El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-03-15

III the IOEIHCOIllLS ISpJI( ~
congress Of the commission ap-
pointed 20 inquire into the affairs OF the
little negro republic of Liberia, situated
on the west coast of africa
Started as a haven of refuge for the
negroes found on the captured slave
trading vessels in the days of James
Monroe, it flourished under sort of
tacit proteoforate of the United States
until 1S47, when it was recognized for
mally as a republic. Since then it mas
eked out an existence as a nation, all
the while beset with trials within and
tribulatiOns from without
Unable TO Collect Taxes
With the English colony of Sierra
Leone on the one side, and the French
Ivory coast colony on the other, Liberals
inability TO maintain the mastery over
its native tribes has been made the eX-
cuse for much territorial aggrandiSe-
meut the part of England and France.
Added to this has been its inability TO
collect taxes from the native tribes
within IT'S dominion There also has been
trouble about the finances of the coun-
try. English firms loaned Liberia $780,
900 at one time, and similar amount
at a more recent date The latter. how
ever. was loaned upon the express con-
dition that English officers should have
charge of the Liberian custom house
Later England insisted upon having her
officers command the Liberian troops
Calls on America for Aid.
France also made many demands upon
the little republic, taking the position
that all of its territory which 1t could
not effectively control was fairly sub
ject to French Jurisdiction. Owing 10
this condition of affairs Liberia con-
cluded that its further existence as
nation was in jeopardy, and thai its sal
Walton depended upon an o call TO
America for aid.
1t sent commission to the Unf-ed
States to enlist this governments aid
It asked that Uncle Sam go on its bond,
so 20 speak, and guarantee It's terri
torial and political integrity.
Secretary Root Immediately put his
diplomatic foot on such a request but
wrote a letter to the president asking
him TO urge the appointment by con-
greSs of commission TO investigate LII
beria's troubles The president did so
and funds were voted for the expenses OF
this inquiry. A first hand investiga-
ton was made and the report thereon Is
now in preparation.
Only Negro Republic.
The situation in which Liberia finds
itself is peculiar in many ways Ii is
the only negro republic in the world Its
territory equals in extent that Of Penn
sylvania-
Only the small portion fronting on
the seaboard has had the slightest de-
velopment, the remainder being an un-
tanned tropical jungle peopled by saw
age and semi savage tribes, who refuse
to be taxed or in any other way to &C
knowledge the yoke of Liberia These
tribes consist OF about 100000 people,
while civilized Liberia boasts Of only
10000 inhabitants.
While IL may be made a veritable
Eden of plenty, no part of this little re-
public is developed 10 even a small per-
centage OF its possibilities Nearly ev-
cry tropical tree and plant that grows
will thrive on Liberia soil. Coffee, rice.
cotton, bananas, pineapples. oranges
and ether staple tropical and semi
tropical crops grow luxuriantly where
properly cared for. But the natives have
little taste for agriculture and the civ
ilized element has less.
Whites Cannot Own Property.
But far worse for Liberals indus
trial outlook than the disposition of it's
people to shirk work, is the law declar-
ing that no white man can own property.
The result has been that the white
mans capital has not been forthcoming
for the development of the latent re-
sources of the country.
Instead Of railroads. sawmills. and
other wealth-producing enterprises, Lii
IBERIA has blazed trails and their usual
intelligent element in the government
has attempted to repeal this law. but
never with success. If the civilized
population has a prejudice against the
whites. it is as nothing compared with
their prejudice against the native
tribes. These are referred to as those
sinking bushmen" and other no less ele
giant terms The natives return this
contempt with compound interest
With the native tribes resisting the
right of the government to tax them,
and the civilized Liberians accumulat-
ing little property upon which assess
ments can be made, Liberia takes re-
course to import an export taxes for
the support of the government This
amounts to from IL to "a percent. de-
pending upon the commodity taxed. The
export tax has a tendency to stifle what
little inclination toward agriculture
there IS in the people.
Says PolyEamy Is Practiced.
Opinions differ as to the present status
of the civilized population OF Liberia.
Some writer's declare that they are pro-
gressive and show a high state Of pub
lie morals. On the other hand, such au-
thorities as bishop Hartzell head of the
Methodist church IN Africa, and Miss
Mahoney. a missionary. who has spent
wears among them. declare that the