsrlarz have shown a disp5sl-