The_Open_Door_deel1

VI
Tubman was very well aware of the clashes and struggles between
the tribal people and the Americo-Liberians as he grew up in
one of the most turbulent parts of the country, Maryland County.
Here the Grebos and Krus fought numerous battles against the
suppression and domination of the central government. As a young
man he had, on more than one occasion, participated in military
campaigns of the Government to put down uprisings of these peoples
in his county whilst his uncle had been devoured during
one of these revolts. In his first Inaugural Address he said on
the subject of Internal Policy:
"(.*.) we shall engage, in and strive, at the. assimilation
and unification of our various populations composing the
Lody politic. Liberia must He a place for all LiLerians
to live in alike - all to stand egually privileged, responsible
and protected Ly like administration of law.
All clases of Our people must Le made to fuse and coalesce
into a solid whole." (7)
The task before him was a heavy one. The country's fortunes and
misfortunes had always been determined by not more than 30 families,
although they never ruled simultaneously (8).
President Tubman, although an Americo-Liberian like all his predecessors
in the highest office in the country, introduced more
changes than anyone before him, though he embraced the idea of
national unification out of sheer economic necessity. His farsightedness
made him realise that in order to succeed in his
Open Door Policy he needed some kind of Unification Policy. Further,
to make full use of the non-Airerico-Liberian labour potential
in the country he had to accord these unprivileged peoples
certain rights. In doing so he would win additional political
support also. But he never went as far as giving them the same
rights as the Americo-Liberians were enjoying, both in the legal
and in the practical sense. He never allowed the free and full
exercise of the freedom of association for the tens of thousands
of unskilled rubber tappers, all tribesmen. He did not respect
the freedom of the press: he subsidised pro-government private
newspapers from public funds but did not allow opposition publications.
He feared that an uncontrolled increase of the power
of the aborigines would form a threat to the dominance of the
settler-elite, which it undoubtedly would have done. Therefore,
he said in the same Inaugural Address in 1944:
"Uhai is termed the "AmericO-LiLerian population" is diminishing.
It needs vigorous new Llood of our own race
from without to assist in the. Herculean task set Lefore
them as the LearerS of the torch of Christianity and
civilization to their uncivilized Lrethren.
I am therefore wholly inclined to the view that we should
use every legiiimaie means at our disposal to encourage
the immigration of our kith and kin to Liberia from, the
United States." (9)
This outward oriented search for a solution for Liberia's economic
and social problems was typical of President Tubman, his predecessors
and the ruling class of Americo-Liberians of which they
were the exponents, ffhey all feared a stronger participation of