The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-03
p&%9TECT0RATE FOR LIBERIA.
AFRICAN REPUBLIC TO PRACTI-
CALLY BE TERRITORY OF
UNITED STATES.
Commissioner Falkner Responsible
Fur statement-London Papers
sound Warning Note--Monroe Doc
trine Up Again.

oeoeoo " ucnCelOTtn 10 tAorC'Se
practical control OF the affairs Of the
Republic OF Liberia. on the west coast
OF Africa.
without exception the papers be-
lieve the enlargement OF the Ameri-
can sphere Of influence In Liberia will
prove beneficial and will be welcomed
by other powers that have been trou-
bled by problems arising I'm Liberia.
The Morning Mail says the change
will affect history as perhaps no
other movement In the last 20 years
except the fall OF Port Arthur"
The basis for these comments Is an
interview with II. III. Faulkner. Uni
ted States Commissioners to Liberia.
In which he said that America plan
\ ned TO take entire charge OF the re-
pubiic's finances, military organiza-
tion. agriculture and boundary ques-
ton.
Tie Evening Globe believes the
movement a good thing for Liberia,
but doubts whether II will benefit the
! United States.
Tho statesmen OF the United
States" IL says, ARE gradually leav-
ing safe paths for the stormy prov
incs Of, world politics. and they may
mud trouble ahead. IL the United
States expands TO Africa or to what
ever country she may choose. the
worlds statesmen will begin to ques-
ton how far the Monroe doctrine ap-
plies"
The guardianship of the United
States Is the best solution OF the Lii
berisn difficulty" the Pail Mall Ga
sette says.
The Evening Standard says: "No
one win grudge the United States the
white mans burden that Il has un-
dertsken. We have enough of our
own"
u favorite solution Of the race prob
lem has ever been the establishment
of a colony for negroes. self governed
snd Independent. but the failure of
the Lberian experiment seems 20
prove conclusively the utter imprac-
ticabiiity OF this plan.
The colony OF Liberia was not a re-
suit of the Civil War. as Is commonly
supposed. but was founded I'm 1922.
Even at that early date the race ques-
ton was a perplexing one. and II was
the National Colonization Society of
America that was responsible for the
colonization of the free blacks of the
United States In West Africa.
The settlers at first met with Bit
ter opposition from the natives. who
were then engaged In q hourishlng
slave trade. When this was over
come other difficulties arose. and the
sooiety's agents returned to the Uni
ted States with the less persevering
OF the colonists.
a leader then arose In one deter
mined negro. Elijah Johnson, and the
work was got under way. From the
start Liberia had rather a precarious
existence. Jut In 1s47 II was declared
an Independent republic. and finally.
I'm 1861. II was recognized by the
United States as a sovereign state.
The government was based on that
OF this country and the Constitution
framed after that OF the United States.
There was a President. Vice-Presl-
dent council OF six ministers and a
Senate and House OF Representatives.
the two bodies consisting OF 22 mem
bers.
The franchise was granted TO all of
but the natives cared little for the
privilege OF voting. No froeigner
was allowed to own land without the
consent OF the government. The state
consisted OF four countieS-Mezurda
Granbassa. Since and Maryland. The
last-named (Maryland) was founded
In 1891 and declared independent in
1885,. but about 1860 IL became part
OF the older colony. The capital Of
Liberia Is Monrovia. named after
President Monroe. and various other
towns are named I'm honor OF those
who have rendered assistance, such
as Edna. which commentaries the
financial aid sent by Edinburgh.
Military service Is compulsory for
all males between 16 and so. The
regular army numbers about 1000
and the militia 500. English Is the
official language OF the country and
there IL a combination OF American
and British standards in the admin
istration OF It's affairs. English coin be-
ing used. for instance. and accounts