Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-14
STANLEY'S WORK.

brlef account OF the La DOr8 performed In
Africa by the Great Explorer.
At meeting of the Common Coun-
Gil Mr.. Morrison recounted the serv-
ices which Mr.. Stanley had rendered
to the world at large. In 1868 he was
in the British expedition to Abyssinia,
and for purchasing abundance of
rations at critical periods and in as
sisting Captain Speedy (of the Intel
hgence Department. he received sill
yer medal from the British Govern
ment. In 1871 he discovered Living
stone and relieved his immediate wants.
In 1872 he equipped another expedi-
tion to enable Livingstone to complete
his discoveries. In 1874, rs, '76 and
III Mr.. Stanley completed the discov-
cries of Speke, Grant, Burton and
Livingstone, with the result that he
the Congo, was available for the easy
ton throughout the whole of west
equatorial Africa. Between 1879 and
1884 he returned to Africa and estab-
lished forty stations in the Congo
basin, and steam communication be-
tween the Atlantic Ocean and Stanley
Falls, 1,400 miles inland. He united all
the tribes along the Congo river into q
native confederation under the flag
and auspices of the International As
sociation. He assisted as one of the
delegates Che being a technical coun-
cilor) at the Berlin conference, at the
conclusion of which the explored re-
gions of Africa (on which he had
thrown light by his travels across the
continent in 1874-'77. and which he
had subsequently, developed) were
recognized by the European pow ers
as the independent state of the
Congo. Eight years previously
barbarism Of the grossest form was.
prevalent and the marauding Arabs
raided for slaves. These regions
were now under the influence OF light
and civilization. Stanley having planted
several stations for the purpose. The
river which he described in 1877 was
policed by armed steamers. and seven
hundred miles of navigation had been
thrown open to commerce. At various
places there were missionary settle
ments and schools in fair way Of
progress. Trading companies, en-
couraged by the peaceful character Of
the country, had established them-
selves at Stanley Pool, and their
steamers were exploiting this immense
and fertile region. There were now
five lines of steamers running to the
Congo per month, and telegraphic
able was being laid along the west
coast of Africa which would reach the
Congo settlement. Arrangements
were being made for the construction
of a railroad to pass the cataracts, and
if successful the Congo basin would,
on account of its great wealth and va
riety of tropical climate, become 9
superior Brazil. From 1879 to 1884,
when Mr.. Stanley completed his labors,
and brought the concessions granted
by over 400 native chiefs. there was
not one shot fired; and as the State had
1,1OO.O 900 square miles, inhabited by
over 80, 600, 900 people, it had been .
grand victory over barbarism without
the guilt of blood that had too often
| stained the triumphs of civilizing en-
terprises. Mr.. Stanley had received
| the thanks of the learned societies OF
London, Paris. Vienna, New York and
elsewhere, and it would be fitting
compliment if the corporation con.
ferred upon him the freedom of the
city for the great and everlasting bene.
| fits he had conferred.-Lo,1d0n Icle-
0Ta71h.