The Washington times., 1904-11-13
Social Life There Has a
DebaSing Effect on
Morals.
Dismal Failure of Plans
OF Country'S Bygone
Statesmen.
Minister Ernest Lyon.
Explains Republics
Drawbacks.
4 IBERIA. a republic founded by

((V IBERIA. a republic founded by
black men. reared by black
men, maintained by black
men. which holds out 10 our
hope the brightest prospects,. said Hen
~ Clay, when the colonization OF the
negroes in Africa seemed the only say
Ing grace or the great problem that has
faced the United States for more than a
century.
Social life in Liberia has a degener-
aung effect upon the morals OF white
and black foreigners. Men and women
who came 10 teach have been found
among the victims not only of heather
ism. but or gWanton immortality" saws
Ernest Lyon. United States minister TO
Liberia.
Such IS the verdict pronounced by the
present day upon the dreams OF the
past. When Henry Clay advocated the
return or the American negro 10 Africa
before meeting OF the American Colon
ization Society more than half a cen
tury ago. there was one great stimulus
70 the emigration OF black men from this
country'-slavery. The negro here had
small hope Of advancement socially or
economically. Freedmen and women
were willing 20 80 back 70 the land of
their birth with the hope OF one dav
possessing and governing a country
wholly their own Today this stimulus
does not exist and the negro prefers 10
remain here 10 struggle FOR social equal
ity with the white man. Before the
civil war the American DhilanthropIsts
sent hundreds Of freed men 10 Liberia
the republic founded on the west coast
OF Africa IN 1922 and which remained
under the tutelage of the United States
until 1871 But today the American
Colonization Society. whose headquar-
tiers are stlil located in Washington and
whose president Is now the Right Rev.
Bishop Satterlee, sends but one or two
Immigrants 10 Liberia each year
II is astonishing how quickly the for
eigner degenerates in Africa" said
Minister Lyon. He IS himself con-
sclous or this degeneracy. but is aD-
parentiy pOweriess 10 overcome the
downward tendency. Climatic condi-
lions influence the mental and moral
as Well as the physical and social en-
Vironments. Africa is the home Of some
peculiar maladies; among tine most VIC
lent are the fever. the ulcer the kra-kra. |
and he yaWs. A stranger in coming 10
Africa IS sure 10 have the African
fever or its equivalent, which sometimes
manilests itself Ia an ulcer, which has
been known 10 fasten itself upon the
body with all its hideous consequences /
for more than twelve years. The eli
mate and the fever leave the victim vyith |
his energy gone. his health impaired |
and his viii shattered. Europeans find
IT. necessary 20 make annual trips TO the
Madeira Islands OF 10 the Continent to /
build up the waste places. for which |
there seems 10 be no remedy here"
Civilization, such as ittis, in Liberia |
exists only in a narrow fringe Of land /
along the coast The interior OF the /
country is rarely visited by foreigners or
Liberians. Mr.. Lyon has penetrated 1
farther into the unknown parts OF the f
country than any OF his predecessors. |
Liberia Is nearly as large as Belgium and /
Holland combined. It's population is 4
composed Of American negroes. foreign /
1rs. and unclvllized natives. The last 4
numbering more than a million. fnhabtt /
the interior The United States minis
ter recently made an extensive trip in
land
"Our objective point was Dobblees
Island, said Dir. Lyon, but the annual /
rise of the creeks and rivers rendered
travel difficult, and We were comneIIe5 4
70 end our journey at Kp0ndia Kin tha
site OF an important native town. the
entrance 10 which lies hidden IN a dense
forest.
This town Is about seventy-five miles
northeast Of MOnroyia by straight
line. but the circuitous route which we
were compelled 10 take made the dis
tance 100 miles. This distance viii not /
seem great IN a country where the in
habitants enjoy facilities or travel. bur
in a country where the substitutes for
railroads. electric cars. stages, beasts OF
burden. and all other means Of modern
travel are human beings. IL IS consid-
cradle 10 the traveller. who is compelled
either 10 walk or 10 be carried ia
hammock.
THE traveller who travels b. hammock