Liberian Studies Journal
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
VOLUME XXVIII 2003 Number 2 LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL Published by THE LIBERIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION, INC. VOLUME XXVIX 2004 Number 1 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL Editorial Policy The Liberian Studies Journal is dedicated to the publication of original research on social, politi- cal, economic, scientific, and other issues about Liberia or with implications for Liberia. Opin- ions of contributors to the Journal do not necessarily reflect the policy of the organizations they represent or the Liberian Studies Association, publisher of the Journal. Manuscript Requirements Manuscripts submitted for publication should not exceed 25 typewritten, double-spaced pages, with margins of one-and a-half inches. The page limit includes graphs, references, tables and appendices. Authors may, in addition to their manuscripts, submit a computer disk of their work preferably in MS Word 2000 or WordPerfect 6.1 for Windows. Notes and references should be placed at the end of the text with headings, e.g., Notes; References. Notes, if any, should precede the references. The Journal is published in June and December. Deadline for the first issue is February, and for the second, August. Manuscripts should include a cover page that provides the title of the text, author's name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and affiliation. Anonymous referees will review all works. Manuscripts are accepted in English and French. Manuscripts must conform to the editorial style of either the Chicago Manual of Style, or The American Psychological Association (APA), or Modern Language Association (MLA). Authors should send their manuscripts for consideration by regular mail or e-mail attachments to: Amos J. Beyan, Editor Liberian Studies Journal Friedmann Hall, Department of History Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 269-387-2664 All Book Reviews should be mailed to: Phyllis Belt-Beyan, Associate Editor Liberian Studies Journal College of Education, Teaching, Learning & Leadership 3418 Sangren Hall Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 269-387-3898 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor VOLUME XXVIII 2003 Number 2 LIBERIAN STUDIES JOURNAL Guest Editor D. Elwood Dunn The University of the South Editor Amos J. Beyan Western Michigan University Associate Editor Phyllis Belt-Beyan Western Michigan University Book Review Editor Tim Geysbeek Grand Valley State University EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: William C. Allen, Virginia State University D. Elwood Dunn, Sewanee - The University of the South James N. J. Kollie, Sr., University of Liberia Alpha M. Bah, College of Charleston Warren d'Azevedo, University of Nevada Momo K. Rogers, Kpazolu Media Enterprises Christopher Clapham, Lancaster University Yekutiel Gershoni, Tel Aviv University Thomas Hayden, Society of African Missions Lawrence Breitborde, Knox College Svend E. Holsoe, University of Delaware Romeo E. Philips, Kalamazoo College Coroann Okorodudu, Rowan College of N. J. Henrique F. Tokpa, Cuttington University College LIBERIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Alpha M. Bah, College of Charleston, President Mary Moran, Colgate University, Secretary-Treasurer James Guseh, North Carolina State University, Parliamentarian Yekutiel Gershoni, Tel Aviv University, Past President Timothy A. Rainey, Johns Hopkins University Joseph Holloway, California State University-Northridge FORMER EDITORS Al-Hassan Conteh Amos J. Beyan C. William Allen Edward J. Biggane D. Elwood Dunn Svend Holsoe Jo Sullivan Edited at the History Department, Western Michigan University The Editors and Advisory Board gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Diether H. Haenicke, Institute for International and Areas Studies, the History Department, and the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, Western Michigan University. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 3 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION by D. Elwood Dunn, Guest Editor 5 THE LIBERIA REFINING COMPANY AND THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA: PRODUCT PRICING FORMULA by Earl D. Burrowes 7 TIME AND PLACE IN UPPER GRAND GEDEH, EASTERN LIBERIA by Svend E. Holsoe 29 THE FIRST REPUBLIC IN LIBERIA: THE EVOLUTION OF A SINGLE SOCIETY STATE by Yekutiel Gershoni 65 TO LIBERATE FROM AN ANOMALOUS CONDITION OR SECURE IN IGNORANCE AND WRETCHNESS? REASSESSING THE INTELLECTUAL ORIGINS OF THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCIETY by Andrew W. Kahr 74 A refereed journal that emphasizes the social sciences, humanities and the natural sciences, the Liberian Studies Journal is a semiannual publication devoted to studies on Africa's oldest Repub- lic. The annual subscription rate is US $40.00, US $15.00 for students, and US $50.00 for institutions. It includes membership in the Liberian Studies Association, Inc. All manuscripts and related matters should be addressed to Dr. Amos J. Beyan, Editor, Liberian Studies Journal, Friedmann Hall, Department of History, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008. Subscriptions and other business matters should be directed to Dr. Mary Moran, Secre- tary-Treasurer, Liberian Studies Association, Inc., Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Colgate University, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, New York 13346-1398. E-mail: [email protected] Copyright © 2003 by the Liberian Studies Association ISSN 0024 1989 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 5 Introduction Combined Volume 28 Number 2 (2003) and Volume 29 Number 1 (2004) is the last of the special issues. As was the case with the first combined issue of Volume 27, Number 2 (2002) and Volume 28, Number 1 (2003) this issue includes articles and documents, four articles and ten documents. An important feature of the first article about the Liberia Refining Company is an eyewitness account of the plane crash off the Coast of Sinoe County that claimed in 1975 the life of then Finance Minister Stephen Allen Tolbert and a number of his co-workers at the Finance Ministry. The second article is an over view of Grand Gedeh County culled from a 1985 project Handbook for Rural Radio; the third article treats what is termed a one "society state" in Liberia; and the fourth article discusses the misleading view that Liberia was established by emancipated African Americans. The ten Documants range from international interest in a politically motivated contempt of court case in the early sixties to a series of addresses and orations shedding light on Liberia in the forties, fifties, and sixties. It is climaxed with two documents - Tubman's last acceptance speech before his political party as he accepted nomination for an unprecedented seventh term of office as president of Liberia (his death six months later precluded his election to the seventh term), and an important University of Liberia Commencement address delivered in December 1980 by the renowned social activist Albert Porte. As I have had the cause to do this before, I thank the Editor Amos J. Beyan and the members of the Editorial Advisory Board for calling upon me to render this service to the Liberian Studies Association. Guest Editor, Dr. D. Elwood Dunn The Alfred Walter Negley Professor of Political Science The University of the South Liberian Studies Journal, XXVIII, 2 (2003) PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor l 7 The Liberia Refining Company and the Government of Liberia: Product Pricing Formula by Earl D. Burrowes * In the last decade, Liberia and Liberians have seen an alarming trend in the loss of official documentation, personal libraries, and elder statesmen and women. This may dictate that the more recent history of Liberia be drawn from stereotyped media reports, maligned or cynical Liberianists and outright gossip. In light of the predomi- nantly negative presentation of Liberia's past history, the future of accurately reporting on Liberia's history looks dismal. Coupled with the foregoing is the failure of that country more recent leaders to document the reasoning that went into the more recent political, economic, and social decisions and policies. Again, this has left the door open to critics who generally assume that these, often times controversial, decisions were based (intended pun) on official corruption and greed. In this vein, it behooves all Liberians, independent minded intellectuals of Liberia, and well-intended organizations to assist in facilitating the recording (written and oral) and preserving what is left of Liberia's historical data. This includes preserving those records that are still available, and encouraging those who witnessed recent his- tory in the making, to objectively record their experience and memory before it is too late. In June of 1989, D. Elwood Dunn wrote asking me to share my "experience with the refinery for-possible publication in the Liberian Studies Journal." That letter started this project. In a publication in Liberian Studies Journal, XIV, 1 (1989), PP 1-12, Garland R. Farmer - an American