The Brookhaven leader., 1889-08-15
The CURSE or AFRICA.
The Dark Continent Threatened with
Greater Evil Than Slavery.

emit nations, each having its distinct
language, religion and polity, with
frontier lines more or less vague, with
the prospect that there will be planted
ten, and perhaps twenty, different ma
tionalities, each with its attendant in
situations, and accompanied by all the
drawbacks which now make Europe a
collection of armed and fortified
camps. From an American stand
point it is much to be regretted that
the whole African continent could not
have been laid out and governed upon
some such plan rs the North Ameri-
can continent The example OF the
thirteen British colonies of America
may, in some future day, be followed
by the numerous colonies OF Africa,
and the next century may see the
United States OF Africa, merging into
one government and language, the
polity of which is now so variously
split up Partly because the great
powers could not agree among them
selves upon the partition Of the entire
region explored by Spoke and Liv-
ingstono, it was finally agreed in 1885
by England, France. Germany, Russia,
Italy, Belgium. Holland and the United
States that an International Free
State might be erected, under the
patronage of Belgium, covering an
area somewhat larger than that
claimed by the others. This was, in
effect, erecting, with the consent of
tho great powers, another Belgium in
Africa-one which. however. from its
area and resources might become
commercially more important than
any one of the rest.
In order that the advantages of this
neutral state might be enjoyed by all,
and not exclusively by Belgium, it
was conditioned that free trade should
be maintained throughout its limits.
The motive for this was doubtless not
to give an advantage to the products
of one of the consen ting countries over
the others. Some idea of the thrush
Of trade may be gathered from the
fact that fifteen steamers ply up and
down the Lower Congo, and ten river
boats navigate the Upper Congo, and
four European mail steamers call
every month at the mouth Of the river
A railway is surveyed and soon to be
completed to connect these two links
of navigation, the distance being 272
miles, o yer which distance consider
able trade is now done by men porters.
The King of the BelgiaDs has accepted
in good faith, and proceeded with COM
mendable energy to administer the
political trust thus placed in his
hands; and Belgium advances about
half of the money to build and equip
the railroad. The invitation is open
to the citizens of other nations, and
more particularly to the Americans.
who occupy still more neutral posi-
ton in African affairs. 1t is under
stood that some of our prominent citi-
zens have con litionally agreed to sub
scribe to the enterprise; not so much
from expectation of great profit in
money, but from desire to contribute
to the civilization of these benighted
regions. and more especially for the
suppression OF the inhuman traffic in
slaves, which is fast decimating the
interior of Africa.
The United States can do something
more than furnish an example in eco
nomical and symmetrical government
AS field for missionary effort, the
British and Americans have taken the
lead, Following their steps closely
have gone the traders. This has ex-
cited the cupidity of Germany, Hol-
land, Italy, France and Russia, who
are each striving either for the gains
of trade, colonial outlets for surplus
population, or for careers in new
fields for youngef sons of noble fam
lilies. The population of the Congo
Free State alone is estimated at twenty
to TWENTY-FIVE millions.
The Sultan of Turkey claims juris-
dictioN over half of the entire African
continent, and it is probable that the
MChatsmedan adherents are about fifty
millions, or more than the adherents
of all 0the" religions combined. AS
between Christianity and Isamism the
natives may not be able to choose in
diligently, since Christianity, it seems,
is accompanied by the traffic in ardent
spirits, whereas the Arabian religion.
though it tolerates the slave
traffic, forbids the use OF intoxicat-
ing liquors. Slavery in its hor-
rid aspect of man stealing
will die out as soon as it ceases to be
source of profit; the railroad itself
will, when developed, extinguish it.
The combined efforts of civilized ma
tions are narrowing the circle of the
slave market. Not so with the traffic
in spirituous liquors. The uncivilized
man seems to be incapable of self
restraint in the presence OF this Sc
ductive drug. We properly execrate
the unprincipled wretches who intro
duce whisky among the North Amer
lean Indians, and by law and regula-
ton endeavor to suppress it. The &C
tion of England in forcing upon the
Chinese the admission OF opium, in
spite of the protest of its Government,
has received general Reproduction.
Africa is confronted with even a worse
curse. Through the oversight or the
jealousy of the great trading powers
the Congo Free State is left open to the
introduction of spirituous liquors. and
its government is powerless to exclude
than without the cOnsent If tho sauna