Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-13
COLONY OF LIBERIA
HAS GROWN UNDER THIS COUN-
TRY's PROTECTION.

During the Hayes administration 1T was
reported that the French government had
rendered Liberia the privilege of becoming
French protectorate. Secretary of State
William NJ. Evarts instructed the American
minister to France to make full inquiry into
the subject and reminded him that when
1t was considered that the United States
had founded and fostered the nucleus of
native government on the African shores.
and that Liberia. so created. had afforded
field Of emigration and enterprise for the
emancipated Africans of America. who had
not been slow to avail themselves of the
opportunity. 1t was evident that the United
States government must feel a peculiar in
terest in any apparent movement for the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of a great continental
power
year afterward Secretary of State
Evarts notified William. J. Hoppin. at that
time American charge daffatreS In London.
that the United States was not averse to
having the powers know that this country
publicly recognized the peculiar relations
existing between it and the Liberian re-
public. and was prepared to take every
proper step to maintain them"
A Quasi Paternal Relationship.
In 1884 during the Arthur administration
Secretary of State Theodore Frellnghuysen
informed NJ. Roustan the well-remember
minister of France in this country. that
Liberia, though not colony of the
United States began its Independent career
as an offshoot of this country. which bears
to 1t a quasi paternal relationship" This
authorized the government of the United
States to ''interpose It's good offices in any
contest between Liberia and a foreign
state" and a refusal to give the United
States an opportunity to be heard for this
purpose would create an unfavorable I'M
preston on the minds Of the government
and people Of the United States.
During the first Cleveland administration.
on the occasion of reported French ag-
gressions on Liberian territory. the United
States government again stated that Its
relations with the Iiberian republic had not
changed and that 1t still felt justified In
employing Its good offices in the behalf Of
Liberia.
Yet France has actually absorbed vast
portions of Liberian territory. including
the Niger watershed and nearly all that
part of the republic which was established
colony by the state of Maryland, and
which was for fifteen years the independ
ent negro republic Of Maryland.
The present Moroccan situation, with the
certainty that France will soon annex that
country. has directed renewed attention to
her spoliation of Liberia. She has already
done much to diSmember the AfrO-Ameri-
can republic which fathered by the
American people and designed a home
for the blacks of the United States.
If France were to go farther what might
the United States do? Times have changed
since the days in which this country ex-
pressed Its acute interest in the republic in
diplomatic language. and did nothing more.
This nation Is itself in the expansion bust
ness. and doesn't care much where the land
is, If you please nor what country she may
have trouble with to get It, either. The
President has been credited with entire
willingness to have some kind of an inter-
national mix-up. and one would be on IL
Ga int M
off his African first-born.
American Colonization Society.
The American Colonization Society. which
founded Liberia was first proposed at a
meeting held in the Capitol December 4.
1916 Henry Clay presided. The following
New Year day the society was organized.
Justice Bushrod Washington of the United
States Supreme Court was made president.
Robert Finley and Francis Scott Key (of
Star Spangied Banner fame) vice presi |
dents and Elijah Caldwell secretary. Its
ayowed purpose was to establish a home In
4 frica for the free negroes of America of
whom there were about 100000 The So |
cietg received encouragement at once. and |
proceeded so rapidly with its work that as |
early 1871 it had purchased from AFRICAN
chiefs a strip of coast land 1870 miles long
and fixed site for the capital OF Monrovia !
so named for James Monroe. then President
The colony was soon established and inmi- !
grafton began. The society governed through |
directors and supported its offspring loyal !
ly. 1t long. hard struggle Disputes (!
with the British about jurisdiction. quarrels |
and wars with native tribes, sickness and |
disSension fill the early history OF the col |
ony. But immigration continued. and July !
4. 1925. there was a great celebration of |
Independence day. one of the toasts-hav- |
ing what may prove modern Significance
being The Colony of Liberia; may the his |