The Detroit times., 1910-09-05
Is. HELP ALL THAT
|CAM Save LIBERIA
nxupean Nations Ready To Grab
Only Absolutely Negro Republic
In the World.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. g.
x1ber1A- home Of the free'-has had
lore picayunish trouble per foot
ontage than any other strip of surf
oaked .aas- on the map. After %
Sooxs Of Official existence she's still
nc1ng the same old reliable crisis,
E11ot row come to head-the problem
RI black race attempting to work
&k - destiny Independently, while
~ colonies on each side grab on
r chunk OF land at every opportunity.
+ \ Uufopo IL worried about what the
r1tnd states intends to do In the
~ az maintaining order and pro-
Citing Liberia. She has feeling
80 once the United States gains
foothold In the old world Ameri-
|fnu ambition may continue the In
<ouiOn. Aside from disavowing any
nfantion OF establishing protect
fate. officials here have little to
* Tor years Liberia has been on the
orro Of bankruptcy. with Great
vffain and France each keeping an
W peeled for the expected oppor-
XIXLX 10 WkVG Out ChtACAy tAio eNA
nont house Of liberty.
Liberia IL that strip on the west
onst Of Africa to which an Amer
I'm humanitarian organization be-
IN nending freed negroes In 1921.
He British colony OF Sierra Leone
uchss 1t on the northwest. and the
Z 4nnch ivory coast colony on the
;outhoast. Originally about the size
Nav York state, 1t has lost ter
31tory here and there through Brit
lrh or French occupation ito pre-
I've order" with the result that its
oost line Is cut down from $50 to
NO miles. It's interior, OF uncer-
ofn depth, extends back ESQ OF 800
snnllos.
This territory was originally pur-
Aossd byp private subscription from
No black lords of the soif' for a
miscellaneous collection OF bright
]onnments. food supplies and other
xnding junk. In 1S47 the colony OF
E1xpatr1atud American negroes felt
txonk enough to stand alone, and
zvno recognized as the republic OF
<UL Ulberia with Monrovia--named
~ktor President Monroe-as its capi-
|KI Its constitution, flag and Of
a cia1 customs generally are modelled
G1ooely after those OF the United
<ntes--with the striking exception
Nit mono but black men are permit
{|kod to vote, to hold office, or to own
fInnd. It In the only absolutely black
<npublic In the world.
Population estimates vary great
$Ix. but conservative figures place
+ {ke total of civilized blacks at
$4,000 to 10000, while the savage
" 600. 900 or more. The latter have
Ever. until lately, recobnized the
|&nth0rity of the weak Liberian gov
Urnment, but have maintained their
|oWn kings and chiefs of primeval
Eofyle. Between savage and civilized
here exists mutual disgust. Grad
sally, however, Lberian influence
Has extended into the hinterland.
v Liberia has held aloof from op
|Dcrtunities for developing her rich
+ resources OF mahogany, rubber and
& 1ninoral wealth. British trading
|vosoels conduct extensive smuggling
\ operations up and down the coast
1ofyink customs regulations. The
/: <ncome Of the government has beer
80 small that II Is continually or
no verge OF bankruptcy. One sec
totary OF the treasury immortalizet
\ himself In Liberian history BY
3 octually keeping q little ready casl
- the strong box.
The total debt, financed by British
capital amounts to over $1,000 900
While the annual revenues do no
(. reach tenth OF that sum.
Without an army, or money Il
q nnnnco one. order has been difficult
10 maintain In the interior. Tive
E old 1unks once served as a navy, bu
10th rottsd into the brine and Gus
1oms patrol was impossible.
The Kru-boys. the only native
&<f1be displaying much energy, stu
totod on the coast acted as middle
& nan for the foreign smugglers anC
ne interior tribes, rum and rinei
3 nowing one way, while rubber cam,
The other. A system OF indenture
~ which the Kru labor is farmeC
I. out TO contractors, is said by some
investigators to closely border OF
actual slavery.
Ne house OF representatives, mum
bor1ng Is, is the most serious thins
- the republic. IL debates worlC
|onostfons. develops insurgent, lingo
|<onservative and other parties and
Rays politics with real American
Litf1e outbreaks on the borders
noflmes manufactured - have
on SIGNALS for England and
1onco to push forward their from
>n1n Only the fear of Americas
<nrfain attitude has prevented
1nnlla1fon.'' England made her
nrfnl interest reason for plao-
- Enslish collector and forcing