y reward the labor of the gatherers and the enterprise of
the importers.

"But the social and moral aspects of this subject are still more
important. We are now expending life and treasure, in concert
with other nations, to suppress the African slave-trade, and it
is now generally conceded that such suppression can never be
effected by the means hitherto relied on. The colonization of the
Slave Coast, with direct reference to its Christianization and
civilization, is the only sure means of putting an end to this
inhuman traffic. And this colonization, all who are interested in
the work seem heartily to agree, would be immensely accelerated
by the establishment of a line of African steam-ships. Liberia,
now practically distant as Buenos Ayres, would, by such a line,
be brought as near us as Bremen, and the ports regularly visited
by our steamers could not fail rapidly to assume importance as
centres of commerce and of increasing intelligence and
industry."[24]

"THE COLONY OF LIBERIA AND ITS PROSPECTUS.--By every arrival from
Liberia we learn that the colony of free negroes from the United
States is progressing at a rate truly astonishing, and that
before many years it promises to be a strong and powerful
republic. The experiment of self-government has been completely
successful; the educational interests of the inhabitants are duly
cared for; civilization is making great headway among the
aborigines; and, by means of Liberia, there is a very flattering
prospect of the slave-trade on the coast of Africa being entirely
destroyed. Governor Roberts, a very intelligent colored man, of
mixed blood, goes even so far as to say that Liberia is destined
to rival the United States, and that both republics, by a unity
of action, can civilize and Christianize the world, and
especially benighted Africa. We are pleased to hear such good
accounts from Liberia, and we shall always be pleased to hear of
its success, and of the progress and welfare of its inhabitants.
Founded, as it has been, by American philanthropists, and peopled
by our emancipated slaves, the United States will ever watch its
progress with interest, and aid and assist it as far as it
possibly can."[25]

But notwithstanding the apparent favor the cause of colonization
received from the pr