Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-17

and the other is to bring the means and
blessings of Christian civilization TO Africa,
which is noble"
When 1 asked His Majesty what be ex.
pected in return for the great outlay he had
made in the Congo, his eyes kindled with
interest, and, strengthening himself up in
his chair, he said:
ST have spent much in the Congo, and YET
I am not tired spending. What do there
is done as a Christian duty to the poor
African; and do not wish to have one
franc back of all the money have ex-
pended. God created Africa and the Afri-
cans as well as He did other countries and
races Of people; and we owe duty to that
country and people that should be dis
charged with cheerful willingness"
"But what signs are there, Your Majesty,
to indicate that those people appreciate the
blessings of the independent State you have
established?" asked.
'Many," he replied, 'Tbut chiefly in the
fact that every month more and more Of the
natives appear in our courts; thus showing
that they not only acknowledge the lawful
government of the country, but that they
have confidence in the administration Of
justice, and appreciate the privileges and
blessings Of civil government"
ST have somewhere seen that when your
son was removed by death, you expressed
the belief that God had put Africa on Your
Msjesty's hearth"
Turning his head to one side, he gazed
dreamily out OF the window, while sad ex-
preston spread over his countenance; and
then turning and facing me squareIy with a
tender melancholy in his words, he said:
"Yes, it is partly true; but we should not
invoke sorrow to compel Us to do our duty.
We should do right because it is right"
After pleasant conversation on other mat
ters, took my leave Of one Of the noblest
sovereigns in the world; an emperor whose
highest ambition is to serve the cause oi
Christian civilization, and to promote the
best interests q His subjects, fzliag ii Ms.
dom, mercy and Justice.
THE ANTT-sLAvERY CONFERENCE.
The conference of the powers of Europe
which had been summoned to meet In this
city on the 18th Of the present month has
been postponed until the 18th of November.
The postponement was made at the request
of several of the powers that we're not pre-
pared to meet on the first date. All the
signatory powers of the Conference Of Ber-
lin, IA in number, with 10 delegates, will be
present at the Conference Of Brussels, and
Persia will come into the conferences, the
only power not present at Berlin.
Belgium has no secret or selfish motives
in calling this conference. The good Of
Africa is the sole object in view. No plan
has been laid down or policy suggested for
the conference to follow. The delegates
from each power will come with verbal and
written instructions to govern their action
on the leading questions to be considered by
the conference. England, Germany, France,
Spain, Portugal, Italy and the Congo State
nearly one-half Of the powers of Europe
have territorial interests and claims in
Africa, and they will naturally be interested
in the abatement Of an evil that has exerted
such q deleterious effect upon the trade
and commerce of Africa. And no
doubt the other powers. although
without territorial possessions, will heartily
sustain any action that may tend to practi-
cal solution of the slave trade. There can
be, in my Judgment, no plausible ground
for serious division in the conference on
the best methods of checking and ultimately
extinguishing the slave trade on the African
continent, providing, however, that wher-
ever q military, or police, or boat service Is
employed, it shall be national in its charac-
ter and administered by and within the
territorial boundaries of each one of the
signatory powers having thus far estab-
lished its authority in any part of Africa.
The International action Of the conference
will doubtless be embodied in 9 preamble
and anti-slavery proclamation.
The Mozambique river question will doubt
less be brought into the conference by Por-
tugal> and England, but whatever power is
made master Of this great waterway should
be made distinctly to understand that it
should be held open to great International
commerce upon equal terms. And If pilot
age, harbor dues or q light impost tax
should be fixed, it should be done without
discrimination. All the powers should be
admitted to trade and commerce upon the
terms Of the "most favored nations" 80
clearly and universally understood in in-
tern ational law.
GEORGE W, WnLIANs,