Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-12
L|BER|ANS MAKE PLEA
Ask Material Assistance in
Developing Resources.
TURN TO UNITED STATES
ENJOYS Speak Before Large Audi
ence of Their Race.
WASHINGTON GIVES APPROVAL
Declares Their Cause Is Cause Of
Brothers in America and
Praises Delegates.
WASHINGTON GIVES APPROVAL

PRAISES Oe1e20teS.
That the colored race throughout Amer
; lea manifest a deeper and more material
interest in the welfare of Liberia was the
theme that held the attention for two
hours and half Of a large audience Of
Washington's colored population last
night
Addresses were made by the five ENJOYS
of the African republic in this city, who
discussed the past difficulties, the future
hopes and the vast business possibilities
in their land
The meeting was presided over by
Booker T. Washington and held under
the auspices Of the Washington Negro
Business League at the Lincoln Temple
Memorial Congregational Church, 18th
and r streets.
Throughout yesterday the ENJOYS spent
an arduous day Of work. visiting the
White House. the State, War and Agri-
cultural departments. They were under
the guidance of Booker T. Washington.
Mission Endorsed by DR.. Washington
Preparatory to introducing the several
Liberian visitors, DR.. Washington made
a short address,
| i am glad to be with you tonight and
help welcome these estimable and lovable
| men from Africa" said the Alabama edu-
| Gator. They are here in Washington on
| an official VISIT not merely as ENJOYS of
their land. but as representatives of the
entire negro race. To d vast degree we
are deeply interested in affairs affecting
them, as they must necessarily be inter-
ested in our welfare and advancement.
ITO large degree their success is our
success and their failure is our failure.
that degree does the race succeed. And If
their country fails, so much in that de-
gree does the race fail
| They need the support they ask for.
and should have it for the reasons men
toned: Their mission here is a noble one.
| 1T Is qualification to note and real
| lie how well these men have been re-
ceived here in Washington. the cordial
which their pleas have been listened to
| and the interest manifested in their mis-
| sion. which l trust will be realized to it's
fullest extent. These men have been to
| the Agricultural Department and other
divisions of our government and their
welcome has been pleasing and cordial
personally 1 have never met in the
| comparatively short time that I have
| been with them more lovable or more
genuine men. Each of them has en-
oeared himself to me by his zeal. his
faith. his affection for and in his coun-
SS,
They have found deep and lasting place
in my affections
ENJOYS Explain Their Cause.
Following Dr. WASHINGTON. the envoys,
James j. Dawson. vice president of the
republic; G. ". Gibson. formerly prest-
dent and for many years secretary of
state in Liberia; Charles B. Dunbar.
lawyer; c. NJ Faulkner, a civil engineer.
and c. r. Branch. secretary Of the mis-
sion, were introduced and spoke upon
| their African home and its possibilities.
After the primary object of the ENJOYS
visit to America was outlined, a terri
torial description was given Of the coun-
| try. the form Of government, modelled
| after that Of the United States and a re-
| sumo OF the resources. The lack Of in
dustrial development was dwelt upon also
| and the ENJOYS endeavored to show the
vast opportunities for the profitable in
vestment Of large amounts of capital
The ENJOYS pleaded for q closer bond
of union between the colored people of
America and the citizens Of Liberia This
oond they asserted would create a deeper
and kindlier feeling for Liberia in
and would tend to revive the interest In
| the country formerly held by American
people for the success of the republic
when American negroes were first sent
out to colonize the fertile strip of land
| on the west African coast.
Capital Needed to Develop Trade.
With a stronger bond between the two
countries, the ENJOYS stated. would come
the revival of trade with the United
States. which was greatly longed for by
the citizens of the republic. and the in
vestment of American capital in the coun-
| try. The Liberians stated that practical
ly no Industrial advancement had been
made In the country because Of the ma
tional poverty, and there were opportuni-
ties for profitable investment of small or
large sums of money. In marketing the
natural resources of the land, such as
ivory. ginger. coffee. tropical fruits, ma
hogany and the palm and bamboo prod
ucts.
AS indicating the need of industrial de-
veiopment. the ENJOYS stated that none
OF the natural resources of the country
could at present be profitably marketed
further In the interior than from thirty
five to forty miles because of the enor-
ed the country needed railroads. steam
boat transportation and Industrial manu-
factories. all Of which would mean i'm
mediate profits to the investor.
In speaking of the internal affairs of
their land. the ENJOYS asserted that
though their government had not made
any vast strides toward national improve
ment. the country and purposes of the
founders of the republic had not been q
failure. All needed now was capital to
drive them further on the path of ad-
vancement. They stated that one fourth
of the public revenue was devoted I, edu-
cation and the civilization Of the abo-
rhymes, both meeting with pronounced
success.
The ENJOYS ended by making earnest
pleas for more material interest in their
country on the part OF all Americans.
concerted efforts that they might take
| the fullest advantage of internal business
opportunities offered and divert the for
| eign trade of the country, controlled at
present by the English. Germans, Dutch
| and Portuguese.
| They stated they turned to America.
| their mother country. for the material
| aid so much needed for the paternaI in
| terest she has shown the country in the
| past and for the interest tbov honoS