Evening star., 1909-07-08

United States or capitalists of that coun-
try. to take over our public debt. 1t is
not very large and we believe that If re-
funded at a reasonable rate of interest
and on terms that are fair to our credit
ors and just to ourselves. the debt can
be easily managed.
'2 They desire the United States to
supervise our fiscal affairs and see to
the collection of our customs, etc, pro-
vidine men to do so who are especially
experienced in this class of work. This
is intended not only to train our young
men who may be employed in the finan-
cial department of the government, but
to assure those who may come to our
rescue in the payment of the debt that
we mean to protect them in every way
posslDie.
'3 The people feel that there are some
other departments of the government
which need reorganization and strength
ening. namely: the military, interior,
postal. educational. agriculture and ju-
dicial, by the new and possibly more
modern methods that experienced men
from the United States would doubtless
introduce They realize that the gov
ernment may not be financially able to
employ all of such men that she may
need, but few must be secured If sub
Stantial progress is to be made.
= In the fourth and last place. our
little republic has lost SO much territory
in the adjustments of her boundary from
|
If possible to come to some such agree
menr with the United States as will Sc
cure the presence of at least one OF
her representatives on all such occasions
to assist in guarding the interests Of IL
beria
No Obligation on America.
and. further" continues the Liberian
Register, I'VE desire to say that the
Liberian people in making these re-
quests are not prompted by either the
thought or the wish that the United
States may go to war to protect their
rights. They anticipate no such con-
tingency. They want no war. there will
be no war; the tendency of the times is
not in that direction.
Liberia needs far more the friendly
advice of some capable and unselflsh
power that will stand by to advise and
direct her in all legitimate efforts to help
herself. She realizes the necessity for
reforms along a number of different lines,
for interior development and for direc-
ton and assistance in utilizing not only
but the boundless stores Of mineral wealth
locked up within almost every hill and
vale of the counties Of the republic"
Welcome to Commission.
The arrival at Monrovia of the Ameri-
conditions in Liberia is discussed in
the Liberian Register under date of May
Is.
The commission is made up of Roland
p. Falkner. chairman: Emmet ]. Scott,
George Sale, George A. Finch. secretary;
Maj. Percy NJ. Ashburn, medical attache:
Capt. Sidney A. Cloman. military attache,
and Frank A. Flower. scientific attache.
The Register says that the commission
landed al o'clock on the afternoon or
Nav 10, and that an address of welcome
was made by Acting Mayor Dennis The
party then proceeded to the American
legation, under q guard of honor COM
manded by Mai. H. B. Hayes.
"A committee of ladies'" the Register
says, had prepared four beautiful
wreaths. representing the four counties Of
the state, and stationed them at inter-
walls on the way through which the COM
mission marched. AS the commissioners
approached each wreath a lady selected
for the purpose stepped forward, made
some expressions of welcome and ten