The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-29
EXPLORER STANLEY.
Entertained as the HOnored Guest of Men Who
Once Doubted His Achievements.

New YORK, Nov. 27.-A banquet was given
by the Lotos Club tonight. in honor of Henry
M. Stanley. the explorer of Africa, who arrived
in New York to-day after absence from
America of thirteen years. Whitelaw Reid pre-
sided. Mr. Stanley was at his right hand;
Lieutenant Greedy, of arctic fame. at his left,
and Chauncey M. Depew. Gen. Horace Porter,
Hon. Algernon S. Sullivan, Mr.. Heron-Allen,
Mr. George Alfred Townsend and scores of we'll
known society and newspaper men were present.
After justice had been done to the viands and
and liquids Mr. Whitelaw Reid, in feicitous
address, introduced the distinguished guest of
the evening, who was warmly applauded. In an
easy, unpretentious and almost conversational
style, Stanley told the leading and most inter-
esting points of his career since leaving America
He described in humorous way the off-hand
manner in which his old employer, Mr.. James
Gordon Bennett had ordered him from
one end of the world to the other,
and finally to Africa, "to find livingstone 1t
was not for the humble reporter to question that
despotic will, but to go. Turning to Col Finlay
Anderson, who, as Mr.. Benefits London repre-
sen tative gave Stanley his first instructions to
proceed to Africa, the speaker said: Even now
the familiar face of my old friend, Colonel An
derson gives me an idea that Bennett has sent
some telegraphic dispatch, which is just about to
order me to some other terrible region for some
desperate commission"
After some happy references to the newspaper
men about him. Mr.. Stanley went on to rapidly
sketch his travels in Africa and their results
He rather sarcastically alluded to the fact that
after he had found Livingstone there were many
who doubted his story, and even the members of
the Lotos Club did not seem to take it altogether
seriously. The Royal Geographical Society
pooh -poohed the account of his geographical dis
coveries as sensational" though he had taken
special pains to confne it to the bare facts
and learned gentleman wrote to the
London Times that ''it not Stanley who
had found Livingstone but Livingstone who had
found Stanley" Laughter. Thereupon all
New York echoed that Livingstone had dis
| covered Stanley" II was sensitive them" con-
| tinued the speaker, land felt this very much;
| but it was a valuable medicine, though severe
fer if it had not been for the unbelief prevailing
| in New York, do not believe should ever have
| visited Africa again. / should have become
| conservative member of your club, and settled
| down to enjoy your good dinners; but you would
not let me remain If New York. l fancied the
| finger of scorn was lifted whenever you smiled
| in speaking of my adventures, and so left New
York as soon as possible"
| Mr.. Stanley went on to tell of his wanderngs
| again as newspaper correspondent until,
| standing in Westminster Abbey at Liviugstones
| funeral, ne said to himself: 1.-THE New Workers
| do not believe in me; how shall l prove that
what say is trueY L will go and complete Liv-
| ngsrones work; will prove his discoveries; /
will extend them further, and prove at least that
| plause.
| The explorer here told in few vivid words
| OF the remarkable journey up the Nile, through
the vast central lakes of Africa, and of his dis
cOvery that the great river which had lured
Livingstone to his death not the classic
Nile, as he had thought, but the Congo. After
| following the great Congo TO the Atlantic said
| the speaker, he was strongly tempted to come
| back to America and say II told you So" hut
Immediately the King of Belgium summoned
| him ana asked him to go back to Africa.
Before accepting this commission he tried to
| convince the people of England that there was
vast opportunity for the extension of trade by
| developing the Congo basin; but the solid men
| of London and Manchester looked at him and
said among themselves after ALL he is only
| newspaper reporter" and they let the oppor-
tunity go by of securing the trade of that won
| derfully rich region. Then Stanley went to
Brussels, and found marked difference in his
reception. There was no question as TO the
truth OF his story, Or the correctness Of his
prophecy as to the future Importance
of the Congo basin. King Leopold
| the best course to pursue and having
| decided that point, furnished almost unlimited
| means and placed every facility at Stanleys dis
| posal. The result was that, six years later, the
Congo attracted the attention of all Europe, the
Congo conference of fourteen powers was called
| at Berlin, the Congo State was added to the list
| of nations, and through Stanley's personal in
! fuence its trade was free to the world. After
an interesting description of the establishment
| of this unique state and it's present great i'm
| portance, Mr.. Stanley good -humoredly invited
/ any New Yorker. who still doubted the reality Of
his African stories to take a steamer
| to Liverpool thence another steamer to the
north Of the Congo, and by announcing
the fact that he member Of the Lotos Club
and friend of Stanley's, he would be offered
| free transportation to Stanley Pool, where he
| would only have to pronounce, in the Congo dia-
| lect the name by which the natives know Stan
ley. and he would soon find himself safely landed
| /, 100 miles further in the interior of the dark
continent Applause
| Mr. Stanley concluded his speech by proph-
| ecy that the dream of Livingstone already par
TALLY realized by the establishment of the Con
go State, will eventually be fulfilled to the ut
most by the civilization of the African CONT
nent The address was listened to with intense
interest and received with frequent outbursts of
applause.