Part 23

Living in the same neighborhood with Dr. Lewis is Jacob Logan. His father was a Liberian, his mother a Bassa; his father represented a class of which we hear much in the writings of authors who criticize Liberian affairs--civilized Liberians who relapse. He lived the native life and his son Jacob was brought up amid purely native surroundings. Jacob Logan today speaks excellent English, writes and reads the language perfectly well, knows Liberia and the outside world, having been to Europe. Yet he maintains the state of a native chief. He has an excellent house, which he calls “Native Vindicator’s House;” he is legally married to one wife, but has the reputation of maintaining a considerable body of native women; he has a quantity of dependents, known everywhere as “Jacob Logan’s boys.” They work for him, and when they hire out to others he receives their wages; they are subject to his orders; they live in his house or on his property until married; after they are married they still retain relations with him. On his part Jacob owes them advice, shelter, direction, assistance; when they wish to marry he provides the money, for they must pay for wives; if they are in trouble he must help them; if they get into legal difficulty he must pay their fines. These two men are representative, no doubt, of a large class. They have great influence and it certainly is to the advantage of Government that their influence be utilized in its favor. If they are well informed in regard to governmental policy and favorable to it, they can do much.

Is it desirable that Liberians and natives intermarry? It is certain that the native endures the climate better than the newcomers; it is true that he has far more energy, vigor, enterprise--in case his interest is once aroused. There can be no question that close breeding among the little handful of Liberians is fraught with danger; mixture with the native stock would give, in many cases, good results. There is always, of course, the danger in such mixed marriages of relapse to barbarism. The Liberian who marries a native woman might lead an easy life among her people in the bush. This danger is a real one and needs to be avoided.

It is only five minutes’ walk from the heart of Liberian Monrovia to the center of Krutown on the beach. It is a purely native town; most of the houses are true Kru houses, with thatched roofs and matting sides. The streets are narrow, the houses crowded, the people swarm. The Kru have force and vigor; they are splendid canoe-men and fishers; they are the chief dependence of coast commerce, loading and unloading the steamer cargoes. The men and boys almost all know English, some have a smattering of French or German; the women confine themselves largely to their native language, though girls in school all learn English. The Kru are workers; they like activity. There are schools in Krutown, but the Kru boys, after they have finished their studies in them, go up to the College of West Africa, in Monrovia. This is a mission school, supported by the Methodists, in which all the teachers are colored; most of them Americans.

One day I visited the class in arithmetic, consisting of about thirty scholars. Sitting in the midst of them, when a lull came, I said to my nearest neighbor, “But you are a native boy?” “Yes, sir; we are many of us native boys. _He_ is a native, and _he_, and _he_, and _he_.” In fact, I was surrounded by natives, Kru boys. “Well,” I asked, “and how do you native boys do in your classes?” “We do better than _they_ do, sir,” he said. “Do you, indeed?” said I; “it would sound better if some one else said that; but how is it so?” “I can’t help it, sir; we do better _anyway_; we love our country better than they do, too.” However that may be, it is certain that these Kru boys will outrun the Liberians unless the latter are careful. No one else in all Liberia is so anxious to learn as they.

It is interesting how generally they look toward _us_ for education. One who called upon me one afternoon told me that a Kru boy had started for America only the week before. He told me, then, that he himself was one of five boys in their town and school who had agreed together that, in some way or other, they should get to America for education. They will do it, too. They earn good money from the steamers and know how to save; after they had been hired two or three times for a coasting voyage they make friends with steamer officers and have no trouble in being taken to Antwerp, or Rotterdam, or Hamburg, earning something more than passage by their work. If they can work their way from Hamburg to New York they are glad to do so, but most of them realize that that is an uncertain chance and start out either with cash upon their person or a little ivory for sale to provide resources beyond Hamburg.

