The Daily Missoulian., 1909-06-07
L|BER|AN COMMITTEE
IS GREETED
UNITED STATES COMMISSION AR
RlvEs TO INVESTIGATE
CONDITIONS.

Monrovia, Liberia, June Ga srea,
public demonstration attended the
landing Of the United States Liberian
commission which is TO investigate
conditions in the African republic. The
United States cruisers which conveyed
the commission to Liberia was forced
to anchor three miles off the coast and
the commission was conveyed in small
boats to the government WharVes.
President Arthur Barclay headed the
reception committee appointed to GO
honor to the distinguished visitors.
They We're taken to the official resi-
dence of President Barclay, the White
House of Liberia. Ernest Lyons, The
United States consul general at Mon
rovia, welcomed them to the American
legation, which is one of the most at
tractive residences in the capital city
Every effort will be made to show the
needs of Liberia to the commission in
the hope of interesting them in behalf
Of the little republic. which is really
the offspring of United States philan-
thropy
Liberia certainly needs help. This
little country, with it's $50 miles or
coast line extending into the interior
from $50 to 800 miles, was founded In
1892 by few American philanthro-
psts They organized under the name
of the American Colonization society
for the express purpose of planting a
colony in Africa whittier negroes in
America who might become free might
he sent, with the object Of rearine In
fo4 h1ic V.
Among the prominent men hack Of the
society We're Henry CLAW, General Fen,
ton Mercer. Judge Bushrod Washins-
ton Of Virginia. and it was carried on
Wit, the sunnort of many of America' $
foremost citizens, I'm 1S4T the 1jherlan
colonies. which UP To this date had
been governed as the commonwealth
Of iberia under the tutc'aee Of the
foreign society, was forced to assume
the status of an indenendent state in
order to enforce its laws and protect
its interest AGAINST FOREIGN aggressions.
Since that time America and Amer'-
cans have apparently taken little in
te~est in this African offspring. The
ncgrn slaves who We're sent over We're
entirely untitled for self government
a-d the wonder is that the republic
has survived at all, At matter of
fact, Nonrovia. the capital city, nos
sesses many attractive homes and does
a considerable commerce, has two
newspapers and a college.
+ Dossen LII. D., associate justice
of the snnrene court and vice preSi-
dent of Liberia has stated the position
of this African colony very clearly. He
saws:
"An7org the most urgent needs Of
Liberia is that of immigration. A
country with ar area of nearly $4,000
square miles and civilized and grow
i~~ nopu'ation estim moted at nearly
10000 is an extraordinary spectacle
We need immieraton to build ur
was+e n'aces md IN plant strong and
industrial centnrs in the rich virgin
hiack land We need accession tc
plant Christian civilization in opr re-
mote inland end to teach the 20o0000
Industrial ponulation the peaceful pur-
suits of western civilization"
Liberia "a rich il aericultnral lands
timber lands and mines. ard If it con'a
he properly develoned and riven the
it,,netus neceesa~ for steady indus :
TRIAL growth the United States NAV vet
have iust c>use 10 ha proud Of the
black republic of Liberia.