Liberia: Description, History, ProblemsStarr, Frederick
History
Liberia: Description, History, Problems
Starr, Frederick
Liberia
The original settlers in Liberia were for the most part aided in their
immigration by the American Colonization Society. The whole business of
shipment, transportation, and reception soon became quite thoroughly
systematized. Those who had funds of their own made use of these in
getting to the “Land of Promise” and settling; but many were quite
without resources. Such were sent out passage free by the Society; on
arriving at Liberia, they were transferred to “receptacles”--houses
especially constructed for the purpose,--where, for six months, they
were provided with board and medical attendance. During these six months
the immigrants usually passed through the acclimating fever, and were
sufficiently restored to begin the serious task of establishing
themselves in their new homes. To each adult person a piece of land was
given, either in the town or country; the Society had already supplied
an outfit for farming and housekeeping purposes. With land assigned and
outfit ready, the newcomer proceeded to adjust himself as well as
possible to his new surroundings. In the very nature of things, many of
the early settlers were undesirables; it is true that much was made of
the care with which they were selected before they were shipped to
Africa; such claims, however, deserve little more belief than might
have been expected under the circumstances. It was not strange that many
weak, undesirable, even vicious, individuals were sent; the remarkable
fact is that the mass was as good as it actually was. While much
allowance must be made for partisanship, and the desire to make a good
showing, there is remarkable uniformity in the reports concerning the
decency, neatness, and progressive character of the settlers. Among the
newcomers there were indeed a number of exceptional men, men who, in any
time or place, would be recognized as superior; they were men of ability
who, in the old home, had felt themselves subject to the most unjust
discrimination; they had chafed under the disadvantages and inequality
of their situations; they felt that in Liberia there was indeed a chance
for black men. Such were Lott Carey, Elijah Johnson, Hilary Teague, Amos
Herring, and others. The new colony owed much to the presence of a few
such men. It has always been so, it will always be so; there is _no_
community where the number of leaders is large; there is _no_ community
where the rank and file are honest, respectable, ambitious, and
progressive. It is unreasonable to expect in Liberia what we could not
find in any civilized land of white men. An interesting fact regarding
Liberia is that the supply of leaders has never failed. The “fathers”
died; the sons have followed; the first settlers have gone to their
reward; new settlers with the qualifications of leadership have always
come. When the colony gave place to the Republic, it had leaders like
Roberts, Hilary Johnson, and Stephen A. Benson. To-day there are, all
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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