Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-07-29
THE MENACE TO LIBERIA.

otherwise securely appropriated. anu
thus getting an empire many times larger
than that of the latter There now re-
main in that quarter of the globe only
three problems yet 70 be solved: One of
them is the disposition of Morocco,
which concerns this country little
There was time when the reversion of
that crumbling empire seemed likely to
be upon Spain. That time is now past,
and the only apparent contention is be-
tween France and Great Britain, with
the weight of advantage at present some
what on the side of the former. The
second is the disposition of the stretch
of coast from Cape Boiador to Cape
Blanco. over which Spain still exercises
some shadowy sovereignty. la that,
too. we have little interest though we
are powerfully contributing to the
fastening of SPANS inevitable eviction.
On general principles one might suppose
France would get that territory, too.
But it seems probable that whatever
power takes possession of the Canary
Islands will have something to say about
this coast. which lies so near them ;
wherefore the interest of the United
States in the matter may be larger than
on the surface appears.
The third problem is that of Liberia,
and in it this country has much interest.
both practical and sentimental. There
tcan be no doubt that at least two
European powers are casting covetous
glances upon the negro republic and are
actually intriguing to get possession of
it. as they and others have done before
And indeed it is worth coveting. 1t has
a splendid stretch of coast from Sierra
Leone to the French Ivory coast. In
land its boundary against the French
Empire is ill-deined. but its indsputabe
area is about the size of the state of
Kansas. Most of its soil is exceptional
ly productive. and its native inhabitants
comprise by far the best men. Industrial
ly, in all West Africa. The physical
strength of the krOomen is enormous
and their energy and readiness to work
are quite phenomenal In tropical land.
At the same time it must be confessed
that the republic, amid these advantages.
has not prospered as it was hoped it
would. Many of its public men and a
considerable proportion of its citizens
have shown themselves worthy of rank
among the best nations of the world, but
Others have shown deplorable tendency
toward retrogression. Its balance of
trade is usually unfavorabe, its budget
is apt to show deficit, its public debt is
steadily increasing and the interest on it
has not been paid for many years. The
fact is its people do not seem gifted with
the genius of constructive statesman
ship, any more than some white peoples
whose opportunities have been still
more favorable.
We have said that at least two powers
are making advances toward control of
Liberia. Germany has succeeded in one
important stroke. She has made con.
tract under which she is to enjoy a
monopoly of kroomen labor. He
forth any one wishing to employ Kroo-
men will have to apply to a German
agency for them and pay commission
to German official. Seeing that com
merce and industry there are chiefly
dependent upon the kroomen, the sig
nficance of this is apparent. A short
time more will probably see Germany
enjoying almost monopoly of Liberiar
trade. France, on the other hand. has
seemed inclined to make territorial en-
croachments upon Liberia and to seeE
political influence at MonrOvia. Several
times-in 1879, in 1854 and in lSS1-therf
has been reason to think France was
aiming to establish protectorate over
Liberia. In 1892 she made treaty by
which she took a third of Liberals ter
ritory and granted in return certain con
cessons. which soon afterward with
drew, and by which, moreover, she stlp
ulated to respect the independence OF
what was left of Liberia only on condi
ton that Liberia should not ALLEVIATE any
part of her possessions. The implication
is, of course, that if Liberia should cedC
bit of land to the British colony Of
Sierra Leone France would at once
reckon herself free 10 take possession OF
the whole republic. Truly, as we have
hitherto observed NJ. HanOtauX was al
astute diplomat.
1t is not to be supposed that any sucl
extreme step is contemplated however
To what extent Great Britain would. il
case of need, exert her influence in be
half of Llberian independence is matter
of conjecture. The feeling and attitude
of the United States are a matter of un
mistakable record. 1t is to the etlec
that Liberia, although not colony o
the United States, began its Independent
career as an otishOOt of this nation, anC
therefore this quasiparental Relationship
authorizes the United States to lnterpOs'
its good offices in any contest between
Liberia and foreign state; and re
fusal to give the United States a chanc,
to be heard for this purpose would Great,
an unfavOrable impression upon tn
people and government of this country
The policy of the United States in re
spect to Liberia is of so long standing, 5,
consistent and so entirely reasonable