Graham guardian., 1910-09-30
FIRST AID TO NATIONS
Some Instances Where the
Powers Rule Other
Countries

Liberia, the Black Republic on the
West Coast of Africa, has proved
itself unable to manage it's own af-
fairs. The country is populated by
freed slaves from America, and that
is why the United States have Of
fered to take entire charge of Ii
berian finances, and to put the coun-
try on the way to becoming pros
porous.
1t is not the first time that the
Yankee has stepped in to straighten
out the tangle in which nation has
become involved. The Spanish
American war was caused by the
unsatisfactory condition of Cuba.
Uncle Jonathan, after the fight was
over, took charge of the Cuban
shop" He introduced sanitary
methods throughout the island, and
thereby lowered the death rate.
Prisons were reformed, free schools
were established, and in many prac-
tical ways, the route was prepared
for self-government for Cuba. In
1902 the republic was established,
and the Cubans are now on fair
way to becoming a model nation.
There have been many remarks
made, in consequence of the failure
of Liberia, that the negroes particu-
larly can not look after themselves;
but it is a wrong conclusion to draw.
European races have proved them
selves just as capable of becoming
bankrupt. Russia. for instance, has
more than once had to repudiate
her debts, and many people think
that her attempts at ruling are fall
ures, even now.
Early in 1880 Greece was declared
independent, after some years of
fighting against Turkish rule. The
Greeks tried to govern themselves
by means of a National Assembly,
but failed in a very short time.
Then they decided to become mon
archy, and asked Ohio, the second
son of Louis l., of Bavaria, to be-
come their king. The Powers STEP
ped in, reorganized the state of af-
fairs, guaranteed the loan of two
and a half million pounds, and, gen.
orally speaking, set up" the coun-
try.
Greece's troubles were, however,
by no means at an end. King Otho
proved despot, and in 1854 France
and England were forced to stop
him and his subjects from going to
war with Russia against their old
enemy, Turkey. Eight years later
Otho was deposed. The Greeks
called in Prince George, the son of
the King of Denmark, to rule them.
Since then their affairs have slowly
improved, though the war that
broke out with Turkey in 1897
showed how badly organized the
whole country was.
If Greece had set bad example
to other nations, Egypt followed,
and set worse. In 1875 the public
debt had reached the astounding
total Of $91, 900, 900 and before the
dawn of another year the country
was bankrupt. So hopelessly in
volved were Egyptian finances that
England and France took charge,
and proceeded to make things ship
shape. Under the guiding hand of
the British the country has been ir-
rigated and fertilized, the state of
the people improved, trade has in
creased, and the whole organization
has been put upon a solid basis.
| Even France has shown herself
| tickle with regard to her rulers, and
time and time again, our neighbor
across the Channel has found her.
Iself in a very nearly hopeless mud
die. In the last 100 years she has
changed her mind no fewer than IL
times! From an absolute monarchy
she has turned to rabid, hot re-
public in less than a month.
4 More recently, Morocco has beer
exciting attention by the unsatis