Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-13
Plan for Help for the
Negro Republic.
This Government Asked TO
Name a Commission,
Majority Of Liberians Are Descend.
ed from American Negroes.

Washington, d. c., Feb. 12-.Ear-
nest efforts are being made by the adj
mlnlstratlon to secure the appropria-
ton OF $40 600 for the expenses of a.
commission to go to Liberia to make
recommendations as to What Snecific
action on the part of the government
IS desirable that will most aptly render
effective relief to that Republic under
the present critical circumstances.
The necessity for this already has been
set forth in q letter which President
Roosevelt sent to Congress three weeks
ago transmitting report on the sub
Jcct from Secretary Root. Supplemental
70 THIS is q communication received by
Representative Edwin Donby Of the
Foreign Affairs Committee from As
Slstant Secretary of State OLaughlin
presenting additional reasons why the
appropriation for the commission $
work should be made.
This letter says that of the forty or
fifty thousand Liberians, the majority
are descendants Of American Negroes
aud 1t IS the duty of the United States
at least to give the people an cpportu-
nifty to continue to govern themselves
not only because of the great human-
tartan principle involved but because
such action, in some slight degree,
''Wlll Ge an atonement for the brutal
and horrible practices inscparable from
the slave trade, by which Americans at
first benefited and which this govern
ment subsequently took measures to
suppress" Conditions in Liberia are
thus set out: In connection with the
present conditions existing in Liberia,
Consular reports speak of the magnif-
icent agricultural possibilities of the
country. Unfortunately the means of
communication are practically nom
existent, there being only five or six
cart roads in the entire republic, and
horses and mules do not live The
aboriSines are not a troublesome peo-
pie. They are kept in state of peace
and loyalty by gifts, etc, from the
government and produce absolutely
nothing beyond their own food. For
commercial purposes the whole of Ii
IBERIA may be looked upon as a strip of
coast land Of varying width as the
penetration of rivers assists commune
cation, but rarely exceeds thirty or for
ty miles. The I.iberian people are gem
orally very shiftless, very poor, and
constantly pressed in upon by their
French and British neighbors. The
country is absolutely undeveloped as
to its rich hintcrland.
"A comparison of Liberia with the
British colony of Sierra Leone. founded
under exactly the same conditions and
having the same character OF
hiatcrand, establishes that the
territory Of the republic is rich
in possibilities. 1t would be unfortu-
nate for American prestige if we were
to fail a. least to give once more some
real assistance to the republic"
The state Department is very anx-
iCuS that The appropriation be made
promptly in order that the commission
may reach Liberia before the rainy
season starts in. The success of Lii
IBERIA in self government would the
letter argues, give hope and courage
while it's failure would bring dis
enlargement to the entire black race.
If action be not taken. there is no
doubt that Liberia will not be able to
maintain itself much longer: and it
would seem that the inhabitants ought
to have at least another trial, with
some direction from men developed in
civilization. before being cXtinguishcd
as a nationality. and placing upon their
race the opprobrium of being unit to
govern themselves.