The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1909-10-14
lyon
BACK FROM ;AF1sICA TO Help
-, \ BRErIIREN. -. ..TITl
diplomat Spoken OF Very Highly by
:. Southern Writer Who Has Been
Studying Conditions on Ozark
>COntinent.'', F. n,
(By Horace d. slatter.)

nest Lyon, American, Mtnister-Resi-
dent and Consult GENERAL to Liberia
Is again at his home, after an alb
sence of six years, representing
america at the Liberiah Republic.
Dr. Lyon seems to haye. filed his
post with satisfaction tosthe Depart
ment of State, and Of course with a
great deal Of credit upon his fellows
In America. d. He has worked himself
up to commanding position among
the Librarian diplomats and Accord
ing to reports : from the Liberian
Register, is held in high esteem by
the Liberian officials.
Edgar Allen Forbes a Southern
man and writer Of considerable
experience, spent several months in
Africa making Investigations first
hand Of the real conditions A con-
siderable portion of The time was
spent in Liberia, He was there lust
as the threatened trouble between
Liberia and the British authorities
was at its near crisis, which was
only overshadowed by the report of
the coming of the american Commits
sion. Mr.. Forbes I'm October Worlds
Work makes some pertinent remarks
with reference to ~America's duty to-
wards Liberia. ; and significantly
points out the fact that the desper-
ate fight Liberia has waged for ex-
tstence the last few months, not be-
cause Of organic weakness or inter-
nal agitation, but because the time
had apparently come for Great Brit
ain to take advantage of the strong
hold it had upon the Liberian finan-
ces. -.
More significant still, is the won
derful tribute Mr.! Forbes pays to
DR.. Lyon, whota hive declares is the
recognized head of all the Americans
In Liberia. Wish, reference to DR.,
Lyon, Mr. ForBag. said: 4j51.. ~. ;.,.:..
AS q rule, Am ieanD T Gf III a5,m at
and, consular officers occupy a very
small place in the political and So
cial life Of African cities, but in
Monrovia the representative OF the
United States Is the big man among
the legations. His residence Is in
the most conspicuous location; he Is
the only. foreign representative above
consular rank-but he is the Ameri-
can Ministe, which Is the main thing.
Himself q colored man Of ripe
experience and wide culture, and an
official of strict rectitude, the lead
ers Of the Liberian government have
long leaned upon him as a friend in
hours Of perplexity, and he has shar-
ed their confidence to greater de-
gree than any other foreigner in the
Republic. He knows nearly every
body OF prominence In the entire
country and has travelled through
the interior more widely than the
President himself. Everybody knows
him and nearly everybody likes him.
Through all the years of his service,
he has retained his energetic and
systematic habits Of work, and has
kept the State Department. regular
ly Informed Of every event In the
recent history Of Liberia as it I'M
folded.
He fills a difficult post-one
where life .is lonely and health un-
certain. Within the last year, he
was called upon to pay toll to Afri-
can service in the loss Of his accom-
plished wife, and the West Coast
fever Is as frequent a visitor In his
home as Is the gippe' In America.
IT the visit Of the American Com
misstoners results in preserving Ii
beria's Independence, much Of the
credit belongs to DR.. Lyon. Presi-
dent Barclay apparently recognized
this national obligation, when he
conferred upon him recently the Or
der Of African Redemption. But the
visit Of the American Commission,
rather than the decoration, is the
contamination Of Dr. Lyons long
service. 1t has been his privilege to
watch the development, step by step,
Of series Of international events
that led up to the gravest crisis in
the modern history Of the Republic,
and it was his pleasure to share in
the general JOY that the coming Of
the American ministers brought to
Monrovia."
DR. Lyon comes to America on a
furlough, but it is thought of course
that he will give much information,
first hand on Liberian conditions
and relations to tie authorities Of
the State Department, when the re-
port of the commission is formally
presented He will avail himself of
the opportunity, while here to visit
several communities in the South, and
meet his people in America face to
face, bringing to them the best
wishes of the brethren across the
sea 1t will not be 50 much rest, for