The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-08
PROGRESS IN LIBERIA.

While several Southern States are amend
ing their constitutions so as to exclude col
ored men from voting and their statesmen
of self-government, the Republic of Liberia.
in Africa. is slowly but surely working out
its own salvation and giving the lie to the
SANDER regarding the incapacity of the ne
gro for self-government under any circum-
stances. Recent advices from Monrovia- the
capital, state that the presidential. election.
which takes place every four years as regu-
larly and in as orderly manner as that of
the President of the United States. resulted
in the choice of w. d. Coleman. Liberan
adherence to American names and traditions
appears in the fact that Mr.. Coleman was
the candidate Of 1.-The old Wing party and
is popularity known as the 'Plumed knight
of Liberia" His defeated opponent. A. d.
Williams. represented the National Union
party. which in Liberia corresponds 10 our
Democratic party, being opposed to expan-
sion and progress The correspondent who
announces Mr.. Colemans election says "the
Wing party gained sweeping victory" The
new President is American-born. having
emigrated TO Liberia from Kentucky. He
seems to be something of expansionist,
for it is expected that during his administra-
ton the boundary of Liberia will be ex-
tended eastward TO the French Soudan
Capital from Europe and America" says
the correspondent, ''can now find good and
safe investment in Liberian coal and gold
mines. which for many years has been shut
out on account of a narrow foreign policy.
Steps will also be taken to open a new
line of commerce ships sailing direct from
Monrovia to New York" Thus it appears
that Liberia has reached the point of having
some politics of its own, a home and foreign
policy and is beginning to make history. 1t
is still a feeble state. but it has maintained
national existence for nearly three-quar-
tiers of a century and Its independence is
respected by all the European powers.
Owing its origin and establishment TO Amer
leans. and with written constitution and
form Of government modelled closely on that
CT the United States. it is developing on re-
publican lines, and the time may come in
the partition of Africa when it will stand
among many European colonies as the sole
representative of an original free govern
ment by Africans and for Africans. For
many years past II has been and still is ex-
ciusively a negro state. white persons be-
ing forbidden from becoming citizens or
holding property in Liberia. That is wrong
and savors too much of the prescription
practiced toward colored people by the
whites in some of the Southern States. The
better class of Liberians. including nearly all
of those of American birth, in favor of
removing this restriction and admitting
whites at least to trade, make investments
and hold property, If not to vote. They
argue that this would encourage the intro
duction of foreign capital and contribute
to the development OF the country. 1t is not
unlikely this may be part of the platform
on which President Coleman has just been
elected. for as a native born American, he
must know that Liberia would benefit by
the introduction of foreign capital and
enterprise. even though they were controlled
by white men. The only colored Republic in
the world ought to set an example Of liber-
atty in such matters Prescription of COL
| ored men in the United States does not
| justify prescription of white men in Africa.