Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-21
Forgotten Liberia
BIZ Frederic J. Hdskin

Washington May l8.-The Republic of Ii
IBERIA, on the west coast of Africa, which was
founded by American negroes under the super
vision OF an American philanthropic society," has
declared war upon Germany and offers her SYM
pathy and cooperation to the United States In
this way the little African state which is the only
protege OF the United States on any continent OF
the eastern hemisphere, delicately seeks to re-
mind the fatherland OF its existence.
There is need for the reminding. Liberia ex.
cited good deal OF interest when it was founded
and for some time thereafter. 1t got a little
space in the public prints again in 1910, when
commission from this country visited Liberia to
reorganize 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 a very
real responsibility, and constantly becoming
more grave one. By treaty made in 1862 the
United States promised to protect the constitu-
tional form OF government. in Liberia and the in
dependent existence of the republic. Meantime
Liberia has been getting deeper and deeper into
trouble with its neighbors, and becoming more
and more unhappily conspicuous as the backward
bit of the rich West African country. When the
war is over great era OF development and reor-
ganization will begin in Africa, and then Liberia
must either have our aid or pass into the hands
Of some stronger power. AS Herbert Adams
Gibbons puts it: IAN effective American protec-
torate will be the only means of keeping Liberia
alive--unless Monroe's doctrine prevents the sal
walton 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 is the most
luxuriant in Africa. There are hundreds Of square
miles Of unbroken mahogany, and almost all the
,rse Of fN,,n ftara
including twenty different kinds of rubber, some
of them OF the finest grade. This great interior
is practically unexplored and its mineral resources
are little known, but the presence OF gold is
proven by the fact that the wild tribesmen pos
sess it.
These interior forests are also rich in wild
life, which is quite peculiar, for Liberia occupies
most OF distinctive zone of the African coast
land. 1t is the home Of the rare pigmy hippo
potamus.
American descent in Liberia and they, together
with 10000 or 10000 civilized indigenous Liber-
ians constitute the ruling class. The rest of the
population Of 100000 consists Of wild hill tribes
that acknowledge no authority. The arm Of gov
eminent does not reach more than twenty-five
miles inland.
Liberia was founded as a home for colored
people of America, and is the only republic in
the world where the electors must be of African
blood 1t is in a sense the only African state in
Africa, and 1t is the only place in the world
where the negro race has any existence as a ma
ton.
1t has failed in its first purpose of providing
a solution Of the race problem in the United
States. Only few thousand American negroes
went to Liberia, many of those died and some re-
turned. ]. ]. Dossen associate justice of Liberia
in an article which he published in an American
magazine, expresses the opinion that Liberia may
yet become the home of many American negroes
and urges that the United States aid them to
emgrate. Fifty thousand American negroes, he
says, could do wonders for Liberia, while
Liberia would offer to them opportunities Of
wealth and civil rights which they would obtain
nowhere else
In a QUESTIONABLE submitted to number of
negro school children one qquestion had to
do with whether the child hoped or expected to
become famous, and asked the reason for the
answer. Almost without exception the children
answered that they had no such hope or expec-
tation, because the thing was impossible. Hope
and confidence in themselves are two things that
the colored people need, and Liberia u.s. perhaps,
best worth saving for what it will give them of
these.
The settlement became an independent re-
public in l847, and since that time has been
working out its own destiny. 1t must be admitted
that this destiny has not been brilliant but it has
been fairly peaceful and orderly. 1t was not to be
expected that Liberia would equal in progress
Sierra Leone or the Ivory Coast her neighbor
colonies, which had back Of them all the resources
of great nations. Except for the aid we gave
them in 1910, Liberia has had no backing. Now
she must have it. and the only question is whether
we are to give it and preserve her independence,
or she is to become part OF European sphere
of influence