New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-19


TEREsT on HER DEBTS.
Who will say the American negro is not
capable OF self-government? If such man
exists. let him reflect awhile upon the latest
news from Liberia, and he will probably change
his mind. After twenty-five years OF bank
ruptcy that alleged colony OF America peo-
pied mostly by black men from the Southern
States has paid the interest on her public debt.
That fact alone places the negro republic far
above the plane OF many debt-repudiatng COM
munities who claim a higher degree of civiliza-
ton, but when one learns just how it was done
his respect for the negro intellect grows.
Did the black citizens throw off the crushing
burden Of debt by toiling and moiling in their
own swamps and canebrakes, by taxing heavily
their precarious winnings from the soil or for
est or mine or quarry? Not at all The negro
had enough OF that sort OF enterprise in Amer
lea. He has learned thing two since then.
The money was raised by driving a good, stiff
bargain with an English syndicate that wanted
to exploit the Lberan india rubber fields. The
contract was signed. the white man sweats and
worries and pays his royalties. while the
Liberian swings in his hammock. with the roy
alties pays his debts. and realizes at last the
true meaning OF the word civilization"
SHE BORROWED $4,000
The news Of this satisfactory state of affairs
was contained in a brief dispatch from London,
published tae other day In 1871 Liberia foated
a loan OF 100000 chiefly in England and three
| years later failed to pay the interest. This de-
fault continued for a long time, until an English
concern was formed, called the Liberan Rubber
Syndicate for the purpose of developing the rub
Der industry OF the country. II succeeded so
well that the royalties It pays to the Govern
ment have already practically swept away the
| arrears of interest and have enabled the repub-
| lie TO reduce the rat Of interest from 10 8 per
| cent
This vast improvement in Liberals finances
may cause a change OF tone in those who write
! about the country. II is many years now since
anybody has had a word to say concerning her
except failure" Liberia was founded as col
ony OF free blacks in 1920 by the American COL
onization Society with the idea that many Of
| the liberated slaves Of the United States would
prefer returning to Africa. II was declared an
! Independent state in 1874. and in the following
! year was recognized az such by Great Britain
and France
ROOM FOR A BIG POPULATION.
! II covers about seyeuty-fve thousand square
miles on the west coast Of Africa, in that part Of
1
! wetered being traversed by several considerable
streams. and has immense natural resources
! Cotton is indigenous and Yields two crops year
! Coffee is also Indigenous. and affords leading
article Of export Sugar cane grows in luXu-
! Rance AMI camwocd in unlimited quantities
! Redwood barwood and other dyes are HE"Wise
! plentiful The oil palm is abundant indigo
! ginger arrowroot cacao cocoanuts. pineapples
|
olives tamarlrds lines. oranges and lemons are
among the vegetable products Ivory is Obtain
| able and rich metallic veins are known 10 exist
! Churches and schools were built. and printing
presses set up. Monrova, the capital ana port
! Of the country. soon gave promise of becoming
q busv city The government was formed on
the American model. with president wee
president a Senate and a House OF Representa-
] tives The country could furnish room enough
for the entire negro population of the Onit'd
! States and its natural increase for many gen
erations It's area IS almost equivalent to the
! combined areas Of Massachusetts Connecticut
! Delaware. Hampshire. New-Jcrsey. Rhode
| Island Vermont Maryland and West Virginia,
| and these States support population OF more
! than eight millions. The population Of Liberia
in 1891 was estimated at l.0GS.ooO. Of whom
! $50 600 were classed as aboriginal stock and
| the rest as America Liberians.
ERA OF DEPRESSION.
! For a time the efforts at colonization seemed