The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-16
xmrx EKY AnD STANLEY.

The British commander at Saakim
Has received from osnan DIgma' the
great Arab general. letter informing
Aim that Emin Bey has at last been
compelled TO surrender 10 the follow
srs of the Msbdi and that among TIE
prisoners taken Is q white traveller. VINO
can be no other than Henry NJ Stan
Bey. This letter was accompanied By
ssyersi articles belonging to Emin and
STANLEY, and the possession OF these
By The Arabs affords ample proof oil
the authenticity Of the news which
Osman imparts 70 the world
This Is the first authentic news CON
serning Stanley that has been received
for almost IS months. IT settles ,he
disputed questions concerning his
tate. 1t proves that he is alive. or was
alive az recently as two months ago.
II proves that the relief expedition
under his command succeeded IN
reaching Hmin Bey. and that Stanley
las successfully overcome all The OBJ
stacies 10 his progress. Improves also
however, that the relief brought was
mt sufficient 10 accomplish any prac-
tical good. and that BELIEVERS ana re-
Keyed alike have fallen into the hands
Of Arab fanatics.
These points may DO regarded as
settled. for the attempt OF the Emin
Rev Relief Association TO cast doubt
upon the authenticity OF the news is
little more than pnerile. The mem
bers OF the association explain that
Stanley may have sent forward the
letters and other articles obtained
by the Arabs by special messengers IN
order that they might reach Emin IN
advance Of his arrival. and that It Is
only his messengers who have fallen
into the hands Of the Arabs. The ex-
tire me improbability Of this surposi-
zion is at once manifest. 1t Is far
more probable than that. it Is
reasonably certain-that the state
ments OF Osman Digms's letter are
correct and that both Bmin and
Stanley are prisoners.
IL Is now time to consider what Is to
be done for the rescue OF these illustri-
Gus prisoners. They have evidently
been spared in the hope that an enor-
mons ransom will be paid for their re-
lease. II this is not paid the prisoners
will be put TO death. Escape Is utterly
sut OF the question. for the place OF
their confinement is in the very heart
Of equatorial Africa. Any attempt to
release them with the help Of an In
yading army would be futile and dis
astrous both 20 the prisoners and their
gould-be rescuers. The idea that the
Arabs would hesitate TO put two such
distinguished prisoners 10 death can
not be entertained for an instant.
They put Gordon TO death and were
not punished for IL. and they know
that they could pat anybody else to
death with similar immunity. They
hate Emin Pasha as they would
naturally hate q man who has
fought them 50 long and so
successfully as hs. and IL is doubtful
whether even the hope Of ransom
will restrain them from killing him.
OF seanley they only know little, and
he will probably receive from them the
same treatment which is accorded
Emin.
II is to be hoped that this disaster
will end the attempt 10 force European
civilization upon a people who do not
want IT and viii not have it. The
Arabs should be left 90 themselves
They occupy country which nobody
else wants, and they arc perfectly con
tented with their own customs. their
own civilization and their own religion
The crusadeS which have been under
taken against them, though their os-
tensible purpose was 10 carry tiFiiiEa-
ton into the heart OF Africa. have
really had no other object than to
keep open routes of trade VIII h the
Arabs preferred TO close. Enough
noble and useful lives lave already
been sacrificed ia this futile effort aud
IL Is high time that the slaughter
should cease.
II the payment Of a ransom will
save the lives OF Stanley and Em.n Fey.
It should be paid at once And here
after the Arabs should be permitted
10 manage their own aifaies and 10 be
supreme in their own country