Con embraced the Christian religion. Christian civilization is gradually extending to the native Africans. Trade, not the horrid traffic in human blood,that most awful curse to poor Africa,—but legitimate, honorable commerce, is increasing among them. They imitate the Liberians in the construction of their houses and style of dress. The useful arts generally begin to appear among them. Many send their children to the colonial schools, and the tribes within the limits of the Liberian and Maryland settlements refer their quarrels and differences for arbitration to the constituted authorities of the republic. Gladly does the philanthropist discover that this important and cheering theme is a leading topic in all the messages of President Roberts. In his inaugural address we find the following noble sentiment: "I have the highest reason to believe that it was one of the greatest objects of the Almighty in establishing these colonies, that they might be the means of introducing civilization and religion among the barbarous nations of this country. And to what work more noble could our powers be applied than that of bringing up from darkness, debasement, and misery our fellow-men, and shedding abroad over them the light of science and Christianity? The means of doing so, fellow-citizens, are in our reach; and if we neglect, or do not make use of them, what excuse shall we make to our Creator and final Judge? This is a question of the deepest concern to us all." From a late number of the Liberia Herald we learn that " in every village in Liberia there are scores of adult natives who have abandoned the superstitious rites and ceremonies of their fathers, and assumed those of civilization. In fact, so complete is the reformation in some cases that a stranger on visiting some of our towns and villages will not be able to discriminate between those born and reared amid the most degraded of heathenish idolatry." As a religious community Liberia has been highly favored. About one-third of its entire immigrant population belong to some Christian Church. There are nearly thirty churches, which employ the services of between forty and fifty preachers. Bishop Paine estimates that the jurisdiction of the Liberian Republic will eventual ly extend itself six hundred miles along the coast and two hundred into the interior. "Here, then," in his own cheering language, "a territory, containing besides American colonists, one hundred and twenty thousand square miles, and not far from five millions of aborigines, is the sphere to which Providence directs American philanthropy and Christianity." whether a salute from the vessel would be returned? Governor Roberts promptly answered that it could not, as the proposed day would be the Sabbath. A similar declinature had been made to the Prince de Joinville in 1842. So intent, however, was the British captain to honor the infant republic, that he fired the national salute upon Sunday, after which he immediately sailed. A people who thus honor God's Sabbath will be blessed of Heaven! Where else, we cannot but ask, can such evidences of national virtue and morality be found? Not, certainly, in our own boasted land of fairer skins and Anglo-Saxon blood. The Methodist Episcopal Church has an important mission in Liberia. It is formed with a regular conference, composed of three presiding elders' districts, with circuits, stations, and schools. This mission now embraces the whole territory, including the Maryland colony and native town, whose population reaches one hundred and forty thousand. There are twenty-one members of the conference, with over twelve hundred communicants, being about one-seventh of the colonial population, twenty Sunday-schools, containing more than seven hundred scholars, with several literary institutions, having in all five hundred pupils. So important was this field of Christian labor considered by the last General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, that it desired that one of its bishops should visit these African missions. Bishop Scott performed this episcopal duty early in the past year, spending over two months in visiting the various settlements upon the coast and performing his ministerial offices. Upon his return he wrote a very interesting letter, which was pub-cultivated natives in the vicinity. Among lished. In it he says:— "I feel, however, prompted to remark that in my judgment there is no history of colonization, and of the uprising of a new nation, so strongly marked by providential guardianship and interposition as is that of Liberia." The bishop also thus strongly indorses the public character and morals of the people : "The government of the Republic of Liberia, which is formed on the model of our own, and is wholly in the hands of colored men, seems to be exceedingly well administered. I never saw so orderly a people. I saw but one intoxicated colonist while in the country, and I heard not one profane word. The Sabbath kept with singular strictness, and the churches are crowded with attentive and orderly worshipers." In the month of December, 1848, the English frigate Acteon