New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-18
THE FUTURE OF uB[l|
American Intervention-An =,
lishman's Warnino-
London. AprI,

''''o "pDedied "a a
Washington government for n-,.....
from German. French and Fny,,.s
croachments; a gunboat has bssD :,
patched in response TO urgent ear.
assistance. and considerable pres,,,-
been brought 10 bear upon the s,,,.
partment to take up the cause =,
Liberians in their vicissitudes ana VI
I iessness.
The time honored warning m Va.
ington's Farewell Address srai,s,
entanglements and brcsIs OF fore,v,
itics has lost much OF its force s,n,.'.
occupation OF the Philippine Tslsna,
the Congo negotiations. Americas,
ventiOn in Liberia IS not barred -.
the Monroe Doctrine. and vet n ia.
matter Of enlightened self-infa-...
much as Of sentiment growing ON. ~,
original foundation or the black r.,,...
as a refuge for emancipated slave, No..
| the sentiment there may also b
Of obligation on the part OF the -.
Republic to befriend feeble nttI. -
try which has copied American lnz,,..
lions.
For years I have been IN TIRE uav =.
hearing much about Liberia, for R,,..'
Harrzell. the indefatigabIs lrse50s,
worker. Invariably talks about the ,.-.
republic when he comes 70 London a.
the manager Of the British Develo7r.-.
and Rubber companies. Mr.. Frank R-,
ham. always has a great deal N -.
when he returns from Monrovia N Ia.
don. as he has done this week. ribs-s.
Is only one link in the long chain ~ -.
Bishops African circuit. but Mr. Bras,-
has been there for fifteen years a.
knows more about II than anv o,b..
European He is a warm friend o. Prs,,
dent Barclay. who has headed the svscr
tive administration since 1904 He Ia,
obtained personally the concessions N-o-
the Legislature. has directed the ops-,.
tions Of the development and rbbs.
companies. and has had practical sr.
perience, in dealing with natives in "A,
interior and with the officials and Iszi,.
When he says that affairs have IN.
from bad 20 worse, and that the Ibs-.
ans are now appealing % the Amer,z.
government 10 avert the bankrupt-v .
the country and the loss OF Independents
1t is the Judgment OF an expert VIII,
he adds that il viii be a fatal nis,as,
for the Americans % guarantees loans -
10 finance the negro administration N.
less they are prepared 70 place traln1
white men In charge OF every branch y
the administration. educating the blacs,
IN the arts OF government and teaehtr.
them 20 be honest and Efficient. he has
fifteen years OF intimate knowledgs q |
the ruling class behind his opinion.
The American colonization societies -
gan 20 transplant negroes 70 Liberia u
1924. or about the time when he
Monroe Doctrine was proclaimed. IA
first settlement was formed in Monrovia
and in the course OF ten years 800
negroes were landed on the coast. mary
Of them runaway or emancipated slaves |
Reinforcements We're received up 10 1871
when the transplanted population vss
large enough TO Justify the estaols..
ment Of a state, which was promptly
recognized by France and Great Britain.
but not until 1862 by the United STATES
The American Constitution was roughJ
copied A President and a Vice-Prss
dent were provided. a Cabinet was ca
ated. and a Legislators with nine Ser
ators and fourteen Representatives vas
constituted
The natives were nor allowed any par
IN public life. and citizenship was -
stricted TO landowners OF negro blood
There was a Supreme Court. and thss
were other safeguards for a balance |
powers. Apparently all the conditions
and mechanism We're supplied f0r sell. /
government; but. "a Mr.. Roosevelt hs
been explaining matters 20 the Nation1'
lists IN Egypt. a paper constitution Of
self VIII not make a nation in tropnA /
America. Africa or anywhere. ThsH
must be the strong fore OF civic virtH
in the people themselves IL there IS "
be enlightened progress in the ART j
government.
The most glaring defects which ~
Braham points out are tnefiCiency OF a.
minlstration and legislative and oIa'-
corruption. Not only are the LioenAS
themselves incapable OF developing .
80. r~r~
are also unable 10 regUlaJe native 'S''
so that foreigners. who have pufOA'9
concessions. can construct roads' u.
communication with the interior y
large rubber and cotton plantations
increase the volume Of exports
small frontier force under arms -.
not keep the native tribes in oIUs'
police methods. nor suppress Hs-''
lions. The foreign companies are w.
To make their own arrangements
these savage and warlike tribes anu
constantly hampered by outoreAs
hostilities and lack OF trustwortny
II there were good. energetic a"I
tratlon. roads would he opened TUE
coast 20 the hinterland. thOusaA
rubber trees would be planted inc
in coffee. cocoa and other uop'~
uce enlarged and the mineral oe''S
tematicauy developed. lnStesu "a.
erning the country with firuineS' ,.,s,
teIIigence. the Liberian legiSia'0i' ..
foreign enterprise 70 shift for ~. rs
der the most unfavorsble conaiIiO- -
country remains hOpelessy 20 a i
and unprogressive. although NJ. a |
eficient stan of European WORKERS
the ground with capital behind ~
cessiOns. .,kJ1
Rishnn Hartzen when I haVe -.