The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-10-26
1HE NEW AFRICAN EMPIRE
NE Wealth of the Tadies said to he Cqaaued
by the Wealth OF the Congo vaiiss-liow
ito Kina of tho Bs'rians has Lost n
Hnrinns-Iho Future of The Cnnpn Rcrian.


E BRUSSELS, Oct. TO- Tho efforts OF the
International African Association hayo now
evidently reached a very critical stage. Orig.
inally u Utopian project of that enlightened
and fur-sceing monarch. King Leopold OF Bel
GUM. tImo and labor havo realized this pro-
ject beyond expectation. Within eight years
That h'g white spot on our maps Of Africa
marked rs "Uneyplored" has disappeared. II
is now covered with mountains and enormous
rivers. names OF empires anil races. new Eu-
ropean settlements ard scientific stations.
One Of tho most extensive tropical regions OF
tho globo has been opened TO civilized nations:
ono OF tho largest rivers has boon followed up
to It's source. and the question has now arisen.
Who Is to be the owner Of this vast terrtory2
The newly discovered countries arc fu Of
interest. Central Africa forms sn extensive
plateau Of from two to four thousand feet above
tho sea level. with mountain groups Of ten.
twelve. and oven nineteen thousand feet the
highest poin. being Kiiimandiero east Of the
Victoria Nynnza. Tho Victoria Lake an inland
sea. larger than Lake Superior. may DO con.
sldered as the centre OF the great watercourses
Of Africa. for all tho other lakes tho Albert
Nyanza. the far famed Tanganyika. tho Niassa.
Bangwalo and SO on. are far below the level OF
Victoria Nyanza, and several Of them receive
their surplus water from the latter.
Tho high and most fertile equatorial plateau
contains the sources Of the three great African
rivors. tho Milo. Zimbes and Congo. Strangely
enough. the latest discoveries have shown that
the sources Of these three enormous water
sourses. emptying into three different oceans
are connected with each other by system Of
lakes and rivers SO that the day is probably
not distant when smaller vessels may DO ablo
TO traverse Central Africa from the Atlantic to
the Indian Ocean. or from tho latter TO the
Mediterranean. Tho Central African table
land IL unuuestonably as rich in sweet
water lakes on much smaller area.
as tho great Canadian lake basin. but
with the great advantage over tho latter OF pos
sessng hundreds Of watercourses. in many
instances navigable from tho very source;
moreover. the climate is said to be so favorable
and the soil so fertile that the vegetation and
the animal life of this plateau. about twenty
times the size OF France are not even sur
passed by India. As q single instance it may
be noted that the ivory Of about thirty thou
sand elephants Is exported annually. Central
Africa is densely populated. and tho negro
tribes encountered by Livingstone. Cameron.
schwenfurth. and Nachtiga are said 10 be
peaceful. in nocent people good acriculturists.
and traders.
Strangely enough. the surprising discoveries
OF intrepid travellers have found no echo in the
great empires OF Europe. Colonial enterprise
was directed to other territories. and more
money has been spent for evidently useless
ware in Tunis Madagascar. TonIuin. and SUI
matra than would have been required for tho
conquest Of the great prize OF the century-the
second India! The rulers Of the world seemed
10 be struck with inexplicabe blindness IN
colonial matters. Central Africa was waiting
10 BIO conquered and annexed by one or the
)ther colonial power. but nobody dreamed OF
occurring 1t until q private association. with the
King Of the Belgians at its head undertook
his conquest. A handful OF men attained this
Jesuit. To day the African Association is mas.
Tor In Central Africa.
The original object Of the association was un.
doubtedy tho scientific discovery OF the Congo
basin and the final adjustment OF the slave
trade. depicted In 80 vivid colors by Cameron
Livingstone. and Stanley. The dense popua
ton Of equatorial Africa. the numerous un
protected villages and settlements. offered 70
munerativo traffic to the slave dealers Of Nubia
Tunis. and the Soudan. and It is stated that In
spite of the efforts Of Portugal England. and
Franco for the suppression OF the slave trade
even now nearly half a million Of people perish
annually by the cruel practices OF the slave
dealers. which some day might certainly result
In the dcpopulation and ruin OF the country. The
association was started with the said objec
in view. and some money was subscribed by
few Belgians. although the sums are insgnif
cant compared to the millions sunk SO far IL
this enterprise by King Leopold. ! an in
has spent 20.o00,0oO francs $4,000 600
for his African hobby. which Is e1ua
to one-haf Of his fortune. This wa
evidently not intended by him. Once begun
the enterprise grew in an astounding manner
and has now reached point where 1t canno
be controlled any further by single man. al,
not further sustained by single purse. On,
enterprise necessitated another; one step re
qured another. Millions Of francs are sunk an
nualy into ships and houses and stations AM
expeditions without even bearing n farthinG in
terest. 1t is evident that twice tho entire for
tune OF the King will not suffice to establish
the new colony-if it may be named thus--on
paying basis. and at this moment grave doubts
have arisen rs to whether the undertaking cal
be carried on further on tho same PRINCIPLES
hoar that emissaries have been sent 10 En-.
land with Wow to raise the capital require
for tho construction OF railroads and canals. or
In the last emergency. to form a company I
buy the property Of the association outrigh,
and continue its efforts In more pract lea
way. In that case tho association would es
sumo tho principles and proceedings OF tn
great historical trading compnnies-the Hud
son Bay Company the East India md til
Netherlandish India Companies. Should it b
Impossible to interest English capitalists il
this great enterprise. 1t will surely collapse un
less some Government steps in and takes til,
matter in hand. Empires alone can success
!uiiy govern others, ana eeosraphers as vel u
doubt that the Will be the result Of the presen
difficulty Which Goyernment will II be
iermany2 France Why not the Unite
Statss? Indications. however,. point towar
France; and, indeed. the assoc alton has nj
ready signed an agreement to the effect tha
under certain eventualities the Congo EN- pr
would be placed under the French protector
AS clever and onterprlsing as these member
Of the association may have been regarding
the discovery Of the Congo and It's ailiuents. /
lhcir treaties with the native kings. and in tG
acquisition Of territory. they are sadly va Tin
n far.seein2 commcrcial and administratv
qualities for the development OF tho vast re
sources OF Congo land. All the crowned head
Of Europe tho Dukes Of SaXe-W eimar. OF Cc
ourg. tho Princes Of several empires. the nc
oity and gentry" Of Europe. have responds
% the call OF tho association in giving the
nalue and mora support toward the en;erpIis
out all these crowns and cQrVnets would
outweighed by ons man with brAiHs enouR
~ turn Congo land into seif-rupportng couI
with eIrniul,g lifi..inut lY l..rl,a u m