There has been considerable discussion in regard to the location of Liberia College. Should it remain at the capital, Monrovia? Or should it be transferred to some point in the interior? Just now there is so much talk about manual training and agricultural instruction that there has been considerable effort made to change the character of the school and to place it at some point in the interior. I believe that Liberia College ought to remain in Monrovia; it should continue to be an institution of higher education--cultural in character. To locate it at any point in the interior would be to confine its field and value to a single district and a single tribe. There are perhaps a score of native tribes in Liberia, each with its own language, its own territory, its own customs, its own chiefs. Between the tribes there is little contact and no bond of interest. To put Liberia College into the interior would benefit perhaps a single tribe. Other tribes would not patronize it--they would look upon it as of no value or interest to them. What is needed is the establishment of a good central school within the area of _each_ native tribe. It should give thorough _rudimentary_ instruction. It should serve as a feeder to Liberia College; its best men, those who become interested and are ambitious, would go up to the capital for further study. There they would meet representatives of all the other tribes sent up from the other local schools. A wholesome rivalry would rise between them; tribal spirit would be maintained, but acquaintanceship and respect for others would be wholesomely developed; in Monrovia, the capital city, they would be made to feel a national interest and develop affection for their common government. In such a system only can the elevation of the whole people and a genuine coöperation be developed.

Manual training and agricultural instruction are of high importance, but form a question by themselves.

APPENDICES

LEADING EVENTS IN LIBERIAN HISTORY

1777 Virginia Legislative Committee (Thomas Jefferson, Chn.) to devise scheme.

1816 December 23. Virginia asked United States to secure a territory. Similar plans by Maryland, Tennessee and Georgia. December 21. Colonization Society considered. Society organized with Judge Washington as President.

1818 February 2. Two agents sailed from London for Sierra Leone. Interview with King Sherbro. Burgess and Mills. October 22. Burgess reached United States; Mills dead.

1819 March 3. Congress determined to unite with Society. Samuel Bacon and John P. Bankson--agents.

1820 February. The Elizabeth sailed: Agent Crozier and 88 colonists. --Three agents and twenty colonists dead; Daniel Coker and others at Sherbro Island. --To Sierra Leone.

1821 March. Andrus and Wiltberger (Soc.), Winn and E. Bacon (U. S.). --Cape Mesurado=Montserrado. Failure. Bacon returned; Andrus and Winn dead. Wiltberger remained in Africa. To Sierra Leone. Fall. Dr. Ayres (Soc.) to Sierra Leone: Then by _Alligator_ (Capt. Stockton) to Cape Mesurado. Ayres and Stockton--King Peter and five chiefs. Buy land for $300. Differences; but colonists persevere. Wreck palaver: Boatswain’s intervention.

1822 June 4. Dr. Ayres sailed; colonist in charge. July. Final removal to mainland. August 8. Jehudi Ashmun arrived. (Landing 8th to 14th.) 18. Martello tower begun. 31. Night watch established. September 1. King George removed his town. 15. Mrs. Ashmun died; only one person well. November 7. Notice of planned attack. 11. Battle. 22. Parley. 23. Day of humiliation, thanksgiving and prayer. 29. Capt. Brassey’s visit. December 1. Second battle. 2. Night cannonading; _Prince Regent_ (Capt. Laing); Midshipman Gordon and men remain. 8. Columbian schooner; (Capt. Wesley).

1823 March 15. Remaining five children returned by natives. 31. U. S. S. _Cyane_ (Capt. Spencer). April 21. Richard Seaton remained: died in June. May 24. Oswego arrived: Dr. Ayres and 61 colonists. Intrigue and rebellion rife. December; Dr. Ayres left.

1824 February 20. Liberia, Monrovia,--official names. March 22. Ashmun farewell address; April 1 embarked for Islands. July 24. Ashmun-Gurley meeting on _Porpoise_; Ashmun returns with him. August 13. Gurley and Ashmun reach Monrovia: Gurley there until August 22. New plan of government drawn.

