FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
There are but few more interesting spots in
Africa than the little corner of the west coast occupied by
the Republic of Liberia. It has been the scene of a series
of experiments absolutely unique in history experiments from
which we are to derive the knowledge upon which we must rely
in the solution of the weighty problems connected with the
development of a dark continent, and with the civilization
of hundreds of millions of the human race. Many questions
have arisen which have not been settled to our complete
satisfaction. Is the Negro capable of receiving and
maintaining a superimposed civilization? Froude declares
that "the worst enemies of the blacks are those who persist
in pressing upon them an equality which nature has denied
them. They may attain it in time if they are fairly treated,
but they can attain it only on condition of going through
the discipline and experience of hundreds of years, through
which the white race had to pass before it was fit for
political rights. If they are raised to a position for which
they are unqualified, they can only fall back into a state
of savagery." Upon the truth or error of this view how
much depends! It is shared by many; some even believe that
the condition of Liberia tends to confirm it, thinking they
discern signs of incipient decay. But the great
preponderance of opinion is on the other side. The weight of
evidence shows the colonists have at the lowest estimate
retained the civilization they took with them. Many maintain
that there has been a sensible advance. A recent traveler
describes them as "in mancher Hinsicht schon hypercultivirt."
What might be called a third position is taken by one of the
most prominent writers of the race, E.W. Blyden, the widely
known President of Liberia College. The radical difference
in race and circumstance must, he thinks, make African
civilization essentially different from European: not
inferior, but different. The culture which the blacks have
acquired, or may attain in further contact with foreign
influence, will be used as a point of departure in future
intelligent development along lines following the
characteristics of the race. This tendency to differentiate
he regards as natural and inevitable; it ought to be
recognized and encouraged in every way, that the time may be
hastened when a great negro civilization, unlike anything we
have yet seen, shall prevail in Africa and play its part in
the world's history.
If we make allowance for the errors and mistakes of an
untrained and inexperienced people, the history of Liberia
may be regarded as a demonstration of the capacity of the
race for self government. Upon the capability of individuals
is reflected the highest credit. The opportunities for a
rounded out and fully developed culture afforded by the
peculiar conditions of life in the Republic produced a
number of men who deserve unqualified admiration. From the
earliest days of the colony, when Elijah Johnson upheld the
courage of the little band in the midst of hostile swarms of
savages, to the steadfast statesmanship of Russwurm and the
stately diplomacy of Roberts, there have stood forth
individuals of a quality and caliber that fill with surprise
those who hold the ordinary opinion of the possibilities of
the Negro. The trials of the Republic have afforded a
crucial test in which many a character has shown true metal.
It is not too much to assert that the very highest type of
the race has been the product of Liberia.
There are other aspects in which our tropical offspring has
for us a vital interest. Perhaps the most important is the
connection it will have in the future with what is called
the Negro Problem in our own country. There have been and
are thoughtful men who see in colonization the only solution
of its difficulties. Others ridicule the very suggestion. It
is a question into which we do not propose to go. But there
is scarcely any doubt that when the development of Liberia
is a little more advanced, and when communication with her
ports becomes less difficult, and when the population of the
United States grows more dense and presses more upon the
limits of production, there will be a large voluntary
migration of negroes to Africa. And no one will deny that
the existence of a flourishing Republic of the black race
just across the Atlantic will react powerfully upon all
questions relating to our own colored population.
But let us not venture too deeply into this theme. Another
claim of Liberia upon the sympathetic interest of the entire
people, is that it represents our sole attempt at colonial
enterprise. It is true the movement was largely individual,
but the effort came from a widespread area of the country;
moreover, the part played by the National Government was not
only important, but essential. Without its friendly
intervention, the plan could never have been carried out.
The action carries with it some responsibility. The United
States might well exercise some protective care, might now
and then extend a helping hand, and let the aggressive
Powers of Europe see that Liberia is not friendless, and
that encroachment upon her territory will not be tolerated.
A few words upon the topography of the country and upon the
aborigines may not be out of place. Liberia is by no means
the dreary waste of sand and swamp that some imagine it. The
view from the sea has been described as one of unspeakable
beauty and grandeur. From the low lying coast the land rises
in a terraced slopea succession of hills and plateaux as far
as the eye can reach, all covered with the dense perennial
verdure of the primeval forest. Perhaps the best authority
on the natural features of the country is the zoölogist of
the Royal Museum of Leyden, J. Büttikofer, who has made
Liberia several visits and spent several years in its
scientific exploration. The account of his investigations is
most interesting. Small as is the area of the country all
kinds of soil are represented, and corresponding to this
variety is a remarkably rich and varied flora. Amidst this
luxuriance is found an unusually large number of products of
commercial value. Cotton, indigo, coffee, pepper, the
pineapple, gum tree, oil palm, and many others grow wild in
abundance, while a little cultivation produces ample crops
of rice, corn, potatoes, yams, arrowroot, ginger, and
especially sugar, tobacco, and a very superior grade of
coffee. The fertility of the soil renders possible the
production of almost any crop.
The fauna of the land is scarcely less remarkable in variety
and abundance. The larger animals, including domestic cattle
and horses, do not thrive on the coast, but are plentiful
farther inland. On the Mandingo Plateau, elephants are not
uncommon. Buffaloes, leopards, tigers, antelopes,
porcupines, the great ant eater, divers species of monkeys,
and numerous other animals are found, besides many varieties
of birds.
The native Africans inhabiting this territory are probably
more than a million in number, and belong to several
different stocks of somewhat varying characteristics. The
most common type is of medium size, well formed, coal black
in color and rather good looking. They are intelligent and
easily taught, but are extremely indolent. Their paganism
takes the form of gross superstition, as seen in their
constant use of gree gree charms and in their sassa wood
ordeal. Like all the races of Africa, they are polygamists;
and as the women manage the farms and do nearly all the
work, a man's wealth and importance are often estimated by
the number of his wives. Domestic slavery is universal among
them, the great majority of slaves being obtained by capture
in war. These inter-tribal wars were once almost constant,
and their prevention requires the utmost vigilance of the
Liberian authorities.
The natives harvest rice and cassada; supply the coasting
trader's demand for palm oil; raise tobacco; procure salt by
evaporating sea water; engage in hunting and fishing. They
carry on a number of rude industries such as the manufacture
of basket work, hats, mats, fish nets; a crude sort of
spinning and weaving. Iron ore exists in abundance, and the
natives have long known how to smelt it and obtain the
metal, from which they manufacture rude weapons, spurs,
bits, stirrups and kitchen utensils. The cheapness of
imported iron ware has driven out this interesting art on
the coast; but in the interior it is still practiced by the
Mandingoes, who are also fine goldsmiths, and manufacture
highly ornamented rings. There are also silversmiths among
the Veys, who do good work. The leather industry, too, has
been carried to some perfection.
With all their disadvantages the natives seem to extract a
good deal of enjoyment out of existence. They are very fond
of singing and dancing to the rude strains of a drum and
harp, and usually prolong their revelries far into the
night.
Taken as a whole, the native character has many fine traits;
and from the civilization and development of this part of
her population, Liberia has much to hope.
