Smyrna times., 1884-01-09
Winning an Empire. +"

A'i article III the Baltimore Sun, pre-
pared by Mr.. William Coppinger, Sec
rotary of the American Colonization
society, presents in a compendious
form much information of an interest
ing and striking character as TO the
present condition of the African CONT
nent' The teeming populations of
Europe lind to-day in Central Africa q
neld for exploration and enterprise not
unlike IN Its promise to this part of the
globe a hundred years ago. LISA NEW
world. Recently brought to light bv
'he olslnterested labors of men of the
type OF Livingstone and Stanley. if is
found to be possessed of resources of
the most varied character. Peopled in
large part by kindly and hospitable
races, 1t invites immigration, commerce
and the stimulative influences of civil
cation. Portugal claims the territory
at the mouth of the Congo, and would
ike to extend her influence far into
the interior. France has also made
pretenslons to territory along the
course of the river, and has sought to
establish her alleged rights by force of
arms. But England is not indifferent
10 the commercial advantages which
the unrestricted navigation of the Con-
go and its tributaries insures, and of
which both France and Portugal would
wish to deprive her. Central Africa
has thus become the arena for the dis
play of European jealousies and rival
RES. Nor is the United States uncon-
cerned. President Arthur in his last
message, after commencing the Lahore
OF the international African Associa-
ton In opening to the world 1.-The rich
and populous valley of the Congo"
declares that "the United States
cannot be indifferent to this work, nor
to the interests of their citizens inyolv-
ed in it." 1t may become advisable"
he adds, for us to cooperate with
other commercial powers in promoting
the rights of trade and residence in the
congo valley, free from the interference
Or political control of any one nation"
Inc facts presented by Mr.. Coppinger
10 not restrict themselves, however, to
any one region or to any one point of
view. The annexations made recently
'y England, France, Portugal, Ger
many, Italy and Spain of various Dor
ions of Africa are mentioned as indica-
i've of the general sense of the value
u acquisitions in that long-negleted
continent, which lies, nevertheless, at
very doors. Exploration is
hOwn to be still busy in every direc-
ion. The commerce of the Congo and
.dJacent territory, it is pointed out, is
lot wholly in the future. London.
3remen, Paris, Hamburg and Liver
'ool have embarked capital in the
of steamship lines to
ather the profitable trade of the West
'oast. The British and African Steam
hip Company, for example, runs
wenty first-class steamers of an aggre-
ate tonnage of 10000 tons to the West
cast, and has recently found COM
etitor in the AnglO-African Company,
'hich is operating on capital of
100000. The enhanced value of t
-trican possessions in the eyes Of '
European cabinets is suggestive of the '
alue to be attached to Liberia as a '
'othold for American influence and S
Enterprise. Mr.. Coppinger is fully v
ware of its merits from this point of b
lew. Liberia he describes as .'far
lore promising than ever before"
ne has received from this country col s.
red immigrants to the number of d
1850, and "this movement has by no n
cans yet ceased" Immigrants are a
elcome, as "a considerable influx of o
Heightened descendants of Africa " are "
eeded in Liberia IF she is to go on a
her influence among the O.
snizens of the forest and to hold her W
Wn against the encroachments of D
reigners." e