Evening star., 1909-02-12
LIBERIA FAcING A CRISIS
WITHOUT AID THE REPUBLIC
MAY NOT LONG SURVIVE.
Commission Proposed to Investigate
Conditions and Recommend
Remedial Measures.

Earnest efforts are being made by the
administration to secure the appropriation
Of SO 600 for the expenses Of COM
mission to 60 to Liberia to make recon-
mendatfons as to what specific 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 al
ready has been set forth in a letter which
President Roosevelt sent to Congress
three weeks ago. transmitting report on
the subject from Secretary Root. Sup
Elemental to this is a communication re-
ceived by Representative Edwin Dandy OF
the foreign affairs committee from Assist
ant Secretary of State O'Laughlin pre-
senting additional reasons why the appro-
priation for the commissions 8 work should
be made.
Duty Of This Country.
This letter says that of the forty or
fifty thousand Liberians. the majority are
descendants Of American negroes, and it
is the duty Of the United States at least
tinue to govern themselves. not only be-
involved, but because such action, in
some slight degree, will be an atonement
for the brutal and horrible practices in
separable from the slave trade by which
this government subsequently took meas
ures to suppress" Conditions in Liberia
are thus set out:
I'm connection with the present con-
dittons existing in Liberia consular re-
ports speak Of the magnificent agricultu-
raj possibilities OF the country. Cnfor-
tunately. the means of communication are
practically non-existent, there being only
five or six cart roads in the entire repub-
lie, and horses and mules do not live. The
aborigines are not atroublesome people.
They are kept in a state OF peace and
loyalty by gifts. etc. from the govern
ment and produce absolutely nothing be-
yond their. own food. For commercial
purposes the whole OF Liberia may be
looked upon as a strip Of coast land Of
varying width as the penetration of riv-
ers assists communication. but rarely ex-
ceeds thirty or forty miles. The Liberian
people are generally very shiftless, very
poor and constantly pressed In upon by
their French and British neighbors. The
country Is absolutely undeveloped as to
its rich hinterland.
Rich in Possibilities.
"A comparison Of Liberia with the Brit
ish colony OF Sierra Leone, founded under
exactly the same conditions and having
the same character of hlnterland. estab-
fishes that the territory of the republic is
rich in possibilities 1t would be unfor-
tunate for American prestige II we were
to fail at least to give once more some
real assistance to the republic"
The State Department is very anxious
that the appropriation be made promptly
in order that the commission may reach
Liberia before the rainy season begins.
The success Of Liberia in self govern
ment would, the letter argues, give hope
and courage, while its failure would bring
discoura cement to the entire black race.
II action be not taken. there Is no doubt
that Liberia will not be able to maintain
itself much longer; and 1t would seem
that the inha bitants ought to have at
least another trial, with some direction
from men developed in civilization before
being extinguished as a nationality, and
placing upon their race the opprobrium OF
being unfit to govern themselves.