Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-24
4 MODERN COLUMBUS.
HENRY N. sTANLEY's AFRICAN ACHIEVEMENTS
REVIEWED AND SUMMARIZED.

HENRY N. srANLEYs AFRICAN ACHIEVEMENTS
REVIEWED AND SUMMARIZED.
From the New York Times.l
Stanley's new book furnishes striking evi-
denoo Of the mans growth. The portrait
prehxed to one Of the volumes ls very unlike
that Of the self satisfied young man which
accompanied his first volume. IL is the face
OF a ruler Of men strong, thoughtful, some
what sad, and wholly worthy Of the explorer
and oonqueror who deserves 10 rank second
only TO Columbus.
When Stanley, then = young newspaper
reporter, marched TO TanganyikA, found
Livingstone, and returned to civilization with
= rRpidity that astonished old African travel.
ers, he had some reason 10 complain OF the
treatment that he received, especially In this
country. Many persons believed that he had
never met Livingstone and that the letters
sent by tho latter through SANKEY'S hands
we're fOrgeries. Unquestionably Livingstones
letters did somewhat conflict with the popu-
lar opinion Of the man, but they we're quite
in harmony with his last iournala which we're
afterwards recovered, and which showed thai
the old mans mind had become affected by
his hardships Gnd illness There vAs, how
ever, never the sliRhtest reason 70 doubt the
genuineness OF the letters brought home by
Stanley, for Livingstone's relatives folly iden
tilted the handwriting. Still people we're
achieved 20 brilliant . success, and IL is no
wonder that, smArting under this unworthy
suspicion, he betrayed an iTritability which
increased his unpOpularity.
Somewhat later Stanley returned 70 Africa,
aud crossing the continent descended the
Congo 10 is mouth. Neither Ignorance nor
envy could undeFrAte this magniRcant sx-
plot. II was by far the grandest achieve
mont Of African exploration, and whether
We consider the geographical discoveries
made by Stanley or the difficulties which he
Overcame, his journey across the continent
dWarfed the work of any Of his predecessors
Moreover, Il proved that Stanley was more
than a clever aud tirsless explorer II show
I'd him in the character OF born leader Q
man whose indomitable will and daunllaas
courage enabled him to accomplish with q
handful Of black followers what = Lesser man
could not have done with An army. Yet there
were stillthose who, unable 10 deny the splen-
dor OF Stanley success, claimed that Il vas
won by the massacre OF helpless negroes. To
those who knew the facts, and were aware
that Stanley had fought only on the defen.
sive, and that his foes were not helpless
negroes, but we're well armed, bloOdthirsty,
and innumerAble, the pretense that he had
been q ruthless hlibuster seemed absurd,
but nevertheless il had It's effect In delaying
the recognition which Stanley deserved.
His latest work that Of opening the Con
90 10 trade, and OF establishing free empire
in the heart Of Africa il, however. beyond
the reach OF any hostile attack He has done
what previous explorers have uniformly failed
to do-he has reached the naVigabla waters
Of the Congo above the YellAlA and Nissan.
guile Oaiaracts. He has made roads around
the cAtarAets, dragged steamers over the roads
and launched them where an uninterrupted
stretch Of 6 200 miles OF nAvigAbls water
awaited them. He has eatablished trading
stations from the coast 10 Stanley FAlls, in
the very heart OF Africa. Without causing
the death Of q single hostile native he has
overcome all hostility and has taught the
Africans 10 look on him ~ their protector
and friend. Trade has sprung up wherever
he has gone, and has GlreAdy grOvn 30 great
As 10 attract the ouPidity OF all the great
powers OF Europe. Stanley has had 10 deal
not merely with wild and tTeAcheroua natives,
but with incompetent and insubOrdinais Of.
fcers and lazy and dissOluts men. Not only
has he triumphed over all these obstacles,
but he has managed with infinite tact toAVoid
embroiling the Congo Association with the
French who were ready 10 make De Brazzas
30 called treaties with the natives the basis
of q scheme for obtaining predOminAnce on
the Congo.
stanleys work on the Congo Is frAuRht
with the redemption Of the Dark Continent.
The Congo empire will never be q nation Of
white men, but II will be an intelligent, in
dustIious nation OF civilized negroes. Its
future il reasonably well assured, and though
Stanley could not have founded the Congo
State without the help Of King Leopold and
the Congo Association, Il certainly could not
have been founded without Stanley.