Excerpt from History of LiberiaIf 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 re¿ected the highest credit. The opportunities for a rounded out and fully developed culture afforded by the peculiar con ditions 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 diplo macy of Roberts, there have stood forth individuals of a quality and calibre that fill with surprise those who hold the ordinary Opinion of the possibilities of the Negro. The trials48 9] Introduction.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 pro duct 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 verv 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 ¿ourishing Republic of the black race just across the At lantic will react powerfully upon all questions relating to our own colored population.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.