Liberia ^ 



and blue. Holland was apparently the first to start this arrange- 

 ment, Great Britain followed suit in the reign of Queen Anne, 

 then the United States, France, Russia, half a dozen South 

 American republics and the kingdom of Servia. If those who 

 directed the shaping of Liberia had given a little thought and 

 attention to this important symbolism, they would certainly 

 not have chosen a combination of colours which has no reference 

 whatever to the characteristics of the Liberian Republic. If 

 ever Liberia decides to make a change in her Constitution (of 

 which the flag design is a part), the present writer respectfully 

 recommends for adoption a design like the one of which he 

 gives an example. In this the stripes would be black and 

 golden yellow, with one white stripe in the middle, and in the 

 left-hand corner a white star on a green ground. Instead of the 

 spear-head of the flag-staff, the writer would suggest a white 

 cross with an olive branch, indicative of Christianity and peace. 

 The predominating black would of course represent the pre- 

 dominating Negro type in the State ; the yellow would represent 

 those African races which have mingled anciently with the 

 Caucasian — Mandingos and Fulas — who are, and may be still 

 more in the future, inhabitants of the interior highlands. The 

 one white line across the flag would be the recognition on the 

 part of Liberia that she owes her existence to the impulse of 

 White America, and perhaps also to occasional acts of kindly 

 help from Great Britain and France, that the Black Republic on 

 the West coast of Africa by no means excludes White enterprise 

 or energy from its territories, just as it may aspire at a future 

 day to see its citizens trading without fear or favour in the 

 white countries of the world. Green must be the special colour 

 of Liberia, as representing the forest land far excellence of all 

 Africa, the most densely forested State in the African common- 

 wealth. In these rich forests, nevertheless, will shine (the 



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