The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-27

(1VN 11I1thADs ON i VIVA
Lincoln, after our sHonest Old Abe''-a COM
pllment which shows that our American expe-
dition in search of Livingstone was not in the
light of patriotism. out of place And here.
we think, as our loftiest Rocky Mountain peaks
are named after our Western pathfnders, such
as Pike and Long and Fremont, and as the
lakes of the interior basin of Nevada are named
in honor of those famous pioneers, such Is
Carson, Walker and Banner, this Nile chain
of lakes should be filed out with the names
of such pioneers in Africa as Spoke, Grant
Burton. Baker, Livingstone. and. may we
not say, StanleyP
But the utilitarian may ask, What do all
these African discoveries signify2 Of what
practical value are they to the outside world or
to the AfricansP How often this absurd ques-
ton has been asked and how emphatically
it has been answered by the results, in relation
to other discoveries, from time to time,
through thousands of years. we need not
here repeat. But in regard to these dis
coveries in the great equatorial basin Of the
Nile, we venture the prediction that the results
to Africa and to the civilized world will be
of great and enduring value-that they
will embrace the complete extinguishment
of the African slave trade, East and
West, and through commercial enter
prises and the encouragement and
instruction of tho African nations in Chris
tianity and in the arts Of peace, agriculture
mining and manufactures, predict, even within
the period of the living generation, the
development of trade between Africa,
Europe and America, compared with which
the trade of ancient Egypt and Of Carthage.
in the meridian Of their greatness, will appear
but bagatelle. These disclosures from DR..
Livingstone in reference to the East African
slave trade cannot be ignored by the nations
of Christendom, and these important dis
coveries of the unlimited capacities of Equa-
torial Africa for the production Of corn, rice,
cotton, sugar. tobacco. and oil the fruits
of the tropics, will not longer by England be
overlooked, casting about as she is for new
markets for her wares and new fields Of en-
ployment for her redundant population.
Tho Africans as Soon at Homo.
We are so accustomed to regard the ignorant
and debased negro of the West Coast as the
typical black man that most people will have
some difficulty in accepting the African picture
drawn by Doctor Livingstone Yet if for an
instant we forget our prejudices little refec-
ton will show that tho influence Of cline and
institutions may have more to do with the
ignorance and barbarism of race than any
radical physiological defect. Ages of slavery
have exercised their demoralizing effects on
the inhabitants of the coast, whose contact
with civilization has been for them the worst
of misfortunes. But away from these debas-
ing influences the black man, as seen in his
native state, uncorrupted by the rum dealer or
the slave trader, rises to high level in the
scale of humanity. The population Of the
interior exhibits marked differences of color,
ranging from the coal black of tho Soudan to the
light brown Of the Arab. But this appears to
be almost entirely due to local effects. 1t seems
by no means to follow, as is commonly be-
ieved that the niger black skin is mark of
intellectual inferiority. In their native state,
living under their own laws, the black race
develops into type closely resembling the
old Egyptians. They are. in fact, race full
of fire, of fine physique and capable Of noble
and generous thoughts. The low, receding
forehead and the lark heel, which are distin-
gushing marks of the lowest slave type with
which we ore acquainted, is unknown, except
on the West Coast, while in some instances
the races of the interior develop nobleness
of physique far in advance Of Europeans. The
testimony Of DR.. Livingstone on this point is
one of the most interesting and striking pas
sages in his letter, and tends to sweep away
the absurd prejudice which would make the
black race naturally inferior to the white.
Speaking Of peace council between some
tribes dwelling south Of Tanganyika DR..
Livingstone says:-"You could not see more
finely formed, intellectual heads, in any as
sembly in London or Paris, and faces and
forms correspondent" This evidence over
throws completely the supposed physical and
mental inferiority of Sambo. Nor is the con-
trast offered by the picture Of the African
ladies whit less striking. They are repre-
sented as ''pretty, with charming black eyes,
beautiful foreheads, nicely rounded limbs, and
small hands and feet" In fact, just the OPP
posite of what we have been in the habit of
picturing them. The Doctor is evidently as
gallant as he is observant and if there be many
beauties to be met like the Queen Of Cazembe,
whom he describes, one might bear philoso-
phically the prospect of four-years isolation
from civilization. Indeed, the character of
the ladies of the country Is 30 much in keep