The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-12-07

some 400 miles southwark. South of 1t Is
/ thin strip of hall pagan, half civilized No
groes, and south of that is the vast savage
land where Stanley, Emin Bey and others
are contending, and in the very center Of
which Europe is now striving to establish the
| Congo free state. To abolish the slave trade,
| tonullify "the malign influence of the Arabs"
as they put it, TO civilize the negroes and
realize on the enormous wealth of the coun-
try is the avowed purpose of the leagued
| Europeans, and in the process there is natur-
ally much jealousy between English and Ger
mans, French and Belgians. By this, in all
probability, DR.. Peters and party came to
their death.
DR.. Carl Peters was rather precocious
German scholar, being at the time of his
death but 33 years of age, and yet celebrated
in many lines of achievement. native OF
Neuhaus, on the Elbe, he was graduated from
the Berlin university, taking high rank in
law and national economy. He at once de-
voted his talents to the cause Of African de-
velopment and colonization. For three years
he resided in England, making special study
Of her system Of developing and governing
colonies. He then obtained from Bismarck
an imperial charter under which he formed
the German East African company, of which
he was elected president He rapidly dis
patched several expeditions to gain footholds
on the east coast near Zanzibar.
At this time, be it noted, Stanley and others,
under the nominal direction of King Leopold
of Belgium but for the combined powers,
were working from the west coast On the
east there was no such extensive combination.
England and Germany are rivals and French,
Italians and others in companies or as single
midi Al -
Zanzibar In September, 1886, DR.. Peters
convened at Berlin the first German colonial
congress, and the next spring went to Zanzi-
bar and made a comprehensive treaty with
Sultan Said Burghash. Returning to Europe
he pushed forward the movement for Ger
man colonization and then organized the ex-
petition which has just terminated so disas.
trously On the Goth Of July he started In
land from Vitu and penetrated to Korkorro,
up the Tamu river, which led him too far
north and in reach of the warlike Somaulees.
When DR.. Peters announced his purpose,
the British government protested, and so
Prince Bismarck withdrew all governmental
support, leaving it only a private and mer-
camille character. In July, 1887, the two ma
tions made what they called treaty of de-
Imitation" by which the Germans were to
English north Of it, both to range interiorly
to the border Of the Congo Free State. The
two governments also agreed each to discour-
age annexations Sin the rear Of the influence"
of the other, and on this ground the Germans
protested that Stanley's expedition had an
Interior object-to push on after reaching
Emin Pasha and establish an English pro-
tectorate at the back of the German sphere
of action in east Africa
In this condition of affairs, it being known
at that time ON the east coast, but not pub
lshed to the world that Enin Pasha was
safe, Admiral Freemantle seized the steamer
Neera, with all of DR.. Peters supplies on
board, alleging that he had violated the gem
eral understanding. English and Germans
were at that time maintaining joint block
ade to suppress the slave trade. Bismarck
conceded the rightfulness Of the seizure, but
the German papers assailed the English
furiously. The British reioined that the
overbearing policy Of the Germans had es-
tranged the natives, and that they should ex-
clude even private expeditions. The matter
was arranged, but DR.. Peters entered the
country with British suspicion and influence
against him, and there are dark hints OF evil
counsel to the natives and various charges
too vague to be traced and confirmed or dis
proved at this writing.