410

1038 HISTORICAL ANNOTATION

composed of several different tribes, including the Kru and Grebo. Emigration to
Liberia from the United States continued well into the 1870s; many of the new settlers
were "recaptives," Africans rescued from the now illegal slave ships. Despite their
belief that Africa was a "Promised Land," America-Liberians carried over many
American customs and social standards. Both the Americo-Liberians and many of the
recaptives considered themselves both American and superior to the indigenous tribal
Africans. The government of Liberia was ostensibly democratic and was modeled
after that of the United States. The True Whig party, led by Americo-Liberians, domi-
nated Liberian politics, often offering the only candidates for office, until 12 April
1980, when a military coup d'etat took control of the nation. Liebenow, Liberia,
11-29, 88-92, 184-96; Robert Rinehart, "Historical Setting," in Liberia, ed. Nelson,
1-32; Irving Kaplan et al., "The Society and Its Environment," in ibid., 70-72.
483.10 Professor Greener] Philadelphia-born Richard T. Greener (1844-1922)
was the first African American to graduate from Harvard College, graduating in 1870.
Greener then read law and was admitted to the bar in South Carolina in 1876. He
taught at Howard University's Law Department and then became dean (1879-80). He
came into conflict with Frederick Douglass, who then served as a Howard University
trustee, over the issue of western migration for African Americans. As secretary of the
Exodus Committee, Greener advocated migration to Kansas, but Douglass strongly
opposed the Exoduster Movement. Following the disbanding of Howard University's
law school in 1880, Greener worked as a lawyer and campaigned for the Republican
party in 1884. In 1885 he secured appointment as chief examiner for the New York
City Civil Service Board, maintaining that post until 1889. In 1898 he was appointed
the first U.S. consul to Vladivostok, Russia, remaining there until 1905. Greener later
settled in Chicago, where he worked for an insurance company, and became active in
the Niagara Movement. Allison Blakely, "Richard T. Greener and the 'Talented
Tenth's' Dilemma," JNH, 59:305-21 (October 1974); ANB, 9:535-37; DAB,
7:578-79.

483.13-14 Rev. W. W. Hicks] Born in Wales, William Watkin Hicks (c. 1836-?)
immigrated to central Pennsylvania with his parents in 1848. He began a career in the
Methodist Episcopal church in 1861 as a missionary to India. After returning to
America in 1863 because of illness. Hicks was called to minister at churches in
Frederick, Maryland, and then in Brooklyn.In 1868 he moved south and held ministe-
rial positions in Charleston, Macon, and Savannnah before moving to Jacksonville.
Florida, around 1875, where he won a seat in the state Legislature as a Liberal
Republican. While there Hicks also served as the superintendent of public instruction
from 1875 to 1876. Hicks joined Douglass during speaking engagements at least
twice. The first occasion was in New York City for a Republican campaign stop on
25 October 1880. Then on 26 September 1881 Hicks spoke with Senator John M.
Langston and Douglass at a memorial meeting for President Garfield. Following
Garfield's assassination, Hicks, now a Presbyterian minister in Washington. D.C.,
became the spiritual adviser to the assassin, Charles J. Guiteau, for his trial and execu-