The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-15


nf self government by pure blacks
i without white interference.
English is the official language
spoken.
Tho constitution Is modelled
after that Of United States. The
: flag Is red, white and blue, fol-
lowing the American design.
White men cannot vote or hold
office.
Liberia has college and many
Protestant churches.
Its capital is MonrOvia, a town
Of 5000, named for President
Monroe.
Liberia is about as large as
Indiana.
MONROvIA, Liberia, March 10.
The senate of the independent
Republic of Liberia was discuss
ing grave question of foreign re-
lations.
War was raging between Rus
MA and Japan. The debate was:
Shall the Independent republic OF
Liberia offer its moral support to
Japan as against tyrannous Rus
nia?
1t was most heated discussion,
and senators little needed SO triv-
/ ial thing as battle then in
prOgress between their own gov
ernment police and tribe of re-
bellious natives almost in the out
Dkfrts of the capital, Monrovia.
But the debate ended in victory
for conservatism. The senate voted
that the Independent republic of
Liberia should observe the strict
est neutrality in the Russo-Jap-
anese struggle.
And now in 1909, the question
Il Shall the United States back
the Independent, comic, opera re-
public of Liberia in playing that
II is a nation. President Roosevelt
has asked congress to appropriate
money for a commission to inves-
figate conditions in the little Eng
Hsh-speaking, black country on
the northwest coast of Africa. He
wants the commission to report to
congress whether the United
States should act as a protector
of the present order of things or
whether it would better for
Liberia and its people to be abb
1orbed by the European nations,
who are doing things in the dark
continent.
1t must be admitted that Liberia
Is in q bad way. A half million
dollar debt with z per cent interest
hangs over the county. Three pay
ments only have been made, the
last one in 1874. Great Britain
holds the mortgage, and is getting
FESTIVE, as debtors do.
The country hasn't developed
1ndnstrially great lumber, mining
and tropical farm possibilities are
untouched. 1t is the hottest coun-
try In the world, bar none.
Roads have been neglected, and
sickness menaces the country. TheI
inland tribes despise the more civ
flied people who run the govern
ment, The country's population
measures 1 100000 souls. OF these
some $4,000 to $4,000 are civil
HEED.
Externally English colonies on
the north and French on the south |
menace the troubled colony.
Boundary disputes are frequent.
Only the fear of Americas dis
pleasure has prevented annexation
or Acknowledgement long ago.
The founding of Liberia was a
deposit in the conscience fund for
United States, anyway. The Amer
lean Colonization society, organ
lied In 1910 or so, thought the
negroes ought to be all freed in
time and sent back to Africa, so a
start was made in 1917, when the
site of Liberia was chosen. Freed
American negroes and negroes
from the West Indies were sent
over, Monrovia, the capital, was
built and matters were flourishing
for a time. In 1S47 Liberia de-
clared its independence as a coal
black republic and was recogniz-
ed as such by all powers.
Since that time there has been
little doing. Nobody wanted to |
work. 1t was awful hot there, |
nearly under the equator. The
more intelligent went to congress
and held offices. The rest titled
. little soil and Just existed. An
attempt was made to induce thei
naked natives to do the work, but |
that was mighty unsuccessful.
When a president could borrow
money. he did. Congress kept upl
p little play army or military pol
lice, but nobody had any more am
hilton to fight than to work, and
20 the natives didn't allow much
development far from the coast.
The little republic is governed
BY president, whose cabinet isl
elective; o senate of nine MEM
beers and lower house of 10.
Arthur Barclay, a West Indian,
whose father moved to Liberia In
1858, In president. He made al
trip to London several years ago|
20 try to adjust a boundary dis
:pute and was received by the king.
The country is exceptionally fer
tile, but the only development has
been by French, German and Eng
fish exploitation companies. 1t is
= country going to waste, ia the
opinion of West African traders.