The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-09

bueuBJu 10 reuuer Cne UeIedC OI CnaC parry
in November probable. This we believe most
likely to be the result of to-day's trial
The Livingstone Expedition and the
African Slave Trado-Tho Testimony
OF DIR. Livingstone's Brother.
We publish in the HERALD to-day letter
from Hon. Charles Hale, Assistant and Acting
Secretary of State, enclosing communication
from Mr.. John Livingstone, of Listowell,
Canada, the brother of DR.. David Livingstone,
forwarded to the Department through Mr..
Freeman N. Blake, the United States Consul
at Hamilton Mr.. John Livingstone, while
conveying to the HERALD and to the leader Of
the Search Expedition, through that official
source, his congratulations on the successful
issue of the enterprise, takes occasion to ex-
press 'the most implicit confidence in the
statements" of both and adds: -"I can assure
you that DR.. Livingstone holds the American
government and people in the highest estima-
ton, principally on account Of the late aboli-
ton of slavery in the United States; and
trust that his persistent efforts to check the
nefarious traffic in slaves in Africa will be
crowned with success" Wepresume that Mr.
John Livingstone adopted this formal mode
of forwarding his communication in view
of the apparently stubborn unbelief of a
small portion of the American press in the
relief expedition and all relating to it, down
to the point of incredulity in the existence of
such q person as Mr.. John Livingstone, of
Lstowell, Ontario, in the New Dominion. We
are correspondingly grateful to that gentleman
for the precaution he has taken to forestan
the efforts of the enterprising journalists who
have imposed upon themselves the duty of
testing the genuineness Of all the HERALD cor
respondence on the subject and who would
doubtless have been speedily on his track to
ascertain the authenticity of his letter had it
reached us in the ordinary manner. AS it
comes backed by the endorsement of the eff
cient Consul at Hamilton and the accom-
plished Assistant Secretary of State at Wash
ington we presume it will be accepted, even if
grudgingly accepted, as q sufficient proof that
the brother of Dr. Livingstone in Canada
unites with the son Of the explorer in Eng
land, the British Foreign Office, the Royal
Geographical Society and Queen Victoria her.
self in differing with the profound authorities
who pronounce the Livingstone letters forge
RES, and deny that the Doctor was ever dis
covered by Stanley at all.
When the HERALD fitted out its Livingstone
Search Expedition it had two objects in view
First, to carry relief to the renowned explorer,
in the confidence that the rumors of his death
were unfounded, in ths feaE that hs must be
undergoing Ynvati6Hs khd PERHAPS III treat
ment in his unprotected condition, and in the
conviction that it needed only energy and
courage to follow the track he had pursued to
find him, if living, Or in the sadder event, to
obtain certain proof of his death; and, second,
to secure the credit and advantage that would
assuredly follow success in such an enterprise.
Any person who may be SO disposed, is at lib
erty to reverse the order of these motives and
to make the more selfish one predominant We
shall not quarrel with such critics, but shall
be content to regard their judgment as the
natural product of their minds. It is enough
| for us that in both instances our most san
guine anticipations have been realized The
assistance that was fortunate enough to reach
DR.. Livingstone in the wilds of Africa ar
rived none too soon. 1t found him
baff1ed, worried, defeated; a 'mere ruckle of
bones;" feeling as if he was dying on his feet,
and with restitution in that inhospitable will
derness staring him in the face. It supplied
his immediate necessities, enabled him to re-
sumo the work to which he has unselfshly de-
voted his life, left him in comparative ease and
comfort, and secured the forwarding of sup
plies and help sufficient to insure him in the
future against the disappointments and suffer
ings he has undergone in the past We leave
others to estimate the credit due to the
HERALD for its share in the enterprise, so well
carried to successful issue by its faithful and
daring leader. The honor we covet finds
happy expression in Consul Blake's letter to
Acting Secretary Hale-the honor that can be
Justly claimed for 'the expedition Instituted
by American enterprise" The discovery Of
Dr. Livingstone not only shows what indi-
vidual American spirit can accomplish, but
proves the real power of the American press.
Independent American journalism will here
after occupy higher position in the esti-
nation Of foreign nations, and its useful
ness, value and intelligence will no longer be
measured by the standard of partisan organs.
Indications have already been given that the
lesson will have its effect upon our own jour-
nalists, in the avowal of an independent posi-
ton by some Of our leading political jour-
nails. The unfortunate bitterness of the pres
ent Presidential campaign has, it is true, tenn
porarily checked this commendable spirit; but
after the election is over there Is fair pros.
pect that many of our best-conducted news
papers will recognize the fact that the Ameri