The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-25
LIBERALS TROUBLES
SECRETARY ROOT WILL RECEIVE
 A DELEGATION.
in Effort to Coionixe the Freed Slaves of s Ra America


 Washington. May 24.--Secretary Root has made an appointment to receive Tuesday a delegation representing the Republic of Liberia. which has come from the west coast of Africa to ask counsel and aid in the many troubles which have continuously beset the eff fort to colonize the freed slaves of America, which began the latter part of. the eighteenth century. It is ad- mitted oficiaIly that Liberia is, from the standpoint of nations. in practi- cally helpless and hopeless condition. Her latest tribulation is in effect an ultimatim from England to maintain 8 better Governpnent.
 Although tho United States is vir- tualIy responsible for the existence of Liberia, diplomatic history shows that this Government has hesitated to stand sponsor for the little respublic before the world.
 Thomas Jefterson's name first ap- pears in the story of Liberia. Tn I7Sf he advocated the abolition of slavery and the colonization of the freed slaves. Tn 1900 the Governor of Vir- ginfa, directed by the Legislature of his State, took up the question with the President by correspondence. Africa was selected as an appropriate site. and in lsis Maryland joIntd Virginia in the undertaking to colonize. In 1915. the slave trade was made statutory piracy in this country, and the follow ing year 1t was provided by law that negroes from captured slavers should be safely removed beyond the limits of the United states' To carry out this act, the Government chartered the ship Elizab eth and made provisions for conveying and settling in Africa on g site selected by agents sent by Presi- dent Monroe, 300 liberated slave trade victims. The offer of transportation was extended to all free blacks, but the Elizabeth sailed with only eighty six, on Feb. 6, 1920.
 On reaching the African coast, the natives refused to sell the land they had agreed to, and the two agents and a third colonist died with fever. The next year twenty eight colonists were sent out but the renewed effort to pur- chase land failed. This Government then sent Dr. Eli Ayres and the armed naval schooner Alligator. commanded by Lieutenant R. P. Stockton. This effort resulted in thet purchase Of q coast strip of land 130 miles long and forty broad, with perpetual tenure. The price paid was Q miscellaneous as- sortment of trading goods. This pur- chase is given as the last direct act of this Government toward establishment or maintenance of the settlement, al- though this Government sent. from time to time. liberated negroes to the V was in June. .1s24, that the United States steamer Porpoise arrived there with additional colonists and gave the colony the name of Liberia" Several years later, various States of this coun- fry established settlements, and the interest of these independent and rival settlements elashed from the first A federation was affected. with the ex- ception of Maryland, in Liberia, in 1887, when a Commonwealth was formed, governed by Board of Directors. It possessed no allegiance to any known bower nor was 1t recognized by any power as an independent State. It soon encountered trouble, however, when in 1e42 1t attempted to collect revenue on imports. Great Britain ob- tected, and ultimately patrolled the coast with armed vessels to enforce the customary free trade. Liberia sought the aid of the United States and the matter was the subject of much cor respondence between Washington and
 1t was on August 24 1s47. that the Republic of Libera with a constitution. was inaugurated and the republic was recognized as an independent nation.
 Then began the British and French boundary disputes. which have been gradually. settled by Liberia hnmbly yielding to the demands of her strong opponents.
 Just what is to be the outcome of the present appeal to the United States for aid. is a question upon officials will un- dertake fo throw no light