Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-07-15

are indebted for a vast addition to
previous knowledge, as to the true
condition and character of internal
Africa. The veil is but slightly raised,
but il has disclosed much that the
world did not know, and corrected
many errors in which it long indulged
Many more, which relate to the men
as well as to the character of Africa,
have to be corrected hereafter. 1t
should be the subject Of rejoicing that
the correction of these errors breaks
down the barriers which have hereto
fore stood in the way of African civil
ization. Behind the veil which igno-
rance had thrown over them we be-
hold country, people and products,
capable of the highest cultivation, and
promising the greatest wealth. 1t is
land for the noblest schemes and the
broadest enterprise. The vain theories
of an inferior intellect, doomed by the
laws Of nature to eternal degradation,
may pass current on the banks of the
American Chattahoochee, but disap-
pear on the African Zambesi. The
vision Of sandy deserts disappears in
the valley of the Barotse. Slavery it.
self disappears when there is no longer
white man to describe or to prac-
tice it.
There is intellect enough, fertility
enough, freedom enough-and Africa
only needs Christian culture and civil
lied arts, to afford in few short gen
erations, a parallel, in some degree, to
the growth of America.
Let us look moment at our pres
ent connection with Africa. The
American enterprise is not only pro-
verbal, but it deserves its wide repute.
There is no place SO dark, and difficult,
and dangerous, yet known to the foot
of man, in which an American does
not seek adventure, and an American
merchant sell his merchandise. Ac-
corlingly, DIR. Livingstone says in
surprise, that while there is no Eng
lish merchant at Loando, there are
two Americans! But what is Loando?
1t is an old Portuguese settlement on
the west coast of Africa, IN about 9
deg. south latitude. 1t has been the
site of great slave trade. which is
now happily much diminished. The
Portuguese have sought, by all man
ner oil restrictions and discouragcments,
to prevent all other nations trading
there, or knowing any thing about it.
In fact, little has been known. The
adjacent territories-long since con-
quered by the Portuguese-constitutc
the kingdom of Angola. From the
want of energy. and the imposition OF
various restrictions on foreign trade,
the Portuguese power and commerce
have declined. But even here Ameri-
can enterprise has made its trace. The
Americans, says DIR. Livingstone,
manage to carry on a profitable traffic
in cotton cloths, flour and biscuit. In
examining our exports to Africa, at
those ports not included in the domin-
ion of Great Britain, France, Spain, or
Turkey, we find that we export to
those new and comparatively unim-
portant places, about two and half
millions in value, annually. This is
composed chiefly of cotton cloths, flour,
biscuit. rum and tobacco. The last
two articles are probably used chiefly
on the slave coast. The biscuit and
cloth sold by the Americans at Loando,
are sold far in the interior-six hun
dred miles back of the coast towns.
This fact is instructive. We sell Gin
cinnati crackers in China, Cincinnati
candy in Greece, and we may sell
them in Africa. Why not?
The next inquiry is, what are or
may be the products Of Africa? If we
should sell Africa our manufactures
what can she, without high civiliza-
ton, return us? The interior of Cen
tral Africa, the land traversed by DR.
Livingstone, is the very spot where
cotton, coffee and sugar cane can be
best and easiest raised. That it will
hereafter be the place of greatest pro.
duction for these articles is evident
from few undeniable facts;
/. African Coffee now bears, cxccp,
perhaps Mocha, the highest price in
England We are told that nearly al
the Liberia Coffee is sent to Liverpool
because it bears higher price there
than in New York.
2 The Sugar Cane grows naturally
and without danger of being cut off
The Sorghum, also Sugar plant Of {
superior variety, is native to th'
Dtry.
4 3. Cotton is there perennial plant
and is sold in the market of Loando a
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