1825 New lands acquired; Grand Bassa, New Cess.

1826 New lands acquired; Cape Mount, Junk River. Trade Town war.

1827 August 27. The Norfolk, with 142 recaptured slaves.

1828 March 25. Ashmun left colony. August 25. Ashmun died at New Haven, Connecticut. October 28. New government adopted. Digby incident; trouble with King Bristol; Lott Carey killed by explosion of powder. December 22. Richard Randall, new agent, arrived.

1829 April 19. Randall died; Dr. Mechlin, agent.

1831 James Hall with 31 colonists from the Maryland Colonization Society, stop at Monrovia.

1832 Dey-Golah war (Bromley).

1833 Edina founded. James Hall with 28 colonists; settle at Cape Palmas, “Maryland in Africa.”

1834 Mechlin to the United States; John B. Pinney succeeded him.

1835 Pinney home; Dr. Ezekiel Skinner, agent. Pennsylvania Colonization Society; Port Cresson massacre.

1836 Anthony D. Williams, agent. January. Thomas Buchanan arrived; in charge of Bassa settlements.

1837 Gov. I. F. C. Finley arrived; in charge of Mississippi in Africa.

1838 Greenville established. September 10. Gov. Finley murdered. New Constitution drawn up by Prof. Greenleaf, Harvard College; “Commonwealth of Liberia.”

1839 A. D. Williams gives up agency; Thomas Buchanan, governor. Tradetown war.

1840 Boporo-Golah war=Gatumba’s war: Gen. Roberts. Difficulty with Rev. John Seyes, in charge of the Methodist Episcopal Mission. English settlement threatens complications.

1841 September 3. Gov. Buchanan died. Joseph Jenkin Roberts, governor.

1842 France attempts to secure Liberian foothold; Cape Mount, Bassa Cove, Butu, Garawé.

1843 February 22. Treaty with Golah.

1844- Strengthening of Liberian position, by purchase and treaty. 1845 6% ad valorem duty established; in Maryland as well; agreement between Roberts and Russwurm.

1844 Roberts visited the United States; American squadron visited Liberia.

1845 The _Little Ben_ seized; the _John Seyes_ seized from Benson; United States inquiry.

1846 January. American Colonization Society decides to grant self-government. Continued land-purchasing from natives. Release and “apprenticeship” of slaves. October 7. Vote on Independence; opposition in Grand Bassa.

1847 July 8. Day of Thanksgiving. 26. Declaration of Independence; Constitution. August 4. Flag hoisted; recognition by Great Britain. October. Joseph Jenkin Roberts elected president; installed January 3, 1848.

1848 England, France, Prussia recognition. President Roberts visited Europe. Lord Ashley raised £2,000 for purchasing lands of Mattru, Gumbo, Gallinhas, Manna, etc. British admiralty presented The Lark.

1849 Roberts re-elected president; Robertsport founded at Cape Mount. February 26. English treaty ratified. Portugal, Sardinia, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Brazil, Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck, Haiti, recognized republic. March. New Cesters slavers cleaned up and region annexed. September 19. Ralph Gurley arrived at Cape Mount; report printed in 1850.

1850 Two German trading houses established; Vai, Dey and Golah quarrelling.

1851 British Consul appointed; Mr. Hanson. Roberts: third term. Edward Wilmot Blyden arrived. Interior troubles; Boporo. Grando war at Grand Bassa. Native troubles in Maryland. Governor Russwurm died; S. M. McGill, governor of Maryland.

1852 Roberts visited France and England.

1853 Roberts: fourth term.

1854 William A. Prout; governor of Maryland. October 3. President visited Europe; proposed annexation of Sierra Leone.

1856 Stephen Allen Benson, president. Napoleon III equipment for 1,000 armed men and the _Hirondelle_. J. B. Drayton, governor of Maryland. December 22. Cape Palmas battle.

1857 January 18. Sheppard Lake disaster, Grebo war. February 18. J. J. Roberts and J. F. Gibson signed treaty. 28. Annexation of Maryland. Roberts appointed president of Liberia College.

