Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-23
DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF RUM
On the Inhabitants OF Congo The Shame
of Christian Nations

All who have regard for the welfare OF
mankind and love for christian civilization
cannot otherwise than express their keen
est indignation and utter horror at what
the Representatives of civilized people are
doing In the newly discovered regions of
Africa. The opening of the rich and ex-
tensive countries discovered by Stanley
and other men of daring enterprise, i
leading to consequences which should put
to the blush of shame Englishmen. Ger
mans, and Americans, and to all
thoughtful men of other nationalitics.
The scourge and shame are the result of
forcing rum on simple aud defenccless
people. IL may be said, that this country
is officially free from blame, for in the
Berlin conference. whenthc evil was in
ternationally authorized. the American
representative was opposed to allowing
the liquor commerce on the Congo. This
deliberate dehauchmcnt of millions of
savages for the mere greed Of money we'll
rivals In foulucsS the slave trade itself. rs
of the Contemporary Review. THE old
rapacity Of the slave trade, he says, "has
been followed by the grccdicr and more
ruinous rapacity of the drink-seller. Our
fathers tore from the neck of Africa a
yoke of whips; we have subjected the M
tive race to yoke of scorpions. We have
opened the rivers of Africa 10 commerce
only to pour down them that raging Pile
gethon of alcohol, than which no river of
the Inferno Is more hlood-red or accurse,i. -
The following appeal made not long ago
to Bishop Crowther by powerful negro
king in the West of Africa, through a mis-
sionary, Rev. G.. Paul, is cloquently pa
thetic:-
Salute Crowthcr, the great Christian
minister. After salutaton, please tell him
he is father TO us in this land. anything he
sees would injurc us in all this land, he would
not like il. This we know perfectly we'll
The matter about which am speaking with
my mouth, write ii; it is AS if done by my
hand II is not a long matter; it is about
barsss [rum or gin. Barasa, barasa, barasa
by God. it has ruined our country: il has
ruined our people very much it has made
our people become mad. have given law
that no one dares buy or sell it; and any one
who is found selling il, his house is to be
eaten up; any one found drunk will be killed
l have told all the Christian traders that
agreed to everything for trade exeep, barasa.
have told Mr.. McIntoshs people TO say the |
barasa remaining with them must be returned |
down the river. Tell Crowther, the great |
Christian minister, that he is our father |
beg you Malam kipo MIR. Paul. don't for
get this writing, because we all beg that he |
should beg the great priests that they should
beg the English Queen to prevent bri .ging
barasa into the land. For God and the Proph- |
cts sake! For God and the Prophet, His |
messengers sake, he must help us in this |
matter-that of barasa. We have all conf
dence in him. He must not leave our country |
to become spoiled by barsss. Tell him, may |
God bless him in his work. This is the |
mouth-word from Malike the Emir of Nupe. |
The superintendent of Lutheran missions
in West Africa writes:
1.-The vilest liquors imaginable are being !