Liberia: Description, History, ProblemsStarr, Frederick
History
Liberia: Description, History, Problems
Starr, Frederick
Liberia
I had intended to see the work at Cape Palmas, but it was impossible for
me to go there. For that at Bromley, Clay-Ashland and Kru chapel I have
only words of praise. My own opinion is that Liberia’s greatest asset is
the native. He exists in a score of independent tribes and counts a
million souls. If the little black republic is to hold its own, if it is
to remain a nation among nations, if it is to lead the way to African
redemption, there must be a mutual realization by Liberians and Natives
of their common interest, and a hearty co-operation. The burden is too
heavy for the Liberian alone. In Bishop Ferguson’s work there is the
nearest approach to tolerance, union, brotherhood and mutual helpfulness
seen during my expedition.
LIBERIA, THE HOPE OF THE DARK CONTINENT.
(_Unity._ March 20, 1913.)
_An address given at All Souls Church, Abraham Lincoln Centre, Chicago,
March 9, 1913. As this contains little that is not contained in the next
item, and nothing but what occurs in the body of the book, it is not
reprinted here._
WHAT LIBERIA NEEDS.
(_The Independent._ April 3, 1913.)
In 1905 I sailed from Antwerp to the mouth of the Kongo River. When we
reached Freetown, Sierra Leone, we spent several hours on shore. On
returning to the steamer we found all greatly changed; the white crew
was laid off and the steamer was swarming with black boys who had been
taken on to perform the heavy work of the vessel so long as she should
be in the hot country. In the morning I found that these black boys were
Krumen from Liberia; they pointed out the shores of their country as we
sailed by and told me of their people and their life. The captain of our
steamer was an Englishman; he took great satisfaction in telling stories
which showed his contempt for the little black republic and its rulers.
It was his custom to laugh at their port regulations, to evade their
customs laws, to insult their officers. Months later, in returning from
the Kongo Free State, I sat at table next to a ship’s officer who was
never tired of telling of Sir Harry Johnston’s great scheme of Liberian
exploitation; matters were all arranged for Britain to gain the
advantage which the wealth of Liberia offers. When we reached London, I
found the windows of book stores filled with Sir Harry’s great work upon
Liberia, and considerable public interest in the subject.
It was these three things which turned my interest toward Liberia and
led me to think of making an expedition to that country. I wanted to see
the Kru boys at home; I wanted to see just how much of a failure the
black republic is; I wanted to see how the English plans of exploitation
worked out. It was, however, several years before I was able to make
that journey. I have just returned and found much more of interest than
I anticipated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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