1858 _Regina Coeli_ incident. Seymore and Ash expedition; (R. G. S. 1860).

1860 John Myers Harris’ boats seized: rescued by a British gunboat-- _The Torch_.

1862 Roberts sent to Europe; appointed Belgian consul. President Benson in England; question decided. Harris’ schooners again seized; Monrovia conference; Vai and Harris war; Commodore Schufeldt. October 22. Treaty with the United States.

1864 Daniel Bashiel Warner, president.

1865 Ports of Entry Law: Robertsport, Monrovia, Marshall, Grand Bassa, Greenville, Cape Palmas. Three hundred West Indian immigrants; A. Barclay.

1868 James Spriggs Payne, president. Anderson’s trip to Musahdu.

1870 Edward James Roye, president. Went to England. England agrees to Boundary Commission. Vai attack Harris; Sierra Leone demands.

1871 £100,000 loan placed in England. October. President Roye proclaimed term extended; attempted bank seizure. --26th. Legislative manifesto.

1872 J. J. Roberts again president. Paid indemnity of 1869.

1874 Anderson’s second expedition to Musahdu.

1875 Grebo war; natives burned Bunker Hill and Philadelphia (near Harper).

1876 James Spriggs Payne, president. Chigoes introduced.

1877 Colonists from Louisiana; mainly along lower St. Paul’s R.; some subsequently returned.

1878 Revived demand for £8,500 indemnity. Anthony William Gardner, president.

1879 Order of African Redemption founded. April. Entered International Postal Union. Sierra Leone boundary commission wrangle. German steamer _Carlos_ wrecked on Nana Kru coast; _Victoria_ punitive expedition; £900.

1879- J. Buttikoper visits Liberia; zoological research. 1887

1882 March 20. Sir Arthur Havelock and gunboats; Mafa R. boundary, £8,500 indemnity. September 7. Sir Arthur Havelock returned.

1883 _Corisco_ wrecked at Grand Cestos R.; Liberians punished natives. _Senegal_ wrecked and plundered. March. Sierra Leone took land up to Mano River. January 20. Gardner resigned; Vice-President A. F. Russell in chair.

1884 Hilary Richard Wright Johnson, president.

1885 November 11. Boundary dispute settled; Mano R. boundary.

1885- Efforts at adjusting loan of 1871. 1891

1891 October 26. French claim Cavalla R. boundary.

1892 Joseph James Cheeseman, president. December 8. Cavalla R. boundary accepted, after protest.

1893 Third Grebo war. Kru declaration of adhesion.

1896 November. Vice-President William David Coleman takes presidency. Grebo trouble.

1897 German consulate offers protectorate.

1898 Liberia admits £70,000 to £80,000 on Loan of 1871.

1899 February 10. Hostain’s and d’Ollones’ expedition; affecting Franco-Liberian boundary.

1900 Coleman expedition to subdue interior; resignation. Garretson Wilmot Gibson, president.

1902 French boundary negotiations.

1903 French treaty fixing boundary; Liberia paid £4,750. Anglo-Liberian boundary demarcated; Mano R.; Kanre-Lahun in Liberia. Missions to chiefs one hundred miles up the Cavalla River, also up the St. Paul’s.

1904 Arthur Barclay, president. Congress of kings--Golah, Boporo, Mpesse. March. Effort to fix French boundary from Tembi Kunda to Cavalla R. May 19. German Government complains of Liberian judiciary. August. Changes in Liberian Development Chartered Co.; also in January, 1906.

1905 January. Permission given for British force to pacify the Kissi district. February. President Barclay visited Cape Mount and treated with Vai. July 27. Vice-President J. D. Summerville died.

1906 Arthur Barclay, president. January 5. Agreement with Liberian Development Co., for a loan of £100,000. Lomax in Kanre-Lahun district.

