Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-09-19
A MODERN MoLocH.

| "A late discussion in the English Porliamen
on the contemplated "Grand Customp about
to be made by the King of Dahomey, elected
some facts regarding the social condition Of
| western Africa and the policy of England on
the Slave Coast that may be of Importance al
the present moment. 1t seems that Badahung,
| IN honor of his father, the late King Gezro
| mas determined TO surpass all former monarchs
| In the magnitude of the ceremonies to be per-
formed on the occasion of the HGrand Gus
| tom." Two thousand persons will be sacri f.
ced, and great pit has been dug, which is to
contain blood enough to float canoe!
Lord Fermoy, who brought the matter be-
fore the House, remarked that it might, in
deed, be already too late for the interference
of the British Government, but probably there
was yet time, as the victims could not be COL
lected very speedily. No time, he urged,
should be lost in impressing upon the King OF
Dahomey the propriety of abandoning that
frightful custom, and the King of that coun-
try has always been inclined to listen to ad-
vice from England
Mr.. Fortescue communicated the fact that
as soon as the contemplated massacre came to
the knowledge of Lord John Russell, he sent
solemn message to the King of Dahomey,
demonstrating with him, and warming him that
if he carried ont his design Her Majesty's
Government would take hostile proceedings
against him in any part of his territory. To
this Lord Palmerston added that it was his
lot, when at the Foreign Office, to use great
endeayorS to persuade the former King of Da.
honey to abandon these abominable practices.
ssWe sent" said he, sstwo or three missions
to the head quarters of the King. l am sorry
to say that those who went reported that when
they came to the Kings palace they saw, "a
round the wall which surrounded it, placed,
not the ornaments which are usual in civilized
countries, but human skulls-skullS of the vic
tins sacrificed on those occasions, and osten-
tatiously displayed on the walls of the palace.
The capital of Dahomey Abomey] is at
considerable distance from the coast, and the
road to it, through jungles and marshes, is
so difficult to traverse, that it would be scarce
ly possible to take European force there
to exercise coersion, If any pressure can
be exerted with good effect, it will not fail
to be added.''
Into what strange lurid world do these
facts introduce us, this nineteenth christian
century, Geology has familiarized us with
the fact that there are on the earth's surface
rocks shooting up through the strata of the
planet, the bases of which stretch down to the
neither fires. Something analogous to this at
times shows it self in humanity-outcroppi
on the surface of our modern civilization, of
those dark demonac instincts that reach us
as in echoes from the bygone primeval epochs.
History has made US acquainted with the Old
world atrOcities-the sacrifices to Moloch in
the vale Of Tophet, mothers offering their
own children while drums beat to drown their
cries-the Druid with glave Staying the victim
at the sacrfcal stone-the Mexican priest
Sitting the side of the devoted person and
tearing out the yet throbbing hearti
But the demon of Dahomey exceeds all that
history records of the ferocious, and at the
picture presented in the announcement of the
details of the ssGrand Custom,' the immag-
ination swoons at the vision of horror. The
scene, too, takes on a kind of CHASTITY mirth-
lake filed with human blood, amid which
black Ghoul paddles his light cancel
Dahomens have always enjoyed a bad pre-
eminence, even in Africa, for atrocious cruel
ties. Indeed, did we not have the testimony
of unimpeachable witnesses-amongt them the
old English slave trader, Capt. Snelgrave, (17-
34,) and more recently Duncan and Forbes,
it would be impossible to regard the tales they
relate as other than the wild engenderings of
a brain encraZed by tropical fires: Pyramids
of dead mems heads, palaces built of skulls,
and walled around with skulls, are features in
the carnival of horrors which veracious wit
nesseS relate.
1t is devoutly to be hoped that the efforts of
England to put final stop TO these bloody
barbarties were in time and successful. And
with all respect to the great Washingtonian
doctrine of non-interference in the affairs of
other nations, might not some of our marines
on the African coast efficiently cooperate with
the British forces.--N. Y. Times.