The_Open_Door_deel1

-24-
activities of foreigners in the Republic - their dominance had
resulted in 1864 in the Ports of Entry Law - and was opposed to
the territorial expansion of Liberia into the interior. In both
cases the commercial interests of wealthy mulatto traders/politicians
explained this point of view. The trade with the tribal
people of the interior was indeed controlled by the mulatto
colonists (50), This group of energetic colonists dominated internal
political affairs of the Republic - since their arrival
in the country (prior to 1832) and up to the 1870's. However,
gradually the second group of colonists (those who had arrived
in the Colony between 1832 and 1843) became more important -
with the gradual disappearance af the members of the first
group. An important characteristic of this second group of emigrants
was that less than one third of them could "write",
"spell",, or "read and write" to some degree (51). This partly
explains the decline of economic activities of the colonists
after a period of steady economic expansion, as well as the
political developments after 1870,
The 1869 presidential elections,! one of the most fiercely contested
elections in Liberian history (52) - which against an
historical background is not without political significance -
were won by the candidate of the True Whig Party, Edward James
Roye. He was reported to be a pure descendent of the Ibo tribe,
born in the U.S.A. and an American College graduate who, though
he had not come to Liberia until 1846, was one of the wealthiest
men in Liberia in 1869 (53). Like Edward Wilmot Blyden, one of
his closest friends, he resented the mulatto settlers. Roye had
won the presidential elections with the slogan "Internal expansion
and economic development", and had been greatly impressed
by the outcome of Anderson's expedition. His views were clearly
expressed in his Inaugural Address to the Liberian Legislature,
on January 3* 1870:
"(»...) Ue must adhere to the binding requirement of the
constitution; but such laws should be enacted from time
to time in the progress of our development as shall encourage
and invite foreign capitalists to make investments
in the country. (..,)" (54)
His policy was based on the construction of railroads which he
s upposed
"(.,.) will have wonderful influence in the civilization
and elevation of the native, tribes. The barriers of heathenism
and superstition will disappear before the railroad
and its concomii ants as frost, snow, and ice dissolve
before a summer's sun, (,.,)" (55),
He saw the future of the country closely linked with that of the
Liberian tribes. The improvement and the incorporation of these
tribes, and the formation of friendly alliances with tribes from
the interior (certainly he thought here of the people Anderson
had met) were declared goals of his Administration. However, he
too looked abroad for the building up of Liberia. He sought* external
assistance for his ambitious plans from "the thousands of
N eg roes now in exile, who are looking for some permanent home"
(56), Not surprisingly therefore he stated that "It shall be the
constant endeavor of the administration to stimulate
immigration" (57).