The_Open_Door_deel1

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European. Its expense paid Ly the money of the
European, until it declared its independence.. They
lavished their money on the esiaLlishment of
schools, churches and other agencies for the elevation
of successive Lodies of Negro colonists (*,,)*
It was a European, too, who made possible, the annexation
of the State of daryland in Liberia to the
Republic (,.,) (but) By Organic law we shut him out
from citizenship, and de.nied him the rights of holding
real estate in fee simple. (...)
The. European having stood shoulder to shoulden. with
us in the Organization and building up of this State
naturally expected his reward. Shut out from privilelge
and propertyp but one thing remained with which
to compensate him for his Services, that was
Commercial Treedom (,..) But our policy of Commercial
freedom to the. European lasted but fifteen
short years." (9 8)
Barclay refers here to the 1850 - 1864 period,, as the first
Ports of Entry Law (enacted in 1849) had been repealed during
the following two years (see above). He expressed open disagreement
with the 1864 Ports of Entry law while continuing:
"(,..) In 7863, on a suspicion thai Europeans incited
the natives to rebel, but probably at the dictation
of Liberian traders, then all-powerful with the
electorate, the Port of Entry bill was passed,(. »»)
The restrictive poficy has been persisted in for
forty years. Are our traders richer than they were
in 1864? Has the national capital increased? Did
the exclusion of the European trader prevent native
wars? (...) He is still our banker. He still furnishes
capital for our Lusiness enterprises. His
money is still Leing poured out to build churches,
to pay ministerst serving not only native Lut also
Americo-LiLerian congregations. He is still founding
schools and colleges for our youth, (**,)" (99)
Concluding, he ends with the most surprising admission of this
Inaugural Address, accepting Liberia's economic dependance,
stating:
"(...) Ue can only save and develop our hinterland
Ly the help of the European trader. (...)" (100)
However, during his eight-year Administration President Arthur
Barclay was not successful in realising (parliamentary) support
for a basic change.
In his 1904 Inaugural Address President Barclay repeatedly indicated
that he was aware of the U.S. policy with respect to
China around the turn of the century, notably the Open Door
Policy which opened up this country (China) for European and
American trading and other economic influences and prevented
further seizure of territory by imperialistic European Powers.
It is highly probably that President Barclay wanted something
similar with respect to Liberia. Between 1883 and 1900 Liberia
had seen its territory considerably reduced by European colonial