The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-03
WITH THE LIBER-
IAN COMMISSION

Monrovia, Liberia. June "A great
public demonstration attended the
landing Of the United States Libe-
rlan commission which is to investi-
gate conditions in the African repub-
tic. The United States cruisers
which conyeyd the commission to Ii
IBERIA was forced to anchor three
miles off the coast and the commission
was conveyed in small boats to the
government wharves. President Ar
thur Barclay headed the reception
committee appointed to do honor to
the distinguished visitors They were
taken to the official residence of Pres
dent Barclay, the White House OF Lii
IBERIA Ernest Lyons. the United
States consul general at Monrovia,
welcomed them to the American le-
CATION. which is one of the most at
tractlve residences in the capitl city.
Every effort will be made to show the
needs of Liberia to the commission in
the hope of interesting them I'm behalf
of the little republic. which is really
the offspring of United States Philan-
throphy.
Liberia certainly needs help. This
little country, with It's $50 miles of
coast line and extending into the In
terror from $50 TO 800 miles, was
founded In 1922 by a few American
phllanthrophists. They organized un-
| der the name of the American Coloni-
zaton society for the express purpose
! of planting colony in Africa whittier
negroes in America who might be-
come free might be sent, with the OBJ
ject of rearing in the fatherland a
| Christian community. Among the
prominent men back of the society
were Henry Clay, General Fenton
Mercer, Judge Bushrod Washington
OF Virginia. and 1t was carried on with
the support OF many of Americas
| foremost citizens In 1S47 Llberian
colonies, which up to this date had
been governed as the commonwealth
| of Liberia under the tutelagc of the
foreign society, was forced to assume
the status of an independent state In
order to enforce It's laws and protect
| It's interests against foreign aggreS'
sions. Since that time America and
| Americans have apparently taken lit
tie interest In this African offspring.
| The negro slaves who were sent over
were entirely untitled for self-govern-
ment, and the wonder is that the re-
public has survived at all. AS a mat
ter of fact, Monrovia, the capital city,
| possesses many attractive homes and
does considerable commerce, has
two newspapers and college,
j. Dossen. LII. D., associate justice
of the supreme court and vice presi-
dent of Liberia, has stated the needs
Of this African republic very clearly.
| He says:
Among the most urgent needs of
| Liberia Is that of immigration. A
country with an area of nearly $4,000
| square miles and civilized and grow
ing population estimated at nearly
10000, Is an extraordinary spectacle
We need immigration to build up
waste places and to plant strong and
Industrial centers In the rich virgin
| black land We need accession to
plant Christian civilization In our re
mote inland and to teach the two mil
lion Industrious population tho peace
full pursuits Of western civilization.
| Liberia is rich in agricultural lands
timber lands and mines, and If 1t could
be properly developed and given the
impetus necessary for steady indus
trial growth the United States may yet
have just cause TO be proud OF the
black republic OF Liberia.