Answer.—The negro republic of Liberia owes its origin and much of its prosperity to American philanthropy and enterprise. Dec. 31, 1816, a body of energetic men organized themselves into the American Colonization Society, with Henry Clay for President, their aim being to establish an African colony for freed negroes. Not until six years later did they succeed in inducing the African princes of Guinea to favor their plan; but in 1821 a treaty was concluded by which they obtained a tract of land 500 miles long and 50 miles wide on the grain coast of Upper Guinea. Thereupon the society began at once the exportation of colonists. To each man was given 30 acres, together with the means for cultivating the land. The first town was Monrovia. The form of government adopted was that of the United States, and the country is universally recognized as an independent republic. Since 1847, when the protection of the United States was withdrawn, Liberia has enjoyed a certain prosperity, since more schools and churches have been established in proportion to the population than in Great Britain or America. But as to wealth and political influence it has failed. Only about 19,000 negroes have emigrated from our country, but surrounding tribes have been added gradually to their territory, and the present population is estimated to number 1,068,000, of whom about 18,000 are Americo-Liberians. About 50,000 have learned the English language and 3,000 are Christians. The chief products are sugar, palm oil, cocoa, cotton, coffee, arrow-root, and rice.
THE ARGENTINE CONFEDERATION.
Pilzen, Neb.
Be so kind as to name the States composing the Argentine Confederation, their areas and population, and a few of the chief facts as to the government and condition of the country.
Vesper.
Answer.—The Argentine Confederation is composed of a group of fourteen States or Provinces, and four Territories, whose population, according to the census of 1869, and estimated areas are as follows:
| Provinces— | Areas. | Population. |
| Buenos Ayres, on the coast | 63,000 | 495,107 |
| Santa Fe, on the coast | 18,000 | 89,218 |
| Entre Rios, on the coast | 45,000 | 134,235 |
| Corrientes, on the coast | 54,000 | 129,023 |
| Rioja, Andes | 31,500 | 48,746 |
| Catamarca, Andes | 31,500 | 79,962 |
| San Juan, Andes | 29,700 | 60,319 |
| Mendoza, Andes | 54,000 | 65,413 |
| Cordova, Central | 54,000 | 210,508 |
| San Luis, Central | 18,000 | 53,294 |
| Santiago del Estero, Central | 31,500 | 132,898 |
| Tucuman, Central | 13,500 | 108,904 |
| Salta, Northern | 45,000 | 88,933 |
| Jujuy, Northern | 27,000 | 40,362 |
| Total | 515,700 | 1,736,922 |
| Territories— | ||
| Gran Chaco | 125,612 | 45,291 |
| Missiones (1879) | 23,932 | 32,472 |
| Pampas | 191,842 | 21,000 |
| Patagonia | 347,400 | 24,000 |
| Total | 688,796 | 122,763 |
This shows a total population in 1869 of 1,859,685. The present population is believed to be over 2,500,000. By the treaty of 1881 between the Argentine Confederation and Chili, the latter concedes to the former all the territory east of the crest of the eastern ridge of the Andes, including a small part of Terra del Fuego, and the greater part of Patagonia. The form of government is republican. The President is elected for six years by an electoral college, composed of 133 representatives chosen by the several states. The National Congress is composed of a Senate of twenty-eight members, two from each state, or province, and a house of fifty members, apportioned according to population. There are five ministers, viz.: The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Interior, Finance, War, and Education. Each of the provinces has a governor and legislature elected by a popular vote. A large part of this vast country consists of rich, alluvial plains, called pampas, similar to the prairies of this country, with a soil four or five feet thick, formed for the most part, like our prairie soil, by the decay of luxurious vegetation. Immense herds of cattle and sheep are raised on these grand prairies, furnishing the principal exports, hides, tallow, wool, and canned meats. In 1881 the horned cattle were estimated at 18,000,000 head, and the sheep at 100,000,000. The exports of the country amounted to $56,497,423, and the imports to $54,029,545. Most of this trade is between Buenos Ayres—the capital, having a population of about 200,000, and European, chiefly English, ports. Twelve lines of steamers run to Europe, making the trip in an average period of twenty-nine days. The revenue for 1881 was $24,349,450, derived almost wholly from import and export dues. The expenditures amounted to $26,747,480, and the national debt has grown to $107,681,639, a considerable part of which is represented by recent public improvements: railways, bridges, roads, etc. There are now about 1,600 miles of railway and 10,000 miles of telegraph in the country. The laws recognize no difference between natives and foreigners, and of late foreign immigration, mostly from Spain and Italy, has been flowing in at a steadily increasing rate, amounting now to about 50,000 per annum.