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. | |
| December 21. 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. Wiltbergerremained 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.) | |
| August 18. Martello tower begun. | |
| August 31. Night watch established. | |
| September 1. King George removed his town. | |
| September 15. Mrs. Ashmun died; only one person well. | |
| November 7. Notice of planned attack. | |
| November 11. Battle. | |
| November 22. Parley. | |
| November 23. Day of humiliation, thanksgiving and prayer. | |
| November 29. Capt. Brassey’s visit. | |
| December 1. Second battle. | |
| December 2. Night cannonading; Prince Regent(Capt. Laing); Midshipman Gordon and men remain. | |
| December 8. Columbian schooner; (Capt. Wesley). | |
| 1823 | March 15. Remaining five children returned by natives. |
| March 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 inAfrica. |
| 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- 1845 | Strengthening of Liberian position, by purchase and treaty. |
| 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. |
| July 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 in1850. | |
| 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. | |
| February 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- 1887 | J. Buttikoper visits Liberia; zoological research. |
| 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- 1891 | Efforts at adjusting loan of 1871. |
| 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 conditionto 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 overresponsibility 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 gunarmament 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. |