The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-26
Liberia's Independence Day

This is Independence Day" in Liberia, the negro republic on the west coast of Africa, as 1t was on July 26. 1847, that the leading strings of Uncle Sam were cast or and an independent government set up, Special interest attaches to the celebration today be- cause of the fact that this year marks the centenary ns Tho cigarize ton of t' American Colonization Society, y:hich established tli., colony of freed negroes in the land of their ancestors. The Scolonization of emancipated slaves was favorite project of sev- eral of the distinguished statesmen of century ago had the support of Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Madison. Henry Clay. Charles Carroll of Car rollton. and other men of influence The first colony was sent out in 1920. limited territory having been pur- chased from the natives. At first the government was carried on by the of fcials of the Colonization Society. but gradually the Share of the people in their own rule was increased. until in 1847 the black colonists issued a de- claration of independence. adopted a constitution, and set up a government with Joseph Jenkins Roberts as first president
 The experiment has not been an un- 4dualified success. and on many occas- ions the government of Liberia has been practically bankrupt. Emigra- ton of American blacks to Liberia has practically ceased, and for a quarter of century past the population of the republic has remained almost sta- tionary. There are now about 25,00O negroes of American birth or descent in the country, as compared with about 2,000,000 natiyes-who are call- ed aborigines by, the Americo-Liber- ians. There was a great rush of Amer { ican negroes to Liberia in the decade or two following the, civil war. Many of these are now prosperous farmers or merchants, but considerable per- centage of them returned to semi savage state. Liberia's great need Is education. and the Colonization So- ciety has attempted to supply that want.
 Outside of Monrovia, the capital. where the citizens maintain a fair imitation of a modern civilized muni- cipality. life in, Liberia is very primi- tive. In the hinterland there are nc railways. the roads are mere paths or trails. and wheeled vehicles are un- known. It is possible to live in Liberia without working, and the lure of idle ness has attracted many of the des. cendants' of the Afro-Americans. Or the other hand. not few of the ma. tive-born "savages'i have been attract. cd by the comparatively civilized ways of the Monrovians,. and have aIband. oned the care-free life of the jungle to take up the burden of industry IT Monrovia and vicinity most of tht people wear clothing of European de sign, but the visitor does not have tt penetrate far into the interior to finl men, women and children living in 2 happy state of nudity, quite naked ana unashamed. In fact, some workers il the Liberian vineyard say that clothes constitute the great obstacle to tn, civ., 'zation of the natives. Once { black boy or girl is induced to, beal the discomforts of clothing, the rest Ii easy.
 x Liberia does not want poor negroe whose only desire is to escape worl and clothe s, but 1t is alleged that al industrious, educated negro possesse, of few thousand dollars can fin, great opportunities awaiting him ii sthe African republic. He may becom a prosperous planter or trader, grow ing coffee or sugar or dealing in pain oil and other commodities from tn interior. or he may make fortune a a miner. In addition to the fnancia gains, he may aspire to the presi dency, or, at the least. to membershi] in the Senate or House. l,