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


only pyramids Of clay, towering TO great
heights. have stated where solid granite
is TO be found, but the mountains which /
saw were principally of crumbly slate, and
the "grim rocky mountains Of the Lower
Congo" Of which Mr.. Stanley's book treats,
are few and far between. There are rocks
and howldefs, as l have stated, along tho
river but the mighty Congo has, neverthe-
less, channeled for itself n course through
slate, which the photographs from Mr.
stanlcy's camera clearly depict. Does Mr..
Stanley mean to say that there are not
mountains OF earth, Of clay, of slater
Again, Mr.. Stanley asserts that have
never seen nakednoss among the natives Of
Central Africa. Had he quoted correctly
from my report he would had given an ex-
planatory clause. | inclose herewith two
photographs, one Of male and one Of
female. The camera has been faithful to
its work, and l ask you 10 search out the
slightest article Of clothing, except the
beads and brass rings which / have de-
scribed. Other photographs will file with
the department for Mr.. Stanley's inspec-
ton when he shall honor the states with
his presence. In the United States mu-
scum, Washington, theremny be seen many
full-dress costumes of African ladies, and
which might easily DO inolosod In an ordt
nary letter envelope
Mr.. Stanley writes Of schools in tho
Congo valley, and questions tho veracty Of
my reports on this subject. lie refers par
ticularly TO Palla Balla, and states that
Hourishing school exists there. 1t is not
true. The school and mission house which
were constructed In Palla Balla were de-
stroyed by the natives while Twas in the
country. The missionaries have made ex-
traordinnry efforts to teach few boys,
who have been gathered about the stations,
but, to quote from my report, ~ have yet
TO see Congo man, woman, or child With
whom the missionaries have made any
progress"
l have stated in my reports that beyond
Leopoldvllle explorations have not been
made, excepting along the river and It's
branches, whereupon Mr.. Stanley, with
characteristic promptness, proclaims II I'M
true, and mentions the names OF persons
whom he claims have explored an area of
$4,000 square miles between the Congo,
Gordon Bennett, and tho Niaddi. Wlllyou
take the trouble, Mr.. Secretary, to look at
the map, and follow north on the longitude
Of De Brazzaville? You will find all OF the
country about which Mr.. Stanley is so par
tioular to specify, west OF the line laid
down by me. / do not believe that $500
square miles Of the Congo valley have ever
been surveyed. The descriptive maps are
from Mr.. Stanley's vivid imagination.
Mr.. Stanley boldly asserts that vegeta-
the employees Under the shade OF tree
in Kinchasa a few radishes and potatoes
were produced, and in the cemetery near
Vivi Sir Francis de Winton tcnderly nursed
to maturity few tomatoes, but, all told, o
peck measure would easily contain the veg
etables grown In the Congo valley. In
many parts II is even difficult to grow brush
wood for fuel, and along the upper river,
where Mr. Stanley reports the existence OF
vast forests, the greatest difficulty is expe-
rienced In obtaining fuel for the steam
launches.
In this manner ! might 90 on to the end
Of Mr.. Stanley's chapter, but what good
can II doY Proverb says "If you answer
fool after bis own folly you are apt to
drift into his own way" l cannot make
this application to Mr.. Stanley, yet the
manner in which he writes up the "great
Congo country" and the promptness with
which he rushes into print whenever the
Congo lie seen through other and better eyes
than his simple folly. Can you name
an instance where criticism, unfavorable to
Stanley's idea of Congo, has not been in-
stantly met with personal attacks from the
pen Of this great explorer The sugges-
lion that was too friendly with the Portu-
guese, and that wanted TO create sensa-
ton, is as foul as II Is false. I wished to be
just, and this is what Mr.. Stanley cannot
understand. Time will tell whether my re
ports will "pass muster" or not. / drew
but mild picture, Mr.. Secretary. Mr..
Stanley says that five Americans have been
In the service OF the association. He even
gives the names. Do these names, with one
| exception, strike you, Mr.. Secretary, as
being Americana Mr.. Montgomery james,
Of Philadelphia, is the only American in
| the service of the association. He may be
| dead for aught l know. / left him al
Isanghila helpless, too weak to be carried
| to the sea. Mr.. Stanley never wanted an
American In the Congo. He so declared
most emphatically to the United States
| vice consul general in London (Col.
| MitchelD who had corresponded with the
| officials OF the association with view OF
| entering the service.
The trade of the Congo, about which Mr..
| Stanley raves, is the trade OF the coast be-
tween the equator and 13o south; the sea
coast and longitude l3o As east; and my re-
ports explain infinitely how the produce Is
| gathered, shipped to the Congo, and thence
to Europe.
The final summing up OF the work of the
Berlin conference proves conclusiyely-
!. That England wanted nothing to do
| with the Congo, but that she wanted To be
| let alone on the Niger.
2. That Germany wanted nothing OF the
| Congo, but that she did want Zanzibar.
3. That France wanted only tho Niaddi
| Quillu, which she got; and
| 4. That Portugal wanted to be let alone
| In the country south OF the Congo.
The eloquence Of Messrs. Stanley aud
| Sanford secured the recognition OF the
| Free States under the sovereignty Of Leo
| pold ii of Belgium; but as soon as this
| recognition was made known the chamber
OF Belgium declared almost unanimously
that Belgium should In no way become re
| sponsible for the acts OF her king In con-
l tN, tl.a atfrVaf nj
which he had assumed only In his private
capacity.
Mr.. Stanley has tried In vain TO raise
| capital with which to develop the Congo
| He has organized companies for CONNER
cial purposes, but all have fallen, as did the
famous Manchester Trading Company,
which took the trouble toinvestigate before
calling for funds from its subscribers. All
| the reports OF great loans for the Congo are
without foundation In fact, and the coun-
! try remains to-day quite as Mr.. Stanley
found 1t, and so, In my opinion, 1t Will re-
| main for all time TO come
/ The French missionary, Father Augouard,
| whom II was my pleasure to meet at DE-
Brazzaville, has recently published In the
Missions Catalogues, of Paris, an account
of his journey from Stanley Pool to the
tribes make the Europeans anything but
welcome, and at many places he was re
fused both food and fuel.u He further
states that he twas obliged to keep away
from the banks Of the river IN order Il
avoid sanguinary encounters with the ma
tives." Father Augouard asserts "tha
many Of the stations will have to be evac
uated.n
DR.. Lenz, commander of the Austrian ex
petition which has just returned from th,
Congo, has reported to his government a
great length, the report being a fiat contra
diction of the rose-colored views presented
by Mr.. Stanley. He advises his countrYmel
to keep away from the Congo.
Lieut.. Wannerns, Of the Swedish army
just from the Congo, reports In "Nya Dag
light Allehanda," Stockholm, Jan. -, 1880
"The climate Of the Congo is so bad that
| Enrnnnnn nnnnnt live Ehnrn Hhn country |