New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-06-26
AN UNFAMOUS TRAFFJC.

A few years ago, after more than hall century
of agitation, diplomacy succeeded in achieving
tbe destruction of the trade in human beings,
carried on by protested Christians, from the
Western coast of Africa to various places on
the Atlantic coasts. This trade, which
had subsisted for over 800 years, was
ruined by the irresistible hostility OF
European and American civilization; from
the same cause almost all nations upon
which that traffic depended have abolished
Slavery itself. On Dec. 81, 1868, the Mixed
Commission, established at the Cape of Good
Hope by the Governments of the United States,
Great Britain and Portugal, declared that it
had not been called upon to decide one single
case of slave-trade during the year then clos
ing. Upon this report these three nations con-
cluded to discontinue the Commission.
Strange as it may appear, while this
practice on the one side of Afdca has died
out, it has been revived on the other. 1t is
maintained to supply the requirements of the
nations of the East where a long established
custom has given to Slavery, in the eyes of
the inhabitants, almost the character of
divine institution. Turkey, Egypt, Ara
bia, and Persia have. for several
years, drawn from Central and Northern
Africa eastward, annually, 10000 slaves, and
have caused the death of $4,000 to $4,000
more. To these facts ample testimony has
been borne by travellers in Africa such as the
Englshmen Baker, Spoke, and Livingstone,
the German Rohlf1s, and the Frenchmen Heug-
lin and Lejean. Quite recently a valuable
compilation has been made in reference to this
subject by Etienne Felix Berioux, Professor
of History in the Lyceum of Lyons, France.
In tracing the moral responsibility for these
odious practices, it will be found that, aside
from those who directly participate in them, the
greatest blame attaches to q nation which has
earned an enviable reputation for philanthropy.
Apparently TO set barrier to French inhu-
ence in the Indian Ocean, nominally to pre-
pare the way for civilization, the British Gov
eminent, in 1913, entered into negotiations
with Zanzibar, making its ruler their prot6ge;
but to secure their purposes they conceded to
the Princes of Zanzibar, by treaties, the right
of purchasing negroes. And now at Zanzibar,
under the eye of the British Consul, vast num-
bers of slaves are shipped on vessels to Persia
and Arabia without any molestatiOn whatever.
Thus for commercial purposes Great Britain
sacrificed her principles, and, by sanctioning
crime against humanity, actually encouraged
it. How far the moral sense of those English
men affected by this state of affairs has been
blunted, appears from the fact that, in 1870
and 1871, certain British agents, i'll official
propositions, did not recommend the suppress
sion of the traffic, but simply its regulation.
1t was proposed that there should be only one
port for buying and one for selling the num-
Der of slaves should be limited; vessels legally
authorized should bear some distinguishing
mark-their sails or sides should be painted a
certain color
1t is regarded as general rule that all
Mussulman countries have retained Slavery:
and that, until foreign or exterior influence
effects a change, wherever Islamism reigns
man will be a thing to be bought and sold.
This is especially the case with European
Turkey, where Western countries are awaken
ing to the fact that the laws authorize the
system, and it is protected by the magis-
trates But there are no insurmountable
obstacles to the extirpation of this evil.
The path through Egypt, along which the slaves
are driven, is 80 narrow that vigorous
effort would promptly close that avenue If
concerted arrangement were made by the
Western nations to watch the Valley of the
Nile, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf,
this traffic would soon become so hazardous
that it would be no longer profitable. But to
make these efforts effectual, it is absolutely
necessary that the unfortunate treaties be-
tween Great Britain and Zanzibar should ter
inmate. Such a proposition has been advocated
with some warmth by Englishmen themselves.
AS tho record of our own struggle with
Slavery shows that Great Britain regarded
the question Of it's suppression is one Of