Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-02-24

Russo-Japanese struggle.
 And now, in 1909, the question is: Shall the Unitied States back the inde- pendent, comic opera republic of Lii beria in playing that it is nation. President Roosevelt has asked congress to appropriate money for commission to investigate conditions in the little Participating, black country on the northwest coast of Africa. He wants the commission to report to congress whether the United States should act as a protector of the present order of things or whether it would be better for. Liberia and it's people to be ab- sorbed by the European nations, who are doing things in the dark continent. IL must be admitted that Liberia is in bad way. A half million dollar debt with seven per cent interest hangs over the country. Three payments only have been made, the last one in 1874. Great Britain holds the mortgage, and is getting restive, as debtors do.
 The country hasn't developed indus. trially. Great lumber, mining and tropical farm possibilities are un. touched. It is the hottest country in the world, bar none.
 Roads have been neglected and sick ness menaces the country. The inland people despise the more civilized people who run the government. The country s population measures 100000 souls. Of these some 25,000 to 50,000 are civilized.
 Externally English colonies on the north and French on the south menace the troubled colony. Boundary disputes are frequent Only the fear of Ameri- ca s displeasure has prevented annexa- ton or dismemberment long ago.
 The founding of Liberia was deposit in the conscience fund for the United States, anyway. The American Colini. zation society, organized in 1910 or so thought the negroes ought to be all freed in time and sent back to Africa so start was made in 1877, when the site of Liberia was chosen. Freed Amer ican negroes and negroes from the West Indies were sent over. Monrovia, the capital was built. and matters were I'fourishing for time. In lS47 Liberia declared its independence as coal black republic and was recognized as such by all powers.
 Since that time there has been little doing. Nobody wanted to work. It was awful hot there, nearly under the equa- tor. The more intelligent went to con. gress and held offices. The rest titled a little soil and just existed. An at. tempt was made to induce the naked natives to do the work, but that was mighty unsuccessful. When a president could borrow money, he did. Congress kept up little play army or military police, but nobody had any more sam. bition to fight than to work, and so the natives didn't allow much development far from the coast.
 The little republic is governed by a president, whose cabinet is elective; a senate of nine members and lower house of thirteen.
 Arthur Barclay, West Indian, | whose rather moved to Liberia Tn 1855, is president. He made trip to London several years ago to try to adjust a boundary dispute and was received by the king.
 The country is exceptionally fertile, but the only development has been by French, German and English exploi- tation companies. It is a country going to waste,s is the opinion of West Afri- can traders. The land will produce coffee, rice, spices, caout chouc sugar and cocoa. Ivory is another product. Liberia has no standing army. Its police may call in the entire civilized population in case of trouble. The army, when thus called together, is the oldest in the world. Among the uniforms are Zouave trousers and German helmets,