touched at Monrovia, and an officer landed to inquire In the picturesque scenery that catches the eye of the voyager, coasting along the shores of Western Africa, few points present greater attraction than the little city of Monrovia. It is the seat of government of the infant republic, situated near the mouth of the Mesurado River, about four miles from the ocean, in lat. 6° 19′ north. Occupying an elevated site, the place commands a fine view of the Atlantic toward the west and south, and to the east and north of mountains and forestclad hills. Scattered about the settlement may be seen the comfortable dwellinghouses, gardens, and farms of immigrants, amid tropical fruit-trees of every variety. This pleasing scene of refinement, industry, and comfort, contrasts strongly with the rude abodes of the un the most conspicuous edifices is the elegant and substantial mansion of President Roberts a two-story brick dwelling, with out-buildings, and located directly opposîte the old government house, near the center of the town. The presidential mansion, like many other houses in Monrovia, is comfortably and elegantly furnished, the owner living in a style of ease, refinement, and affluence. Most of the residences have gardens, very handsomely ornamented with shrubs, flowers, and fruit-trees. Here may be found growing, in this land of perpetual spring, the orange, lemon, and mango, the luxuriant guava, the broad-leaved plantain, the fragrant white-blossomed coffee, and other tropical productions. President Roberts has recently been reëlected, by his fellow-citizens, the chief magistrate of the Liberian Republic. His wise and prudent administration has produced friendly relations with the native tribes, which, from present appearances, promise to be permanent. From letters written in July last he observes : "I have good reason to hope that we shall have no future occasion to employ military force, either there or elsewhere, in maintaining the majesty of the laws." In referring to the new republic he remarks: "I believe it to be the design of Heaven that a nation of colored persons should be raised up in Africa; and it strikes me as being the only place where the colored man can raise himself to his legitimate position in society. Why, sir, there is no country in the world-I say it fearlessly that offers to the colored man greater inducements and advantages, social, political, and pecuniary, than Liberia; and I am clearly of opinion that the only feasible hope of the African race with respect to obtaining and maintaining an equality with other races of men is a separate and distinct nationality." Some important truths have been demonstrated in the Liberian Republic. Its legislators, civil and military officers, have been all for some years colored men. The world's history does not furnish another such instance of rapid advancement in any colony, especially by emigrants who had previously enjoyed so few advantages of education. In his official communications to foreign governments President Roberts has evinced a thorough acquaintance with in Liberia has an enlightened republican government. Its citizens enjoy good laws, among which is one for the support of widows and orphans, providing clothing for emancipated slaves, and compelling parents to send their children to school from the age of five to twelve, under the penalty of a fine of $3 a quarter for noncompliance. This is a step further than we have gone in the great State of NewYork. Life, liberty, and property are just as secure to the Liberians as to us in the United States, and more so, it is melancholy to add, than is the case in some of our proud American cities. The Sabbath is more hallowed by the Liberians than by the Americans. It is calculated that about one-third of the entire population belongs to some Christian church; and, in April last, Rev. Francis Burns, superintendent of the Methodist Missions in Western Africa, wrote: "For one I feel there are Christians enough in Liberia alone, if they will give themselves wholly to the Lord, to evangelize the conti nent.' They are also far ahead of us in the temperance cause, which is another indication of their moral advancement. In the history of our world the establishment of this republic is an astonishing fact-one of the most interesting and important events in this age of great enterprises. We behold the settlement having now reached its thirty-first year of existence, in some respects the most remarkable that has appeared upon the pages of history, and prosperous to a degree that must be cheering to the heart of every philanthropist and Christian. a great, free, and Christian empire have been laid in Africa, which is equally to bless two continents. It may justly challenge admiration as a vast and successful Christian enterprise; and is, at the same time, a convincing proof and brilliant illustration of the capacity of the colored race for self-government. Do any doubt this? We point to Roberts, once a humble cabin-boy upon the Appomattox River, now the president of an independent, We believe that the foundations of rising republic in Africa! |