254 LIBERIA. 



Ihropic societies in the United States about 1821. The idea, however, 

 in its genesis was the outcome of that still earlier movement in (Ireat 

 Britain which led to the formation of Sierra Leone. When British 

 philanthropy in the eighteenth century was aw^akened to the injustice 

 of the slave trade and the unhai^py condition of many of the runaway 

 slaves or freed negroes in the West Indies or in British America, it 

 was decided to repatriate a number of these people, and for that pur- 

 pose {possibly also with an eye to the main chance in securing for 

 Great Britain one of the few good natural harbors on the west coast 

 of Africa — Seirra Leone) a settlement was formed on the site of the 

 modern Free Town, without overmuch regard to the feelings or rights 

 of the local inhabitants. In the same v^ay, Avhen it was decided in the 

 United States to found a home for the repatriated African, the prior 

 experiment of Sierra Leone turned attention toward the same coast, 

 and in 1821 and at subsequent dates settlements were eifected, firstly 

 at Monrovia, and later on at Roberts Port, Grand Basa, Sino, and 

 Harper (Cape Palmas). Usually those who conducted the enterprise 

 went through the form of buying small plats of land from local head- 

 men or chiefs ; but, as a rule, the promoters of this movement did not 

 trouble overmuch about the rights of the " bush niggers," as the indig- 

 enous natives were termed. Consequently the first fifty years of the 

 history of Liberia were marked by constant struggles between the 

 Americo-Liberian invaders and the native blacks. During the last 

 ten years, however, there has been a marked advance in good rela- 

 tions between the American settlers and their native subjects, as many 

 of them may fairly be called. The wise policy of President Barclay 

 has greatly promoted this good feeling since 1904. He has been able 

 to assemble at different times at the capital chiefs or their represent- 

 atives from almost all parts of Liberia, even from the Mandingo dis- 

 tricts just beyond the limits of the coast belt. Therefore they have 

 no subject of disagreement. Curiously enough one example of this 

 mild rule of black by black is that the white man in Liberia is every- 

 w^here received with great friendliness, because he is not associated in 

 the minds of the natives with anything like conquest or oppression. 



How^ far the original experiment will succeed the next twenty 

 years will, perhaps, indicate. The negroes of American origin who 

 have settled in Liberia have not, as a general rule, been able to stand 

 the climate very much better than Europeans, and, as a rule, they 

 have not been able to rear large families of children. Yet it seems to 

 me as though Liberians of the new generation born in the country are 

 beginning to take hold, but this is partly due to the increasing and 

 I think very sensible practice of intermarriage with women of the fine, 

 vigorous, indigenous races. Probably the future of Liberia will be a 

 negro state very like Sierra Leone in its development, with English as 

 its government language, and such English or American institutions 



