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Show DECLARES UNCLE SI SHOULD HELP LIBERIA Booker T. Washington Discusses Dis-cusses Needs oi' Civilized Nc-; Nc-; groes in That Country. i NEW YORK, Fob. M. Indorsing Hie view of former Secretary Root thnt Liberia Li-beria -Is an American colony, Booker T Washington tonight declared that the situation In tho African republic was serious se-rious and that tho United Stntes was In duty bound to render practical assistance assist-ance to Liberia, which 'was established In 1819 hy the United States government and philanthropic Individuals. Mr. . Washlug-ton Washlug-ton said: "The present condition of Liberia In serious. Tbero aro nbout forty thousand civilized negroes, who have emigrated from the United States or are. descendants descend-ants of pcoplo who emigrated yoars ago. Back of Jhcso In the Hinterland aro about a million and a half of uncivilized pcoplo. "The present condition of Liberia, however, how-ever, need not surprise any one. In fact, tho surprise Is' that Liberia has maintained main-tained Itself as an Independent nation for so long a period with almost no help from outside sources, except that whlcii has been furnished by philanthropic Individuals. In-dividuals. Every European i country which has planted a colony In Africa has spent millions of dollars In assisting assist-ing their colonies. These European governments gov-ernments have also sent their best officials offi-cials to supervlso and guide the people until they have gotten 6tarted. In tho case of Liberia, a small hody of people Just out of slavery in this country, with no experience In government or tho eon-duct eon-duct of educational Institution.; or without with-out responsibility for their own conduct, were sent to a foreign country and thn responsibility placed upon them within a fow years of building and maintaining n government. "I do not, bc,He'e the condition oT Liberia Li-beria is hdpclc-ss, but I do bcllove this government owes, as Secretary Root says, a duty to tho country. We havo spent largo sums of money and given somo of our best pfflclals to reorganlzo ami build governments In the 'Philippines. Hawaii, Cuba, Porto Rico and Han Domingo, and we certainly owe an en.ual duty to Liberia. Li-beria. "I bcllcvo and hope the United States will carry out the recommendation mado to congross by former Secretary Root and by President Roosevelt In the dirertlon of lending practical assistance through tho sending of three commissioners to Liberia as early as possible. |