Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-17
PROGRESS IN LIBERIA
EVERYTHING GOES WELL WITH
THE BLACK REPUBLIC.
Founded by American Philanthropists,
the Nation Maintains Its
Independence.
From the London Tribune.

From the London Tribune.
Mrs French Sheldon. the well-known ex-
plorer author, playwright. doctor, scien-
tist. lecturer and philosopher. mas just re-
turned from six weeks stay In the heart
OF Liberia, the negro republic on the west
coast OF Africa. She has come home de-
lighted with the country and the people.
and In an interview with a representative
of the Tribune yesterday effectually dis
posed OF many popular conceptions of Ii
IBERIA and the Liberians which have been
current in Europe for the last twenty
years.
There is a flavor of romance. not unnjx ID
with pathOs. in the story of this republic
OF negroes, self-governed and self-educated.
which has met and is meeting many trials
and viclsstudes, but contrives in spite of
all to keep its independence, and in many
ways to make strides in civilization worthy
of the Japanese It was started in 1870 by
q number Of American philanthropists as a
sort OF colonial experiment for freed ne
groes who wished TO enjoy political and
social privileges then denied them in the
United States The sum of about three
million dollars was put into the scheme,
and the central idea was that Ii should De
u negro republic. governed entirely by ne
groeso on up-to date American lines. Some b.
900 colOrod immigrants in all were brought
from America Many trials and troubles
inseparablc from such an attempt We're
bravely overcome. but in 1917 the baby
state was cut adrift with all its imperfec-
tons. 1t declared independent, ana
from that date TO this II has fought on
with n courage that caunO; fan TO win al
IniratOn. The magnitude of the task with
which the negro statesmen have had to
grapplc can be 10 some extent gauged from
the size Of the country. 1t has coast me
Of about 800 miles, controls a territory OF
4O.O0p square miles. and has population OF
civilized negroes of from 10000 to SLOW
and a native and warlike population when
IS estimated at 2,oOD,G1.
Little has been heard since the carry
DAVIS Of the scheme about the hand or
emanCiplted slaves who went forth to cut
a country out OF the virgin forests OF west
Africa. Occasionally the man In the street
Is reminded by u brief newspaper para
graph that there is such place as Liberia
but he knows little enough of It's inner
life. Those who have met the people When
trading FOR coffea rubber, plassova "a
fiber used for broom king, palm oil ana
kernels have been wont to speak CT Their
progress as lameutably slow. and their
trade as tending toward stagnation.
A Young Civilized Nation.
Exceptional opportunities of knowing the
people as they actually are have bean en-
loved by Mrs French Sheldon, and she
does not agree with this. LAS a republic.
she SAID. they are mere tifty-eight years
old. and in that short existence the nave
done wonders which none would credit
without seeing. You must remember that
these people. who are all negroes, are no :
like the Japanese. who have grown nom
one thing To another; they started nigh up
the social and JcOnum scale all OF 4 SUD
den. They speak in English cor Americana
keep their accounts In dollars ana Genus,
and have to keep up all the com9h 'ateu
government machinery which has beca the
tF
ross.
''They have a president and vice Dresl-
dent who are elected every two years oS
the most modern system of universal sui
frage secret ballot and all. They have
cabinet. q senate and IS house of representa-
tivcs; chief justices and local maglst a'eS'
supremH courts, courts of common pleas
and utfaftarlv courts. Every town and VII
lare mas its school, and in Monroril. the
capital, there is the West African College
IN praise of which / could not say enough
Bernard Shaw in Liberia.
1.-THE president, Mr.. Arthur Barclay. with
whom I stayed is a brilliant example OF
what the Liberans can do in the way OF
education. He IS man of natural brain
power, an astute statesman and splendidly
educated. He Is a man any president OF
any republic would honor He Is a great
reader knows the worlds Affairs as wen
as we do here. and has every book or mo-
ment Is soon as It IS possible TO get H.
When | arrived / found he had read many
OF the most recent productions including
Mr. Bernard Shaw'S latest. one incident
will suffice to show how much he Is IN
touch with men and things. When en-
tered his house ] was almost dumtoundeu
with establishment TO see over the door tins
motto: Welcome to the foster-mother OF
Salammbo.' My translation OF Salammpo
is known not only by the president but py
MANY others who subsequently expressed
In. tYrsas do For
book into a language they could under
stand Barclay himself is "A man Of IN
tellect and learning. before whom l OFTEN
felt child. He Is the star OF the repuohc,
but there are many more almost his equal
All OF them received the whole of their edu-
cation ~ their own country Barclay was
three when he left America.
Native State Balls.
During my stay l was invited to several
state balls which were dignhed functions,
conducted quite on modern lines. 7 also at
tended banquets, served in courses. The
menu was purely Liberian one, consisting
mostly of eggs and different kinds of fruit.
The people are happy, contented and indus
trious. in spite Of all that has been said OF
the inherent laZiness OF the negro. Every
man has his own house. which he builds
himself. No man would think OF taking a
wife until he could build house. Let II
not be imagined that | am speaking of mud
huts or timber structures. Not at all. The
houses are brick built. with fine verandas,
windows. bed rooms. etc | SAW finer brick
houses in Liberia than in any other place I
have visited in Africa, with the exception
OF the Transyaal.
Capital Wanted.
what they are backward In is the most
up-to-date methods of making the most OF
their productions. I'm order that they may
compete with reasonable expectation oil
profit I'm the open markets of the world
They want money also TO buy certdfn ma
chinery by which they viii be able 60 i'm
prove the value of their exports. They
want more commercial knowledge and q
more satisfactory regulation of their i'm
ports and exports. But they are quick
enough to learn both from teaching and ex-
perience. The president is about to ap-
point two customs officials Europeans OF
Americans. in order thoroughly TO organ
lie the customs departments. One Will be
PAID &1f 200 year and the other $500. The
latter Is more than the presidents own sal
airy, but. although money is very scarce
the government is willing enough to spend
-