The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-26
DIPLOMACY OF NEGRO
LEADS TO RAZoRS, PISTOLS AND
SCANDAL IN MONRovIA.
DR." GRASSLAND MUST QUIT.
CAIxE-WALK PRINCIPLES GOVERN
AT LIBERIAN CAPITAL.

Legation Mt MOnrOvia Has Recent
~ Been Run by the Black Min
lister.
Washington, Dec 24.-When the
highly honorable minister of the Unit
ed States of America to the Republic of
Liberia wrote the State Department of
certain happenings which have recent
ly disturbed the peace and serenity of
the legation at Monrovia, Secretary
Hay responded with the request that
he send a true account
The word true in the official COM
munication may not have been under
scored, but in the official mind it was
the feature of the request particularly
empha sized. Without waiting for this
reply however the State Department
officials have informed Grassland that
his resignation is desired.
Affairs at the legation at Monrovia
seem to have been conducted on Geor-
gia cake walk principles. There have
been razors flying through the air.
The United States minister and his
more or less accomplished assistants
have for some time been engaged APP
parently in the merriest of merry wars.
Several reports of these happenings
have come from interested parties to
the State Department and there is
conviction in the official mind that
there is lie out somewhere. Hence the
request sent the minister resident,
who is there to uphold the dignity of
the United States, that he send a true
account of what occurred.
Georgia Negro Wants 1t.
The report of a prospective vacancy
is responsible for the psesence here Of
Sol" William Pledger, who wants
the diplomatic job now held by DR."
J. r. A. Grassland, who. on the diplo-
matte list, bears the title of minister
resident and consul general to Liberia,
and who will have to quit
The coincidence of sensational trou-
bles involving Minister Grassland.
coming at the time of the death Of
former Speaker Reed, recalls the fact
that the one personal request which
Mr.. Reed. then Speaker, and the disap-
pointed candidate for the presidential
nomination, made of President McKin-
ley. This was that Pledger of Geor-
gia be appointed minister to the black
republic on the West Coast of Africa,
over which the United States has as
sumed what might be called a moral
protectorate. President Mckinley saw
fit to turn down this request of Speaker
Reed, and the big fellow never made
another. He felt a warm personal in
terest in Pledger because OF the lat
ter's activity in his behalf in the con-
test for control of the Georgia Repub-
lican delegates to the National Con-
vention in 1896
DisSracefuI Happenings at Legation
President Mckinley appointed 'Dr. f"
Grassland, Missouri negro, to the
coveted place. For some months the
American legation at Monrovia has
been the scene of disgraceful disturb
ances. Not long since Minister Cross
land shot a Brooklyn negro, named
Thomas ]. r. Faulkner, who is under
stood to be an electrical engineer.
Crosslarti In his first report OF the
shooting sent to the State Department.
charged that Faulkner had tried to cut
him with razor. Faulkner, on the
other hand, charges that the minister
attempted to assassinate him. A third
party to this beautiful mix-up at the
legation, which is presumed to stand
as an object lesson to the native Afri-
cans OF the magnificent DEVELOPMENT
or the African citizens under the Stars
ana Stripes, Is James Robert Spur
geon, Kentucky negro, who is secre-
tary OF legation, but whose place haa
Just been taken from him by the Presi-
uehts appointment of George w. Ell
lis OF Kansas. In his reports sent to
the state Department, Secretary Spur-
geon has expressed the opinion that
Dr." Grassland is mentally unbaI-
anced. For fear of the minister. he
cine secretary, therefore. has kent a.
loaded revolver in his desk in the Ie-
CATION office, while the minister has n
miniature arsenal in his own desk in
the next room.
Conflicting Stories.
AS nearly as can be fathoned from
the conflicting reports sent in by the
parties at interest. 1t seems that the
trouble first began when Minister
Grassland established the legation in A
residence Of which Faulkner. the
Brooklyn electrical engineer, who had
gone out there with dusky bride
was the lessee. After while the own
er OF the building, probably at the
suggestion of the minister, decided II
would be good thing to have, the
United states government the lessee
and arrangements were therefore made
by which the lease was transferred to
the minister, while he in turn aubIet
part of II to the Faulkners. who con-
tinued to live there.
Minister Grassland in his report Of
the subsequent trouble, says that the
transfer of the lease made Faulkner
mad and great enmitysdeveloped be-
tween them. He says that Faulkner
did attack him with a deadly weapon.
TO wit. razor. and did cut him and
cut at him" Then the minister put a
bullet In the hide OF Faulkner. who.
however, was considerate enough 10
retain his hold Of life.
This statement of the causes which
led up 10 the trouble does not exactly
accord with the reports contained I'm
certain other papers which have been
sent from Monrovia 10 the department.
IN one OF the letters II ~ asserted that
the shooting was the outcome OF too
enthusiastic attentions paid By the
minister 10 Mrs. Faulkner, which the
husband Was ineonsidsrate enough 70
resent.
HAD other Troubles.
A. n an enraRed husband was not
SUFFICIENT cause fH anxiety Minister
crossiand had other troubles 20 contend
with.
James Robert spureeon has been Gee
rotary ~ legation since Grassland Was
elevated ~ fhf high post ~ minister
ffQrslan1 ana fpufFeou have been car.
ffiQF 90 . deadly ffuf ~ their QeH. n
seems fhat whom Grassland went enf ~
take ehafge % fhe iessti9n b. bseA NJ.