Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-14
foreign control unless this government looks

foreign control unless this government looks
after her interests.
hampered i'm les efforts to assist In promot-
ing the work it started for many reasons.
In the first place, its income is not more
than 5000 from fixed investments, and 1t
receives practically no contributions. 1t
owns the building in which its offices are
located In this city, and $4,000 of Its In
vested fund is used for specific educational
purposes. Last year 1t gave pecuniary as
sistance in paying for n passage to Liberia
in three cases. 1t is believed by the Off
GERS of that society that about fifty colored
people leave this country every year for Ii
IBERIA, paying their own expenses. The
great trouble that is found in sending col
onists to Liberia is in getting them estab-
lished, so that they will be self-sustaining.
1t takes twenty-one days to reach Liberia
from New York city via Liverpool the cost
of a steerage passage being s75. But while
the cost of getting a man there Is very
slight, 1t is necessary to take care of him
for considerable period in order to pre-
vent very great suffering.
No doubt is expressed on the part of off,
GERS of the society regarding their ability to
secure practically any number of cOlonists
for Liberia from this country If they were
able to send them out and establish them
in homes. The colored people feel kindly
enough toward colonization In Liberia, and If
any means were adopted to send them there
in great numbers 1t is believed that they
would more readily join In such a move
ment than If only one or two from sec
ciety have found that 1t is very difficult to
get a colored man who will go into new
country and achieve success under anything
like pioneer conditions The society is now
assisting only such colored men in their eff
forts to reach Liberia as it is believed will
be of a special assistance in elevating the
colonists. One of the men they sent last year
was a preacher and teacher, another was
teacher and farmer. the third being
farmer.
Unless constant effort is made to advance
the colonists Of Liberia in education and
all the arts of civilization it is feared they
will go backward, or at least make no prog
ress Up to the present time, however, re-
ports received here indicate that they are
not deteriorating.
The president of Liberia is William David
Coleman, who was born in Kentucky In
1912. His mother was an emigrant to Lii
IBERIA when he was eleven years Of age, and
he was educated at the Presbyterian mis-
sion school for short time, but soon had
to go to work. He is a man of intelligence,
and has for many years served in the con-
gress of Liberia, having been elected presi-
dent for a term of two years, commencing
January, $685.
The WashinEtOnians Interested.
The American Colonization Society is
conducted by well-known men, very large
portion of whom are residents of this city.
Mr.. j. Ormond Wilson, former superintend-
ent of public schools of this city, is secre-
ris is its treasurer. The executive COM
chairman; Rev. A. ]. Huntington, Mr.. J.
Ormond Wilson, Rev. Alexander Mackay-
Smith, Mr.. James l.. Norris and Mr. Josenh
j. Darlington.