The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-10-01
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SSuNSS 6uGG StHbe l
The Most ImportantnIodern Geographic
al MISUNDERSTANDING Important Dis
eovsYioA
Many contradictory statements as to
the practical results of the work done
under the auspices of the International
Association for the Exploration and
Civilization of Africa have of late ap-
peared in public prints. both in this
country and in Europe. 1t would be
well to refer briefly to the origin of the
association before giving an account of
the results of its labors, the most inn
portant of which is the foundation of
the Free State of the Congo. The last
twenty-five years have done more for
knowledge of the geographical and
physical condition of Africa than many
thousands of years previously have been
able to furnish. Although it is the seat
of one of the most ancient civilizations
of the world-Egypt-yet this i'm
mense continent of over eleven millions
of square miles, with q population
which is estimated at about two hun
dred million souls, has until within the
last quarter of century remained an
almost sealed book. The splendid work
of nearly thirty years in central and
southeast Africa done by Livingston;
the solution of the great problem of the
Nile sources, cdput Mil 9u9rere-a
query which already with the Romans
was a synonym for the impossible; Cam
eron's march across the continent from
Zanzibar to Benguela; Serpa Pinto's
journey across in an opposite direction
from Benguela to Durham; the ex-
p~lorations of scores of hardy pioneers,
too numerous to mention here. and
| finally Stanley great exploit, his journey
| from the Indian Ocean to the flanagan
| yika, his onward march to Nyangwe,
his discovery of the Congo-the most
important since the discovery of this
continent-had drawn the attention of
the whole civilized world toward the
| dark continent. 1t was an enlightened
and generous prince Leopold, King of
| the Belgians-who took the first step
toward realizing material benefits from
the work of the travellers. Measures
should be taken to facilitate future ex-
plorations, to diminish the attendant
dangers, to utilize the commercial adj
vantages which the rich virgin soil of
vast regions of the continent offers to
the European and American trader and
colonist. These ideas led to the assembly
of the geographical conference which
met at Brussels in 1876. At this meet
ing the International Association was
organized for the systematic accom-
plishment of the tasks enumerated
above. We a briefly dispose of the
labors of the association on the east
coast. The first expedition was organ
lied in Belgium in the latter part OF
1877 for the purpose of establishing a
line of stations from the eastern coast
opposite Zanzibar to Lake Tanganyika,
a distance of about five hundred miles.
This was successfully accomplished,
and a permanent settlement on the
lake, called Karema, was founded. To
appreciate the advantage gained by this
pioneering work it may be mentioned
that the Journey from the coast to the
lake, to accomplish which Captain Bur.
ton took six months, and Cameron
after him eleven months, is now made
in perfect safety and comparative com
fort in one month and a half.
While this work was going on OF
the eastern coast, Stanley had accom-
plished his wonderful feat of reaching
the mouth of the Congo. After thii
all-important discovery of the grea
artery of Central Africa. another asso
citation was founded in Brussels in 1877
the Congo committee (Comite a. Etud
du Haut Comgo). The object of thi
association is, to express an undertak
ing of stupendous magnitude in a YER
few words, to establish an uninterrupted
: line of stations from the mouth of tn
Congo, and along the banks of tn
river by way of Karema on Lake Tan
ganyika, to Saadant on the Red Sea, op
. posite Zanzibar. The enterprise woul
have seemed almost hopeless, yet til
greater portion has already been az
, complished. The work of the two a:
sociations, the international and th
Congo, is essentially the same. The
carry on their civilizing operations i
different parts of the continent. The
design is not to engage in trade. the
: object is purely scientific and philar
. tropic, so that ''every traveller. whai
j ever may be his nationality; every mi!
siohary, whatever may be his faitf
every legitimate trader. whatever ma
e be his commerce, may claim assistant
at all stations. and be certain of NEE
ing with hospitality"
The task of experimenting the wor
= on the west coast, by far the most in
s portant part. was intrusted to Mr.. Stal
ley, who, having scarcely recovere
from the effects of his terrible voyae
down the Congo. appeared again at tt
mouth of the river in August, 1879, I
n ascend it with the novel mission
1 sowing along its banks civilized settl
ments. to peacefully conquer and SUI
g due it, to remold it in harmony wit
10 modern ideas into national states. witt
in whose limits the European merchal
d shall go hand-in hand with the dal
10 African trader, and justice and law an
order shall prevail, and murder ar
. lawlessness and the cruel barter
l. slaves shall forever cease" The resu
a of this mission WAS the founding of tt
d Free State Of the Congo and the acqu
10 . sition of territory amounting to LOSS
600 square miles. inhabited by a pop
ID lation of AZ, sos, 900 SOULS can area fl
}" times as large as that OF France
st Germany. The association is in pc
70 session of treaties made with $50 ind
pendent African Chiefs. whose RICH
will be conceded by all to have been i
1T di~sputable, since they hold their LAM
u by undisturbed occupation, by long az
of succession, by real ''divine right
OF their own free will, without coercio
not a shot was fired, not a sword W
I'd drawn. not a life was lost during the
negotiations. but for substantial cousi
Is erations they transferred their rights
n. sovereignty and ownership to the ass
+ citation.
The lawfulness of the association
g acquisition of territory having be
MS morally established it needed now or
ps tho official Endorsement of the powe
n. For this purpose, and at the instigati
n of Prince Bismarck. a conference W
invited to meet at Berlin for the p,
az pose of discussing the momentous &C
'n sequences arising from the opening
a the new highway into the heart of Ce
lis tral Africa This confaranco mot