The National tribune., 1909-04-22
THE POTOMAC PARK CONCERTS.

He was compelled thru illness to re-
sign in the Winter of 1872, while his
regiment was stationed at Hunters
Chapel, Va He issued the Milataer
Gazette in 1862, with the help of l..
Schade. Later this publication was fol-
lowed by Columbia.
In 1872 Mr.. Koch bought out the
Washington Anseiger. and changed its
title to the Washington Journal.
No More Muskets.
There is a rule of the War Depart
ment that all old ordnance and arms
/ of every description when no longer
serviceable to the Government shall be
sold at auction Old muskets and side
arms were sold for a song and resold
almost as cheaply, and every kid in
the country who could muster a half
dollar could own a Springfield rifle.
The sale of these rifles recently was
! made the basis of complaint from
the Chicago police. The indiscriminate
sale of such weapons had caused them
much trouble, they said.
The order, 1t is said. is aimed at the
Central and South American reyolu-
tionists more than at any one else. 1t
| Is said that it has been the practice
in these countries to use the United
States as the chief source of arms. If
revolutionary activities are to be in
dulged in in the future. the War De-
partment will see to it that discarded
American arms are not used
Several thousand discarded army RI
fles have been sold in New Orleans and
other cities of the Southwest during
the, last few months. These rifles were
the old single-shot, 45.70-caliber Army
Springfield They were of a pattern
used In The u. A. Army for many years
One dealer In New Orleans sold sew
-
negros. He was told by the authorities
that he was placing in the hands of
many vicious blacks some very efec-
tive weapons, and further sale was
stopped. The rifles, in perfect condition.
were as low as S1.T5 each. and box of
cartridges and bayonet would be sold
for so cents extra.
To Liberia.
There sailed from Hampton Roads
last Wednesday three of our handsome
| new warships on an errand Of mercy
| They carry a commission from the
United States to investigate and report
| to the United States what can be done
| to relieve the Liberian Republic from
| its present predicament and to protect
| it from foreign encroachment. Con-
gress appropriated 100000 to meet the
| expenses of the commission. In ask
| cf State said that of the ~, 600 or Sc, 600
Liberians the majority are descendants
| of American negros, and that 1t Is the
| duty Of the United States to give them
| an opportunity to continue to govern
themselves, not only because of the
great humanitarian principles involved.
| but because such action in some slight
| degree. will be an atonement for the
brutal and horrible practices insepa-
! rable from the slave trade, by which
Americans at first benefited and which
this Government subsequently took
measures to suppress"
The Secretary continued: "In connec-
| ton with the present conditions exist
| ing In Liberia consular reports speak
/ of the mangnificent agricultural possf-
/ bilities of the country. Unfortunately
I the means of communication are prac-
| tically non-existent, there being only
! five or six cart roads in the entire Re-
public, and horses and mules do not
live.
THE ,aborigines are not trouble
some people. They are kept in a state
: of peace and loyalty by gifts, etc, from
the Government. and produce absolute
| ly nothing beyond their own food. For
commercial purposes the whole Of LII
IBERIA may be looked upon as strip of
coast land of varying width as the pene-
tratiOn of rivers assists communication,
but rarely exceeds 80 or 40 miles. The
Liberian people are generally very
shiftless, very poor and constantly
pressed In upon by their French and
British neighbors. The country is alb
solutely undeveIoped as to its rich hin
terfand.'
The commission consists Of w. Nor
gan Shuster, of this city; Emmett J.
Scott, of Alabama, and George Sale, of
Georgia. Mr.. Shuster was formerly a
member Of the Philippine Commission
Emmett J. Scott is private secretary to
DIR. Booker Washington, and DR.. Sale is
Superintendent of the Baptist Home
Commission Of Negro Schools. George
A. Finch, Of the Department of State, is
lSecretary of the Commission. Frank
A. Flower. q student Of African affairs.
will be his assistant. Capt. s. A. Clio
man, Sd u. s., at present Military At
tache to the United States Embassy a.
London. and Maj. P. M. Ashburn. Of the
Medical Department Of the Army, will
also be attached to the commission.