1907 May 7. Amendment to Constitution lengthening presidential term to four years. Summer: Commission sent to adjust difficulties with Great Britain and France. August 29. President Barclay reaches London; Great Britain demands reforms as condition to discussion of disagreement. September 18. President Barclay yields to French demands and accepts treaty. Severance of relations between Liberian government and Liberian Development Co. Tripartite Agreement; Liberia, Erlanger Co., Liberian Development Co.; Liberia takes over responsibility for loan of 1906. Trouble at River Cess.

1908 Arthur Barclay, president; four years term. January. Major Mackay Cadell appears in Liberia. January 14. Consul-general Braithwaite Wallis issues reform demand. British offer to exchange Behlu district for Kanre-Lahun. May. Liberian Commission bring appeal to the United States. July. Ex-President W. D. Coleman died at Clay-Ashland. War-vessel _Lark_ purchased for £40,000; British Government presents gun armament worth £1,600.

1909 February 11. Mackay Cadell’s frontier force in mutiny. May 8. United States commission of inquiry arrived at Monrovia. Trouble at River Cess and Grand Bassa.

1910 March 21. German cable line opened. New Cess trouble; Grebo uprising.

1911 January. Behlu and Kanre-Lahun exchange consummated; delimitation ordered. May. French demand customs control of both sides of Cavalla River. September 26. American loan arrangement presented. November 1. Free navigation of the Mano R. admitted.

1912 January 1-2. Daniel Edward Howard, president; inauguration. January 1. Loan went into operation. February 7. Edward Wilmot Blyden died. Arrival of American military helpers--Major Ballard and Captains Brown and Newton. September. Lomax and Cooper trials; acquittals.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IN CONVENTION

Town of Monrovia; June and July 1847

We, the representatives of the people of the Commonwealth of Liberia, in Convention assembled, invested with authority for forming a new government, relying upon the aid and protection of the Great Arbiter of human events, do hereby, in the name and on behalf of the people of this Commonwealth, publish and declare the said Commonwealth a FREE, SOVEREIGN and INDEPENDENT STATE, by the name and style of the REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA.

While announcing to the nations of the world the new position which the people of this Republic have felt themselves called upon to assume, courtesy to their opinion seems to demand a brief accompanying statement of the causes which induced them, first to expatriate themselves from the land of their nativity and to form settlements on this barbarous coast, and now to organize their government by the assumption of a sovereign and independent character. Therefore we respectfully ask their attention to the following facts:

We recognize in all men, certain natural and inalienable rights: among these are life, liberty, and the right to acquire, possess, enjoy and defend property. By the practice and consent of men in all ages, some system or form of government is proven to be necessary to exercise, enjoy, and secure these rights: and every people has a right to institute a government and to choose and adopt that system or form of it, which, in their opinion, will most effectually accomplish these objects, and secure their happiness, which does not interfere with the just rights of others. The right therefore to institute government, and all the powers necessary to conduct it, is an inalienable right, and cannot be resisted without the grossest injustice.

We, the people of the Republic of Liberia, were originally the inhabitants of the United States of North America.

In some part of that country, we were debarred by law from all the rights and privileges of men--in other parts, public sentiments, more powerful than law frowned us down.

We were every where shut out from all civil office.

We were excluded from all participation in the government.

We were taxed without our consent.

We were compelled to contribute to the resources of a country, which gave us no protection.

We were made a separate and distinct class, and against us every avenue to improvement was effectually closed. Strangers from all lands of a color different from ours, were preferred before us.

We uttered our complaints, but they were unattended to, or met only by alleging the peculiar institution of the country.

All hope of a favorable change in our country was thus wholly extinguished in our bosom, and we looked with anxiety abroad for some asylum from the deep degradation.

The Western coast of Africa was the place selected by American benevolence and philanthropy, for our future home. Removed beyond those influences which depressed us in our native land, it was hoped we would be enabled to enjoy those rights and privileges, and exercise and improve those faculties, which the God of nature has given us in common with the rest of mankind.

Under the auspices of the American Colonization Society, we established ourselves here, on land acquired by purchase from the lords of the soil.