The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-29

17 to IS cents pound to seven to eight
 cents a pound, as the decline in price is
 likely to have a dseouraging effect up- 1 on what appeared to be Q. most pronlis- l ing industry.
 While the earliest settlements of colo
 nists in Liberia were superintendent by
 agents appointed by the United States government and by the American colo
 nization society, and were governed ab-
 solutely by the agents of the society at
 first, and later, the colonists were af | lowed, to participate in their own gov
 ernment gradually as they were found ' competent to do so, the society still re-
 tainfg paramount authority and control, it was, however, from the first the pur- pose of the society to found a free and
 independent negro nationality in the end
 The present territory of Liberia em-
 braces about $50 miles of seacoast and
 extends interiorward toward the Niger river about 200 miles, thus giving an area of about 70,O00 square miles. This
 area affords ample room not only for her present population which may be estimated at about 10000 civilized people, largely of American origin, and 100000 natives but also for any increase of
 population likely to be made for many years to come.
 Liberia has stood as a sovereign ne- gro republic, recognized by al civilized nations, for more than half a century, and in later years has maintained it's independence amid an attempt at the foreible and apparently irresistible par
 titlon of the whole continent Of Africa among the great powers of Europe. During that period there have been 25 presidential terms for two years each. The elections to fill the office have been conducted a regular and orderly man. ner in accordance with the constitution and laws of the land and the IS differ ent incumbents, with solitary excep- tion, have been commendable selections
 men of integrity, and some of them of eminent ability. Liberia has shown higher degree of civilization and ability for self government than any other ne- gro sovereignty on the face of the globe and her record is better than that of most of the Latin and mixed races of Central and South America.
 The government of Liberia is poor, sadly in need of more revenue and thus liable to grant to foreigners unwtse concessions-a monopoly of. her rubber industry, a monopoly Of her much sought for Kroo labor. and a monopoly of her mineral productions, There is danger that she may so heavily and in judicously mortgage her estate that 1t | will eventually lead to a forcible fore closure by some foreign power that will | be glad of legal opportunity to take pos session.
 There is danger that for want of ade- quate means to support a system of | public schools the education of her youth may be neglected and thus illit- | eracy may thrbaten the stability of her government and the industrial prosper ity of her people, Theresis danger also in her weakness and inability to protect all foreigners residing | and transacting business through the scattered and isolated settlements of | her domain in the full and secure en- joyment Of their rights, and that by g failure to do so she may give excuse for by foreign governments f under the plea of protection of their Washington Letter in Brook lyn Eagle.