The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-11-06

!
finest memorial OF African travel of them all.
The insane conceit Of few Of our easy chair
geographers" prevented them giving your country
man recognition with the enthusiastic readiness
with which our great public did; and the result
is that he has become more famous than he could
have been otherwise. For after the figure cut at
Brighton by the geographical section Of the
/ British Association. and the lamentable speech
/ of Mr.. Francis Galton, its chairman, that what
was wanted was not sensational stories, but
geographical facts the public took the hint and
made Stanley their special charge. The result
has not been favorable to the Royal Geographic
al Society. The murder is out that 1t is rather
( opposed to Livingstone than otherwise, and was
only anxious to obtain possession of his notes
and observations. Livingstone was determined
this should not be. He is not the paid agent Of
the society, and it is plain from the caviling re-
ception accorded to his discover that the brave
old travellers safety was not what they cared for
And this brings me TO Lieutenant Dawson, and
the visit paid him. 1t will be remembered that
the Livingstone Relief aud Search Expedition was
fitted out under the auspices of the Geographical
Society, and by means supplied by epublic. Lieut..
Dawson had eighteen months leave OF absence
granted him by the Admiralty to "search for -Liv-
iugstone" The very day he arrived at the first
stage of his journey into the interior after leaving
Zanzibar he got the intelligence that Livingstone
had been found and succored by Stanley, and that
the chief object OF his mission was end. Bit.
tery disappointed he took counsel of the political
agent at Zanzibar Dr. Kirk and after due delibera-
iion determined TO return home. For this course
be has been violently, bad almost written libel
lously, sssailed. The gallant geographers have
never come TO his assistance. The Times had an
article in which Lieut. Dawson and the rest were
abused virulently, and Admiral Richards wrote
timid halfhearted letter, if afraid Of being
sured himself, and so not daring to speak out
Dawson's side All this was in my mind when /
sent up my card, and asked TO see Lieuteutant
Dawson. Once more did the room l was in tell
the owners story; but how different 10 Sanley's.
Failure was written here as plainly there
There were Indian rugs and ivory ald ebony cary
ings, speaking of presents brought home from pre-
vious voyages; and there prize books on the
table showing that when Llewellyn S. Dawson was
Bluecoat boy he carried off the prizes OF bis class
at Christ's Hospital two years in succession.
knew that his subsequent career in the Royal Navy
had justified this early promise, aud that as sur
yeying officer his services had won honorable men
tion from his superiors. 1t easy to picture to
ones-self the JOY Of the modest household and the
old fathers pride himself a captain who has retired
from the Queens service when Lieutenant Dawson
was selected out Of two hundred volunteers TO take
charge of the expedition in search of Livingstone.
The young life which had been spent so honorably
hitherto was to take a rapid stride upward. The
slow promotion and weary delay which accompany
the military and naval services in England, would
give way.to speedy distinction, and the thanks of
the Queen and the nation, us well as solid
wards, would assuredly follow success. Contrast
this by no means fanciful picture with the situation
to-day But first let us look around the room again.
By the side of the gay prize-books lies a rough
volume in paper cover. 1t is sort of scrap-book,
and is filled with adverse criticisms upon Lieutenant
Dawson Bought probably to preserve the reports
of the young explorer as they reached England, aud
the encomums on his gallantry and enterprise
which would follow, they have had TO fulfill far
less pleasing purpose. One may Imagine the feel
ings OF the poor father as day after day brought
fresh structures which he had TO and paste into
the book against his sons return, aud stanleys sue
cess brought the exphditions collapse into stronger
and stronger relief 1t is bad thing to be a seape-
when be accepted the charge Of the expedition and
circumstances have been against him throughout.
Who on earth would have expected that an expedi-
ton equipped at the public expense and starting
under the patronage of the Royal Geographical So
ciety, would be forestalled by mere newspaper
correspondent, whose landing in Africa and deter.
mination TO find Livingstone bad been regarded as
au airocious jokeg Then Livingstone's enmity to
al, Socfctr ,tae l.rou-p rnh-
lie who subscribed TO the travellers relief did SO
with the full conviction that Sir Roderick Murchi-
sons successors were actuated by the spirit as
himself Because that gallant old soldier loved
Livingstone and Livingstone him. the kind-hearted,
laundering public concluded that the geographers
generally felt they did, and anxious for the
travellers safety above all things. Lieutenant Daw
son was impressed with the same views. 1t was
only when he got 10 Zanzibar that be learned that
he was to be employed sort of go-between or
cats paw between man who was determined to
keep his information TO himself and hody Of men
who were determined to extract the same iuforma-
ton from him under the special pleas of anxiety for
his welfare and desire to afford him relief Liv-
ingstone found and succored, Stanley with full /
instructions to act for him. Stanley in possession Of
bis papers, Stanley charged with written authority
to send back any relief expedition which might be
on the wsy, and Dawson with the duty of search |
over, and the other duties of making surveys and
acquiring geographical facis'' alone LEFT to him
what was the latter TO do? Return home as quietly
and speedily as possible of course. Was he to dog
Lvingstones heels aad lay in wait to rob him of his
hard-earned knowledge? Was he, in the capacity |
of agent of the Geographical Society, to set up an
opposition shop and thwart and irrtate Livingstone
at every turn? he did none of these things He |
came home like 8 sensible man; and for so doing |
has met with nothing but oboquy and misconcep-
tion. 1t has been bard on Dawson, as felt yester-
day that be should have lost, through no fault of
his own what seemed chance of brilliant distiuc.
ton but harder than this TO bear must be the IN.
generous treatment of his countrymeR, and the |
proud consciousness that not of the structures
leveled at him arc deserved. But the contrast be-
tween the two men, both young, spirited, and
emiueutly lilzable, will be present with me to my
latest day. 1t shows one at glsuce the mighty |
difference between failure and success. Here, the
necessity of standing the defensive lest bright
professional reputation should be marred. There,
the publishers cap In hand, the world waiting for
whatever may be vouchsafed to it, compliments
from Ministers, and gifts and thanks from Queen.
Stanley is noble fellow, and more than deserves
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