The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-05-10
Failure of the Zanzibar Mission-The Duty
of America.


The latest mail advices from Zanzibar (Feb. Is)
announce the failure of the proposed new treaty to
suppress the horrible slave trade. Impelled by the
earnest representations of the illustrious Living
~stone-written from the depth of his sufferings in
middle Africa-England made a noble offer to the
petty Sultan of Zanzibar. She sent Sir Bartle
Frere to tell him that she would assume and pay
the annual subsidy for which he is now bound to
the Imaum of Muscat, guaranty his own sovereignty,
and give him her armed help if he would make O
new treaty prohibiting the slave trade in his do
minions. That traffic is at present sanctioned by
the treaty of 1915; and Zanzibar (the town. is the
chief port through which hundreds of thousands of
Africans are passed on their way to slavery and
death. For every poor wretch thus doomed. it is
estimated that at least ten other negroes, men or
women or children, have been murdered in the
Arab raids on the villages of the interior, or lost in
the transit to q market. These demons of slave
traders sometimes destroy whole communities out
of the pure wantOnness of cruelty after they have
captured the most robust and saleable men. Fooled
by American energy in being the first TO end and
succor Livingstone, England determined that no
one should steal the march on her in gratifying the
dearest wish of her son-the annihilation of the
slave trade. This great work follows logically up
on Livingstone's explorations. He did not go into
the centre of Africa, at the risk of his life, and en-
dure all those years of sickness and manifold hard
ships, solely to look up Ptolemy's four fountains.
Geographical discovery is but one of his objects;
his great aim is to carry Christianity and civiliza-
ton into new regions. The deeper he penetrated
into the wilderness the more be became impressed
with the extent and the accursed influence of the
slave trade. He could not go so far into strange
districts but that the slave-trader with his scourge
and his shackless had preceded. For the first time
it was vOucbsafed to an honest white man to see the
and breadth and depth Of the atrocious
traffic. He saw that it was depopulating the coun-
try; turning naturally peaceful tribes into jealous,
warlike hordes; setting one tribe as the allies of the
Arabs against another tribe, and devoting the
one to destruction; laying waste the har-
vest-felds and killing out all Legitimate trade; and
it was easily calculable that a few more years of
fire and sword unchecked would leave nobody
in central Africa to be regenerated and no native
products to be gathered for the use OF the world.
To arrest the wholesale work of destruction at this
juncture was the design of Sir Bartle Frere's mis-
sion to Zanzibar. England had hoped that the
would consent to her terms. His only ex-
cuse for not stopping the slave trade himself, by
barring its exit through his ports, was, that be was
obliged from that source TO earn the revenue for
paying a subsidy to the Imaum of Muscat. Eng
land struck out that specious plea by offering to
assume the payment and secure him on bis mimic
throne, and to enforce by her own arms his prohibit
ton of the trade. When Sir Bartle Frere appears
before him now, he finds new reasons for declining
proposition. His dOminions would sui
fer commercially and financially if the supply Of
slave-labor were cut off. Slavery is sanctioned by
the Mahomedan religion ard by ancient custom,
TO abolish the trade 10 slaves would lead TO
insurrection. Finally, no confidence could be
placed in new treaties. Such are some OF the rea-
sons assigned by this miniature despot for throw
ng himself across the track of civilization and de-
wing the opinion of the world. 1t is possible that
he Sultan of Zanzibar may be looking for q higher
bid from England, and that the great work may yet
De peacefully through a treaty. But
whether the Sultan consents or not, the slave trade
which is ~blighting Africa must be suppressed. If
t can be done only by forcible Intervention, that
must be employed. Morally. Americans are as
much concerned in this mission of humanity as
Englishmen. Even on the lower level of trading
interests, It affects us. England Is fully able alone
% cope with this gigantic evil. But. II necessary,
he ought to receive the support OF an American
nan-of-war or two new idly cruising in European
waters. Several of the leading nations of Europe
the German Empire at the head-have
pledged themselves, it is reported, to stand by Eng
and in this crusade. The government of the United
has made an encouraging reply TO the adj
'ances of England for our cooperation. No mis-
= lie jealousy of England should prevent us from
endering the aid, IN men and guns, at our COM
nand. Il is very easy to impeach and sheer at The
disinterestedness f" Of England in undertaking the
,hilanthropic task of breaking up the slave trade
Eastern Africa. 1t might be that the costly effort
he would make would en1re a little more to her
than to our own by giving her a nomi-
al sway over q new colony of unmanageable sub
eets. But we, of all people, have no reason to be
nvious of her strides into the interior of Africa.
he is welcome to annex what she pleases so far as
We are concerned. Our interest in the subject be-
and ends with the extinction OF the slave trade
N that continent; and whoever grapples resolutely
rifh fhaf nrohla1p Gh0uln cnnnt GuralU rn0n nnr
ssis anee-N 7. Journal If Commerce. =