The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-07
LIBERIA TROUBLES
NEGROES FIND THEY CANNOT
 GOVERN THEMSELVES.
Country Is Rich In Resources, But Ef- forts are Making to Interest Other Powers in Caring
 For Them.

Last May there appeareo III Waen ington commission of five persons appointed by the government or Liberia. consisting of Dr. c; w. CID son, J. J. Dossen. c: B. Dunbar z; h. Branch and T. J.. R. Falkins; Lney brought credentials. as special envoys with authority to arrange an arpitIG tion treaty between the United states and<Liberia, and to ask this govern msnt to extend prfseetopaIp fSs parpoye Ve of Guaranteeing it's independence and in. tegrity against the encroachments oi powerful European governments.
 The commission was also 1nstructea to solicit the good offices of the United States for securing treaties or arpfra- tion between Liberia on the one Side, and England. Germany and France on the other, so that disputes with those countries, which are liable to arise al any time may be settled in a peaceful manner and not by force.
 Another object of the mission was to ask the President of the United States to loan the government Of Liberia officials from the customs. treasury, postoffice. educational. agri- cultural and police departments to re re- tie republic for an indefinite perioi
 Another purpose of the mission was to induce the United States to assist @ the emigrattion Gt nssrG to bsria for the purpose of developing the re- sources of that country; and the com mission was authorized to offer liberal inducements in the way or lana and concessions.
 The commission was aIso~instructed to arrange for the establishment or regular line of steamers between the United States and Liberia, to De as sisted by subsidies from both govern ments.
 It was also instructed to explain to the chambers of commerce and other commercial bodies in this country the agricultural. industrial and commerciaI advantages of Liberia. and to advertise the opportunities for the cultivation tropical staples. and to offer conces, sions for railways and cart roads anu for working the almost unlimited forests of rubber, mahogany ana otner trees It was also to exploit the min erai resources. as gold and iron are found in abundance.
 The commission came here in May. was formally received by the Presloent and had several interviews with Secre- tary Root and Secretary Bacon, ID which the latter were enlightened on the several points involved in the mis- sion.
 Secretary Root pointed out the i'm. possibility of a protectorate and told the commission that we could not guarantee the independence of any foreign country but pro promise0 seUernmsnt ,u ne with England. France and Germany which was immediately done. |.
 All three of those governments. In reply, gave our ambassadors assur ances that they would not interfere with the independence of Liberia, put each of them urged the cooperation of the United States in the re-organl- zation of the Liberian government TOT TOT an honest administration of the finances and the preservation or oruer. The British government suggested tna' the best thing we could do was 10 ap- point some American to- act as adviser to the President of Liberia similar to the residents" at the courts or the native princes in India Earl Gray also suggested that competent negro lawyers from the United States be sent over to Liberia to act as judges be- cause the native judiciary Is so lamentably incompetent and corrupt. Similar assurances were obtained rom the other European powers. and all of them endeavored to thrust upon the United States the responsibility or looking out for the welfare or the Liberian Republic and the re-organiza- tion of its government.
 Nothing was said about an American naval station in Liberia, although that has been proposed several times in the past It nax9 w9ua souls Is have eas supply and repair station on the other side of the Atlantic, but it Is not believed that the European governments would De climate of Liberia is altogether too hot and unhealthy.
 Secretary Root explained to the Liberian commission that we had no authority to loan their government any of our officials, but recommended that they confer with Booker Washington, Bishop HartzelL R. c. ogden of New York and others who are particularls interested in Liberian affairs. and solicit their cooperation In selecting competent men of experience from the civil service of the United States who would be willing to go over to Liberia, Ir1 6ytc strong colored men from Tuskegee with the capacity for leadership and control to take the lead in developing their resources. and in teaSning aS B the the best advantage. He questioned them closely concerning their boundary dis putes, their financial condition, their revenues. their foreign debt, their in- ternal taxation, and the possibility of constructing roads and other internal improvements. He explained why 1t would not be practicable for our gov. ernment to promote emigration, and told them frankly that there is no pos sibllity of securing a subsidy for the steamship line to Liberia so long as Congress refuses to give even reason = able mail pay to steamships already carrying our commegce to their coun- tries.
 MT. Root talked with them very frankly. gave them some fatherly ad- vice. and finally agreed to recommend the appointment of mixed commission of practical men of business ability and experience to visit Liberia, to ad- wise that government and to report to our Congress some practical plan for assisting that country to improve its condition. MT. Root urged very strongly that the commission get into touch with Americans who have had practical experience in building up government sin Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines. and if possible to in- duce some of them to go to Liberia under contracts, with full authority to re-organize their treasury, customs courts, postoffice, educational, agricul- tural and police departments without depending upon official assistance from this government.
 The same commission went to Ger many on a similar errand and with similar results and returned to Liberia without accomplishing anything in the way of practical results.
 There Is not the slightest doubt Of the natural wealth of Liberia. There are magnificent forests Of mahogany and other fine timber that are prac- tically unexplored; the soil will pro- duce the very best of cotton. cocoa and coffee, but the people are too lazy to work 1t, and the little that is pro- There are all kinds of medicinal plants waiting to be gathered. Gum copal. which Is the largest source or revenue for tbe South Sea Islands, Is abundant. hut is not gathered at all and the rubber industry, which. as stated in former letter, Is in the hands of Ger man company. makes no monopoly or for whatever they may bring in from the government forests
 There are no roads, there are no vehicles and none of the conveniences