Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1888 — THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA. [ARTICLE]

THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA.

Interesting Statistics About the Curi--9 ous Little Negro Nation. New York Graphic. The President appointed a few days since a new Minister and Consul General to Liberia. Every President who has been in office since the foundation of the little African Republic has had’a chance to nominate three or four men as our representatives there. The troub e is that no American, black or white, can live on the coast. Hence the man who goes there to act as Consul General either resigns in a short time or else he dies. There is not much known about Republic in this country, but ex-Minister Taylor, who returned from there lately, gives the Graphic some interesting information about the country and its resources. He puts the value of the private property in that country at $1,000,000, or $1 per capita. The “Nation” has a bonded indebtedness of $2,000,000, and over $7,000,000 have been sent to it by benevolent persons in this country and England. There are about as many Cabinet Ministers as in the United States. There are only four post-offices in the country. The Navy consists of two gunboats, presented by the English Government, which are rotting on the sand. Some time ago the President of the United States recommended to Congress the giving to the infant Republic of two old war vessels, but the offer was rejected unless crews and provisions for ten years were provided. The army consists of one regiment numbering 417 men, of whom 388 are. officers and 29 privates. The President’s body guard numbers 19, of whom 17 are officers. In some of the counties'there are not enough citizens to hold the offices, but in the others -there are just about enough to go round. Class distinctions prevail to the extent they did in the Southern States durings la very times. The citizens domineer over the savages and often use - them cruelly. Their boys make the young savages carry them on their back to school and do all kinds of work for them. Candidates for admission to the bar ary required to read the first chapter of John’s Gospel and to spell the columns of words in Webster’s spelling book as “publication.” They mast also read the laws passed by the last session of Congress. The Legislative Atfeembly consists of two branches, the Upper House having eight members and the Lower House, thirteen. The annual session generally lasts two weeks, and the laws enaetecWll about three pages.