The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-12-04
African Exploration.

Tho explorations Of Stanley i'll the
heart of Africa are of the utmost geo
graphical interest and Importance. He
is plucky, clear-headed man, who push
cs his way through difficulties like a
steam engine through Il snow drift; and,
considering the delays and slowness of
former expeditions, the rapidity Of Ills
movements and the promptncss of his
communications are quite remarkable.
He has too much business on hand to be
sick and is too active and energetic and
vigiant to be cntrapped by the treachcr-
GUS natives or captured by the malaria.
Ii is quite evident that the natives stand
in awe of this man, who seems to be Il
sort of locomotive i'll boots, though they
shoot his men when out Of his sight with
out hesitation or rcnorsc, and his two
letters came stained with the li!a-h!oad of
one of tic Khcdivc's officers. Stanley
has now demonstrated by actual obscrv-
alton and surveys that Livingstone,
whose health and mind failed in Tie last
years of his long African sojourn, was
mistaken i'll supposng the Victoria Ny
ANA was Il chain Of five lakes connected
with each other. He finds that Spoke,
whose explorations were made in 1862,
was right i'll his opinion that the Victoria
Nyanza is one body Of water; but what
Spoke took for two islands Stanley finds
arc pcninsulas in this great inland sea.
This is undoubtedly the upper reservoir
Of the Nile, and should future cxplor-
ations confirm the importance Of the
River Slimccyou we shall have the key
to the whole Nile system, and the mys-
terry of Africa will be hcncclorth an open
secret. 1t is Il matter of national pride
that these final explorations arc made by
IN American, who, though he follows
the trail of distinguished explorers,
seems to have capacity Of gathering up
thc results of their discursivc discoveries
and observations, and combining and
correcting them, and supplcmcnting them
with original explorations of his own
which are quite rs important as any thai
have been made.
These African explorations are of vast
ly more consequence and practical utilit,
than anything that has been or is likcl'
to be discovered i'll the Arctic regions
where SO much treasure has been spcn
and SO many lives have been throw
away. Africa is not only puzzle t
geographers: it is now problem 70
civilization to solve, and throws down it
challenge to tbs craftsmanship and hu
manity Of the globe. 1t lies in the high
way of commerce, inviting the inter
course of all nations. It's fertile soils an,
sllubrious climates and valuable produc
tions give it 4 vast Importance, which i
increased by it's accessibility on all sides
The cradle of civilization and the seat q
commerce for centuries, it is now sparse
ly pcopled, and to all practical intcnts i
virgin continent inviting Immigration
and furnishing almost unlimited scopc t
the enterprise of civilized nan. Wha
shall be done with it and for it arc uucs
tions which will ass themselves wit
increasing frequency and force in comm
years. Mr.. Dalton has suggested that
attempt be made to colonize it wit
Chinese. The plan has plausibility. ]
has been found that the Chinese VIII
AVE settled liz the Oceanic Islands hav
developed quite remarkable faculties {
thrift AID enterprise and government
asadsih have improved considehble on til
Isome tssa PC. Bat BsN With viii, Euro$y over
crowded with population and all he
great cities suffering from an excess G
poor and pcrislling classes, it certainl
seems that the key Of African Civilization
need not bc sought in eastern Asia anon
the Mongolian races. 1t only wants tn
ability to organize colonization on
grand scale and carry it out with tn
appliances Of modern science and art an
the modern spirit Of humanity to max
Africa power in the civilized world an
means of rcnovating Europe Dali
Graphic.