Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-21
FORGOTTEN REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
By FREDERIC ). IiAsKIN

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. May 2o.-The
republic OF Liberia. on the west coast
OF Africa. which was founded by Amcri-
can negroes under tho supervision Of
an American philanthropic society. has
declared war upon Germany. and offers
her sympathy and cooperation to the
United States. In this way the little
African state. which is the only pro-
teEe of the United States on any con-
tinent of the Eastern Hemisphere, deli
cately seeks to remind the Fatherland
OF it's existence.
There Is need of the reminding
Liberia excited good deal Of interest
when II was founded. and for some
time thereafter. 1t got little space
In the public prints again in 1910. when
a commission from this country visited
Liberia to reorganizc its government
and it has scarcely been mentioned
since. 1t is safe to say that most
Americans are not even aware that
they have responsibility In Africa
Yet Liberia Is very real responsi-
biiity. and constantly becoming more
grave one. By Il treaty made i'm 1862
tho United states promised to protect
the constitutional form Of government
In Liberia and the independent exist
cnce or the republic. Meantime Lii
IBERIA has been getting deeper and
deeper into trouble with it's neighbors
ana becoming more and more unhap-
ply conspicuous AS the backward bit
OF the rich West African country
men the war Is over II great era of
development and reorganization will
begin In Africa, and then Liberia must
either have our aid or pass into the
hahdS or some stronger power AS
Herbert Adams Gibbons puts il: IAN
enec'iVe american protectorate will be
the only means OF keeping Liberia
alive-unless Monroe's doctrine pre
vents the salvation of Monroe's colony"
Liberia consists OF about $4,000
square miles Of the widest part Of
Africa. There are two broad valleys
with great rivers. and an interior of
hill country rising on the northeast
frontier to the highest mountains In
Africa. reaching an elevation of 10000
feet Nearly all Of this great Interior
is covered with forest which 10 tho
most luXurlant In Africa There are
hundreds OF square miles OF unbroken
mahogany. and almost all the typical
forest products Of the tropics are
found there, including twenty different
Kinds of rubber. some OF them Of the
finest grade. This great Interior Is
practically unexplored and its mineral
presence OF gold is proven by the fact
that the wild tribcsmen possess it.
These interior forests are also rich
in a wild life. which is quite popular.
Tor Liberia occupies most OF "a distinct
I've zone OF the African coast-land II
is the home OF the rare pigmY hippopOt-
anus.
Ruling Class Is Limited
There are about 1900 colored people
or American descent in Liberia and
they. together with so 600 or 40 0o0 civil
n . I
the ruling class. The rest Of the popu-
Iation OF 100000 consists of wild hill
trioes that acknowledge no authority
: :" arm OF government does not reach
more ''.an twenty-five miles inland.
The troubles of Liberia arise from
the fast that il has not kept pace in
development with it's neiChbors. tho
British colonies OF Sierra Leone. and tho
French Ivory coast. When these Eu-
ropean powers were first establishing
their spheres OF influence" in Africa
ny numbering the natives. Liberia was
struggling for existence. and was about
AS orderly as any OF them. But In re-
cent years. both England and France
have learned the art OF African coloni
Iation. Sierra Leone and the Ivory
coast have become thrifty little sta,cs
and civilization has been rapidly MAX
ing it's way into their interiors. while
that OF Liberia has remained wilder
ness where recalcitrant native tribes
from the other two European colonies
nave FOUND refuge. In paying for their
depredations. Liberia has already lost
several thousand miles Of territory. She
has also leased about fourth OF the
total area to one British firm which en-
gagged in gathering palm oil in her for
csts. The two prosperous European
colonies are closing In upon her from