The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-25
LTBERIA.

DAWuAh INOlOs ulbu VI pho
Republic of Liberia, in West Africa, was de-
ivered before the Legislature in joint con-
vention at Monrovia, on the Sd OF January,
1870 AS it has never before been published
in this country, it will be read with interest
Mr.. Roye, who is of pure African bloc :,
was born at Newark, Ohio, February 3, 1915.
He was educated at the Ohio University, at
Athens, Ohio, and at Oberlin College, Ohio.
He taught school in Chillicothe Ohio, in
1886, engaged in business at Terre Haute,
Ind, 1884, and removed to Liberia in
1S45, where he has since resided. He is esti-
mated to be worth moro than two hundred
thousand dollars He has been Speaker of
the House of Representatives, member of
the Senate, and also Chief Justice Of the Su-
preme Court of Liberia. He is member Of
the Protestant Episcopal Church. With en-
lghtened and patriotic views and purposes,
he enters upon his administration asking ''an
earnest interest in the prayers" of the good
and pious of his own country and of other
lands.
Gentlemen of tie Senate and House of
RepTesentdtGUGs, Friends, and F'eEL01o- CIti-
geRs:-Called by your suffrage to the respon-
sible position of President of the Republic of
Liberia, / have Just taken the oath and obli-
cation which the Constitution prescribes on
the induction of the Chief Magistrate.
/ have taken the oath with no mental re-
servation, fully determined to discharge all
the duties it involves to the best of my feeble
Judgment. The great constitution above all
constitutions is God, from whom cometh every
good and perfect gift: therefore before under
taking this important work, it is privileged
Christian duty to invoke the Divine guidance
and blessing upon everything which we, as
legislators and Executive, shall be required
to do in behalf of Liberia and Africa To
this end we devoutly ask an earnest interest
in the prayers not only of the good and pious
of our own country, but also of those of
other lands wheresoever Liberia and bleeding
Africa may have sincere Christian friends.
The Providence of God indicates His will.
He has assigned you seats in this honorable
body; but those seats can be made truly
honorable only by the faithful and efficient
manner in which you discharge your duties to
your constituents and to the nation generally.
And permit me to add that you will prove true
men only according as you acquit yourselves
for the good of your race and country, and no
further. And should you not prove true, it
is my firm belief that God in some way will
remove you to make room for Others
l believe that the object of our residence
on this coast is to bear some humble part in
bringing about the fulflment of that cheer
ing prophecy that Ethiopia shall stretch forth
her hands unto God. Who among us will
prove recreant to a trust of such magnitude,
and involving such important consequences
Some of us would not consent to hold any
office within the gift of the people, if the
emolument and honors were the only induce
ment. Riches and honors heaped up for
ourselves, in the midst of poor and igno-
minious masses around, whose wretched con-
dition can be relieved by directing public
affairs Alright are too insignificant to admit
either of consideration or comparison in this
connection.
am free to confess that if, under the gui-
dance of Divine Providence, and with the CO.
operation of the Legislature and the people,
1 could effect no good, no improvement in
the condition of Liberia, exerting benign in
fiuences upon the tribes by which we are
surrounded, and ultimately upon Africa
generally, and maintaining good
understanding with all nations by
fair and reciprocal comity-I would
much prefer the retirement Of private life.
For the interest of Christian foreigners in
Gods cause of Africa's regeneration is SO
great, that they will vie with us in promoting
it. But for this humble, yet pious conf.
dence, I would not think of accepting an
Office of such grave responsibilities in theil
inevitable consequences and onerous duties
to be performed, involving the unremittine
exercise of the powers of the body and the
mind. In the exercise of the latter, MAY
often err-since lit is human to err" vet i
shall not be an error of the heart, but of thc
head. Over errors arising from the head, il
or when such should unfortunately occur,
pray God to incline you to throw the veil O
Christian charity.
Neither the time nor the manner, nor tn
circumstance in which Ethiopia is to stretcl
forth her hands unto God, is declared Bu
believe that Liberia is called to engage il
the initiatory steps to bring about thi
glorious result.
In substance, / have asked, if you Lberlan
would not try, under God, to be the humbl
but efficient initiators of this great work 70
God and man. But a strong will, which j
indispensable, must precede, and have an
continue to exercise a moulding infuenc
upon the character, beginning, progress, an
completion Of the great work sought as q
end.
The manner in which agencies are to pre-
ceed is not indicated in the Bible. But it
fair to presume that the teeming millions q
this peninsula are to be regenerated chief
through indigenous agencies, yet those of a
exotic kind are to have share in furnishing
as it were, the key and handspring thereoi
Wherever Gods will concerning Africa
known, in or out of it, and religiously felt {
be q duty, there are men Of general INTEL
gence and means that will respond to the cal
The wise and good of every nation invite I
to redeem our race from the untold miserit
of a protracted African night. They call III
on the one hand, boldly to undertake tt
work, and on the other we are urged to exc
tion by the old calumnies against the negr
The low estimate at which the negro h1