The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1862-01-04
Tie OrcnIns o, NIadasn.cnr.

While we are too busy with our war TO con-
cern ourselves with foreign matters, great
change is going ON in the African island Of
Madagascar, which the advent OF a new king,
RApAMA II, has thrown open to tho Europeans
who are fastening to take advantage OF the eN-
traordinary privileges granted them. Tho
island has hitherto been closed to strdngors and
the capital, regarded as a sacred city, was only
visited at rare intervals by Europeans, but now
foreigners have perfect liberty to establish
themselves where they please and commercial
liberty is granted to all, This change Of policy
has induced many English planters to establish
themselves in Madagascar, whore the king has
made large concessions Of land, and tho future
prospects of the island are so satisfactory that
the French planters Of tho Mauritius already
think of sending to it part Of the emigrants
destined for their colony. RApAMA is also
making great reforms for his own people, and
contrary to what might have been expected,
scounters no opposition. lie has already given
encouragement to education aud the useful arts,
and has abolished the penalty of death. The
promises made 10y him will bs kept since long
before his accession TO the throne his excoll1
sentiments were known and esteemed.
For this change in the policy Of Madagascar
we are largely indebted to two Frsnchmen, NJ.
NJ. LAnoRpE and LAMBERT, who have induced
the King TO make the island free kingdom and
assure to it all the advantages Of modern cvili-
cation, by whicA foreigners would be the first to
profit. The opening Of this kingdom is scarce
ly second in importance to tho unsealng of Ja-
pan, and, considering the more substaht al
value Of the concessions made to Foreigners, il
might even bo placed before that,
The history of the past relations of Madagas-
car to the civilized world, is singularly like that
h Japan in many respects. There, as in Japan,
Christians with their religion, at one tImo favor
od, have at another been subjected to the most
bitter and relentless persecution, until scarce a
toothold was left for them in the islaud and
any favor shown to them or their religion, on
the part OF its inhabitints was cruelty punishs -
as treason of the worst kind. But tho cross ia
again in the ascendant, thanks to the enlight-
ened policy Of King RADAMA IL, this magniG-
cent island kingdom Of the East is brought in
contact, as never befQpe, with the western
world. A new field is thus opened to enter
prise, Of which Americans should not lose
sight, however much the attention demanded by
home affairs. ,.SS
Net only to the commercial world ia this in
PRODUCTION to Madagascar frtsfSsting, but to the
scientific man and the naturalist, this new coun-
wy offers field such as has not been opened
since Captain Cook discoveries There exists
in its iUest and inland lakes animAla which may
create, a greater sensation when dli veerSaeahan
oven the gorilla, and already are there in the
British Museum, and ~ Museum at Berlin,
the cast of eggs as large or larger, than the bu
man head, the originals of which, taken from
the bAak Of Madagascar river, are now in a
museum in fAAiS indeed, ,omo sanguine nA.
tfalists hope yet to discover in the island the
the original roc d the Arabian Nights" An
entire order Of animals, the lsmurS, are oaly
round in Madagascar, one YNyiery o{ which, the