Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-23

not long ago a young New
Hampshire man who for two
years has been residing in the
West African republic. In Washington
and in his native New Hampshire hills
he shook off the fever, he took on his
accustomed modcum of flesh and mus
Gle and the brilliant sparkle returned
TO his eyes. Then. refreshed by his
leave, he returned to the little country
where he is striving to help proud,
but somewhat primitive people to real
lie their ideals Of a civilized and ma
terially and morally prosperous self
governing nation.
Reed Paige Clark is his name. In
two years he has made that name IA
NOUS in West Africa. 1t and the per-
sonality behind it are subjects of grave
discussion in the foreign Offices of the
great nations Of Europe.
On the western coast of Africa to-
day there are few men more powerful
than he. More than any one man he is
responsible for the well-being of an in
dependent African nation. For ten
years, and until his going first to Ii
IBERIA, he was committee clerk in the
United States senate. the secretary to
Senator Burnham of New Hampshire
With this training behind him, he
seized his opportunity to do really
great work in governing and he is
making good.
Friends tell him that a prolonged
stay in Monrovia, the capital of Ii
IBERIA, lowlying on fever coast. will
mean his death. The climate is one
unusually severe on the European and
the native American.
Why He Is There.
To explain just what he is doing in
Liberia it is necessary to delve bit
into the history Of the country. 1t
will be recalled that in 1922 American
and European societies opposed to
slavery and DESTROYS Of helping the
black man established Liberia on the
west coast of Africa as a colony for
freed slaves. July .26. 1847. Liberia was
proclaimed a free and independent ma.
ton, established a constitution modelled
on the American constitution and set
M in business among the nations OF
the world.
Thither, and from time to time since
migrated American negroes. These and
their descendants to the total number
of some 10000, are the dominating
population In Liberia. though there IL
a total population of some 100000
made up chiefly Of bush people. or saw
ages Fifty different dialects are
spoken by them. Only negro can be
come a citizen; only citizen can owr
property. and only property owner
can exercise the franchise. The 10000
retain the governing control of the
country. A few descendants Of origina
natives also have gained citizenship.
Liberia has coast line Of some 36(
miles, and It's boundaries run back intt
the timbered hills about 200 miles, The
British colony of Sierra Leone and thu
French colony of the Ivory coast clos.
In the country by land. these two form
Ing three sides Of its boundary, ant
the sea its fourth. Germany. too. hal
a stake in the country. since the great
or portion Of the trade Is In German
hands.
In 1909, Liberia sent commission t,
the United States to ask the aid of thi
country, always her very good friend
in STRENGTHENING out her financial diff
culties. During the following year a
American commission. headed by d.
Roland P. Falkner. went to Liberia an
made a study OF conditions. As a re-
suit of the commissions recommends
uop In 1911 an agreement was entoro