National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-29

| your illustrious predecessor My latest nd
vices from the Congo are up 10 jan. 20
and while in some places an improved con
dillon of affairs is reported, the general
tone OF the latest letters indicates positive
apprehension OF inability much longer 10
cope successfully with the climate, tho ma.
tives, and the monotony OF this useless pos
session.
To-day the cable informs me that his
majesty the king OF the Belgiaus has ap.
pointed De Brazza to be governor general
Of the Congo free states. | congratulate
him upon the selection. Yet my surpri sc
is, nevertheless, great. In October, 1885,
when | was honored by his majesty with
an audience, Mr.. De Brnzza was character
lied as man without principle, and wholly
unworthy OF notice, or even respect His
majesty was particularly severe upon Mr..
De Brazza, and enumerated many acts OF
perildy, as reported to him by Mr. Stanley.
Leet this may he denied, II may not be
out OF place 10 state that the American
minister, who presented me- was a witness
TO the denunclation Of Mr.. Dc Brazza. At
the same time, Mr. Stanley was loud In his un-
complimentary comments about De BrazZa;
and you cannot fail to call to
mind the excitement which was
famous speech, delivered at q dinner given
Paris. Dc Brazza, with his usual good
sense, excused this as postprandial
speech, where wine had spoken, not the
man. refer to this only by way OF parcu.
thesis, not wishing or intending to violate
any secrets, but 10 show you that his
majesty the king Of the Bolgians has
changed his mind, and that now be calls TO
his aid the man who, OF all others, Mr.
Stanley has most cruelty and bitterly as
4 10 IL
king has not appointed Mr.. Stanley TO DO
governor general of the Congo. / regret
that am compelled 10 refer TO this inci-
dent; and | am sure his majesty will par
don me, since he himself has found out his
mistake and reetined It. lie will find many
more, andI might point them out now,
but wish not 70 be an informer, and, un-
Ices driven TO IL, Icanuot betray secrets
which his majesty confded TO me.
You were kind enough, Mr.. Secretary, to
return TO me the many letters which you
had In your possession, and whign con-
flrmed my reports. You remarked Mt the
time that they were OF too personal ma
ture to be filed In the department, and that
my statements had been fully coroborated.
Self-preservation is the first law of nature.
Those letters, with many others Of later
date, are again at your disposal; and
court the most thorough investigation as to
as agent Of the United States to the states
Of the Congo Association. l regret that
was not In the states when the attack was
made upon me by Mr.. Stanley, that might
have answered him promptly, and from
documentary proofs, which are deposited
In Washington, and which can he pro
duced upon receipt OF a oablegram from
your department demanding them, and
which also will cause my speedy return to
INV nNrN tfsxF N NVlf aFNl paI In
every thought and act. NY defense, II any
there: be needed, will be made among
my own people.
do not believe that Americans want or
should want anything to do with Central
| Africa. II they do, warn them TO study
well my reports before taking action; aud
II is my belief that only through the recon
mendations which have had the honor Il
submit can Americans ever hope TO gain 9
desirable foothold on the shores of the darl
continent which was sent TO inspect, and
upon which l have consclcntiously re
| ported.
Gen. Gordon, who gave up his lifo ii
| Khartoum, sacrifice to his convictions
and that the honor Of England might bC
maintained, wrote Of the Upper Nile as fol
lows 1.-THE Soudan lie a useless possession
Ever was so, and ever will be so. Large
than Germany, France, and Spain together
and mostly barren. No one who has eve
lived in the Soudan can escape the reilec
ton, what useless possession is thi
landp Few men can stand It's fearful
mopotony and deadly cllmate.n Had tn
brave Gen. Gordon applied these words Il
the Congo, no more condensed or truthful
description Of the country could have beeI
given than these lines imply. l have tn
honor TO be, sir, very respectfully, you
obedient servant, w. z. TIsDEL.