The Washington bee., 1908-06-20

ident J. ]. Dossen, Former President
G. w. Gibson and Charles B. Dun
bar, of the Liberian Bar. together
with their secretaries, T. ]. R. Faux
ner, have been the cynosure of all
eyes in the National Capital this
week.
On Wednesday evening, in com
pany with DR.. Booker T Washing
ton, who has evinced deep interest
in their welfare since their arrival
on these shores,th ENJOYS were Civ
en- a cordial reception by President
Roosevelt at the White House. DR..
Washington came on from Tuskegee
Institute for the express purpose OF
presenting them TO the President,
Secretaries Taft, Root, Wilson, and
other prominent officials of the Unit
ed States Government, and to give
his moral support to the important
mission which brought hem to Am
ericas hospitable soil. The confer
ence at the White House began at
$50 pm, and lasted over an hour.
1t will be remembered that the en-
voys primary purpose in visiting the
United States at this time is to in
woke the good Offices Of this Govern
ment to prevent certain threatened
encroachments by England, France
and Germany upon their territory.
Liberia has been found to be in pos
session of natural resources Of fab
ulOus value and the commercial fore
es of Europe's most powerful nations
are anxious to get hold of valuable
outlying strips, with a view of ex-
plotting them to their own advantage,
and the Liberians fear that the in
tegrity of their republic is thus en-
dangered. The United States have
no legal ground for Intervention, but
the ENJOYS are appealing for our NOR
al assistance and international inf1u-
ence in inducing England, Germany
and France to abandon their policy
of aggression. A purpose scarcely
second in importance in connection
with the future Of Liberia is to lay
before the capitalists of this country
the vast possibilities that lie in the
development of that country's bound
less resources, the building up of
manufacturing plants, and preparing
the republic along industrial and ed
ucational lines to take high place
in the commercial affairs of the
world.
President Roosevelt listened with
the closest attention to the represent
ations of the commission, Vice Pres
ident Dossen setting his case with
remarkable clearness and with dig
nifty and diplomatic graciousness.
The President appeared to be in
tensely interested in the vivid de
scription of the rich agricultural and
mineral resources Of the black re-
prs5lic, and was yisibly impressed
with the attractive picture painted by
the commissioners Of the mutual ben
efts that they thought would certain
ly grow out of the development by
American capital of the broad and
productive rubber, coffee, timber and
cotton lands of their country. The
country has a population OF about
two and one-half million; forty thou
sand are civilized, none are savage,
and the untutored natives, led by the
intelligent and ambitious elemen,,
can be moulded into an industrial
army capable Of making the wilds
OF Liberia a garden of plenty. Mr..
Dossen says with the introduction OF
modern machinery and the training OF
the people in industrial and agricul-
tural pursuits, backed by the neces-
sary funds to finance manufactures
and mines, Liberia would become one
of the most productive spots on the
face of the globe.
After the usual exchange Of cour-
tesies the delegates departed, feeling
assured by the PRESIDENTS sympathetic
manner and numerous evidences Of
warm friendship that they had made
favorable impression upon theChief
Executive, and that they might ex-
pect him to go as far as he could,
with proper regard for international
comfy and diplomatic standards.
Still accompanied by DR.. Wash
ington, the party made a call upon
Secretary Taft at his handsome home
on K street, where a similar warm