The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-05
Or. Livingstone-Africa.

Again it is reported, as our readers nave
already been informed, that DR.. LIVING
STONE, the African traveller, ia murdered.
Now it is that he has been burned as
wizard by q chief in the interior OF
Africa. Neither the reported death nor the
cause of it is surprising. The African
savages have held all travellers to be
supernatural. One day they worshipped
them as gods, and the next sought to kill
them as devils. This has been the oxpe-
rience Of the intrepid travellers and mis-
sionaries in that savage quarter OF the
globe for centuries. That good, honest
soul MuNao PARK was amongst the most
lamented of the victims to African explo-
ration ; and the perils of that sort OF lie
have been but little diminished since his
day.
We trust DR.. LIVINGSTONE is not dead !;
but We look upon him as not the greatest OF
African travellers by q long way. Haunted
with his zeal for inquiry into the condition
of Africa q considerable degree OF fanatl-
cism, which very much prcjudiced his at
ftempts to throw light upon the real nature
of the phases of mankind which be met
with. His facts were everlastingly rising
up in opposition to his theories, and, being
false guide, his followers we're poorly IN
structed as to what could or should be done
for Africa. This vein of fanatlcism en-
thuses the judgments of many OF his eu-
locists, who paint his achievements and his
abilities most extravagantly. SPEKE and
BAKER are his superiors, and so are others.
DR.. LIVINGSTONE is visionary, anu we
never look for any-wise suggestions from
him with regard to measures for elevatlng
the African race and solving the problem
of the African continent. That is, indeed
problem perplexing and impenetrable to
the calmest and most sagacious men. 10
the enthusiasts it is foolishnes We had
hoped that in the hands of Providence
American slavery would be the means OF
civilizing the negro region of Africa. The
black man has reached higher state OF
civilization in this country than he has
anywhere else on earth at any time since
creation. If he would, now that he is free,
emigrate to Africa, this great event might
be brought about but thus far he has no
idea of any such mission. He prefers to
dispute here about places and equalities
for which he is entirely untitled. He wants
to sleep in the best rooms of the Exchange,
to dine at ZETELLE's, and to ride in the
ladies' cars. These exaltations are the
heaven on earth he is now dreaming about.
The divine mission of civilizing Africa,
and bringing that rich continent into use
for the support of man and the enriching
of the world, has not entered his head.
We trust DR.. Livingstone lives, and that
he has not been burned as wizard. Not
that we think no is great man, but that
we think him good man, and because his
zeal and philanthropy deserve some better
reward from those who were the never-fail-
| ing objects of his care and labors than
being burned at the stake.
We will add that although We are stag
gered somewhat in the idea that the Ameri-
can negro is destined to civilize Africa we
have not entirely abandoned it. The ex-
element of the day will be over after a
time, and new lights may then appear to
the African race in this country, and new
| views be planted in their minds. There
may be then tide Of emigration from our
shores towards Africa. The prospect Of
this is not encouraging, but it may so
honnen