Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-29
LIBERIA BEes FOR HELP.
The Government Is Hell pless and
Hopeless.

Secretary Root has made an ap-
lpointment to receive Tuesday dele
cation representing the republic Of
Liberia, which has come from West
Africa to ask counsel and aid in the
many troubles which have continuously
beset the efforts to coloniZe the freed
slaves Of America, which began the
latter part of the 18th century. 1t is
admitted officially that Liberia, Is
from the standpoint Of nations, in
practically a helpless and hopeless
condition. Her latest tribulation Is In
effect an ultimatum from England to
maintain a better government.
Although the United States is vir-
tually responsible for the existence Of
Liberia, diplomatic history shows that
this government has hesitated to stand
sponsor for the little republic before
the world.
Thomas Jeffersons name first ap-
pears in the story Of Liberia. In 1871
he advocated the abolition Of slavery
and the colonization of the freed
slaves. In 1900 the governor Of Vir-
ginia, 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 1916 Maryland Joined Virginia
in the undertaking to cOloniZe. In
1919 the slave trade was made statu-
Il, 10 no
following year it was provided by law
that negroes from captured slavers
should be safely removed beyond the
limits of the United States" To car
ry out this act. the government char
tered the ship Elizabeth and made
provision for conveying and settling
in African on a site selected by agents
sent by President Monroe 300 liber-
ated slave trade victims. The offer
of transportation was extended to all
free blacks but the Elizabeth sailed
with only Sc on Febraury 6, 1920.
On reaching the African coast the
natives refused to sell the land they
had agreed to sell, and the agents and
a third Of the colonists died with fe-
ver The next year twenty eight COL
onists were sent out, but the renewed
effort to purchase land failed. This
government then sent DR.. Eli Ayrcs
and the armed naval schooner ALI
gator commanded by Lieut.. Stockton
This effort resulted in the purchase OF
%
and forty broad. with perpetual tenure.
The price paid was miscellaneous as
sortment of trading goods. This pur-
chase Is given as the last direct act
of this government towards the estat-
lishment and maintenance of the set
tlement, although this government sent
from time to time liberated negroes IN
the colony.
1t was in June, 1924, 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-
try established settlements, and the
interests of these independent and
rival settlements clashed from the
first. A federation was effected with
the exception Of Maryland, in Liberia,
in 1887, when a commonwealth was
formed, governed by a board of di-
rectors. 1t possessed no allegiance to
any known power, nor was it recog-
nized by any power as an independ-
ent state 1t soon encountered trouble,
however. when in 1924 it attempted to
collect revenue on imports, Great
Britain objected and ultimately pa
trolled the coast with armed vessels to
enforce customary free trade. Libe-
ria sought the aid Of the United States
and the matter was the subject OF
much correspondence between Wash
ington and London.
1t was on August "a, 1847, that the
republic of Liberia with a constitu-
ton was inaugurated and the repub-
lie was recognized as an Independent
nation.
Then began British and French
boundary disputes, which have been
gradually settled by Liberia humbly
yielding to the demands Of her stronger
opponents.
Just what Is to be the outcome of the
present appeal to the United States
for aid is question upon which OFF,
cials will undertake to throw no light.