Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-22
The Congo Valley.

Not many years ago the world had llttle
idea Of the extent, population, aLd IN
develoned resources Of the Congo valley.
The river was not known except for
hundred miles or so from its mouth;
while its source in great lake IN Cen
trail Africa, discovered by Livingston,
was by many thought to be the head
waters Of the Nile. and its identity was
only suspected by the great explorer him
self. Ii remained for an American, Henry
NJ. Stanley. to follow the broad river
down its seemingly endless course to
where It surrendeTs its waters TO the
ocean, and to him also belongs the honor
Of opening the river to commerce and
taking the preliminary steps for the
establishment of what may eventually
prove TO be one of the great empires OF
the earth.
Within ten years the Congo valley mas
become Of sufficient Importance to be the
subject OF grave international discus
sioDs IT is a richer find than it was at
first thought to he, and the rObber nations
are clamOring for their alleged "rignts"
as vuItures contend to share the flesh OF
a newly discovered carcass.
1t would seem that the African Inter
national Company, Of which Stanley Is
the chief administrative officer, and Of
which the King of Belgium is Presldent,
has paramount claims to and interest in
the Congo. so far as the outside world is
concerned. The rights of this company
have been recognized by the Government
OF the United States, but are disputed by
Portugal and other powers. Portugal ap-
pears to be about the only power that has
any real claims in conflict with those OF
the International Company, she having
established trading posts near the mouth
OF the river over hundred years ago. 1t
| seems that these Portuguese settlements
were abandoned, however, and the real
claims Of that kingdom can hardly rest
on a much more solid foundation in right,
/ than the claims of England, France and
| Germany.
The discussion of the interests Of the
different powers in Congo affairs has
doubtless just begun. The questions
growing out Of the development of the
valley and its trade are not likely to be
settled for many years. 1t is not improb-
able that the next generation will see the
nations arrayed against each other IN the
great valley, and the armies of the lead
| ing European powers, backed by native
allies on either side, marching against
each other to battle for their supposed
rights.
The claims Of most Of the powers rest
on cessiOns from native rulers, and as the
authority Of the rulers to cede their terri
tory as well as the boundary lines between
the different tribes are disputed or poorly
defined, there Will not soon be an end to
international questions.
DisregardIng the finer points in the
various disputes now beginning to occur
in reference to the Congo, the sympathy
Of Americans is undoubtedly with the
International Company, though there is
little room to hope that it will ever be
permitted by the European powers to es-
tablish a great empire in the heart Of
Africa. even if the natives alone should
not prevent the accomplishment OF the
hidden objects of the company.
The millions of human beings mhabit-
| ing the valley of the Congo are divided
into hundreds of tribes, the power and
characteristics of which are known to a
very limited extent, yet it is not believed
that any one of these tribes has sufficient
influence over the others, or has a chief
who has genius to form an African en-
pire which will be sufficiently power
/ full to resist European aggression
or 10 prevent the carrying out of the de-
I II, orc ~
/ divide Africa among themselves. IL Is
pretty certain that of all the conflicting
interests and propositions involved In the
Congo question the weakest will be those
| that look to the betterment of the natives
of the country and their material and
/ moral advancement.