New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-15
THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
AMERICAN INTEREST IN IT'S SUPPRESSION
THE SITUATION REVIEWED BY THE HON.
EUGENE neutrality-suspicious. OF THE

THE SITUATION REVIEWED BY THE HON
EUGENE neutrality-suspicious. OF THE
PRESENT STATE DEPARTMENT.
TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; The great European crusade against slavery ana
the slave trade, which is tho most striking event OF
the last year. ought TO excite interest and SYM
PATTY in the United States than It seems so far to have
done. Since the colonizing mania which has seized
nearly all European powers and the occupation of the
unclaimed parts of Africa. and especially since the
English occupation Of Egypt there has been singular
recrudesccnce Of tho slave trade, united with re-
vival OF Mussulman fanaticsm. The headquarters OF
the slave traffic arc now near Ujji in tho region
handed TO German influence, but through its means
devastation is carried throughout the whole interior Of
the continent from east to west For the moment
the slave trade IS the greatest obstacle TO civilization
TO colonization and TO missionary work, whether
Catholic or Protestant When this shall have been
put down, there will still be struggle against Islam
and Arab influence.
At tho Congo Conference In Berlin in 1885, there
was q discussion about measures to put down the
slave trade as well to prevent the Introduction into
uncvilized Africa of arms and liquor. But to these
measures there was opposition.
The movement has taken two forms, one religious,
or rather phllanhropic. the bther political and mill
tsry. The venerable Cardinal Lavlgerie, who for
twenty years has been Bishop Of Aigiers, has been
ndefatigahie IN missionary work. and. besides his
efforts in recognizing Catholicism in Algers for
which he was made Primate o. Africa and Archbishop
OF Carthage he has established mission stations far
down In the soudan and IN the heart OF Africa He
has found that the greatest obs placed in the way
Of hs missionaries well in that Of their Prot
estant colleagues como from thu slave trade his TO
ports on this subject have been eectual that Pope
Leo KILL has taken the lead In trying to awaken the
manila of Rurone efPorta IN
THIS shameful traffic Cardinal Lavgerie has during
this last autumn preached and lectured In Lisbon,
Madrid, Paris London, Brussels Cologne and Vienna
and such we're the horrors OF his tale and the force
Of his eloQuence that he everywhere met with sym
patty and cooperation, nom governments and from IN
dividuals from the Protestant clergy and laity as
well as from Catholics. no succeeded in obtaining
the attention and sympathy OF Prince Bismarck, and
It was owing to bis efforts that the German Rechs-
tag, on the proposition Of Mr. wlndthorst, committed
itself 30 tho policy OF putting down the slave trade
Societies for that purpose have been formed in nearly
all the large cities OF Europe, headed generally BY
the Catholic aristocracy, and large sums have been
subscribed. Tho Pope headed the list with 100000.
The money raised is TO be applied in part to the forma
ton Of committees Of propaganda, and In part to the
payment Of volunteers for Africa, and especially in
the Congo Free State, who will form sort OF con-
tinental blockade against the slave caravans. The
programme o. the Cardinal does not forbid the employ
ment OF force and the enrolment OF volunteers, at
least IN France IS entrusted TO General Charete, who
has had largo experience IA this sort OF business with
the Papal Zouaves and during the FrancoGornan war
It so happened that about this time the German
coonists driven from the East African coast by
the Vaccinations Of the Arab savedeaIcrs; and It was
probably partly owing to desire to
restore German prestige that tho Reichs-
tag 80 readily accepted the proposal Of
Mr.. windthorst, spoken of above. Germany entered
into negotiations with England, and It decided to
establish Joint blockade Of the Zanzibar coast In
which both Italy and Portugal have now consented to
take part France has agreed TO respect the blockade,
eccta and 10 recognize the right Of search for con-
uaband articles. Tho blockade is limited TO pre-
venting the Importation Of arms and ammunition and
the expectation OF slaves French ship has also
been sent TO the coast 10 investigate tho abuse OF
the French Hag for unfortunately much OF the slave
rafo by sea has been carried on by dhows sailing undc
French eolors and with French papers, probably i'm
properly obtained at Madagascar.
what is our duty In this mattsrf I am not about
10 advocate joining in the blockade although there
was a time when We kept squadron en- the west
coast OF Africa for the purpose OF putting down tho
slave trade. The Republican party Is about retaining
to power will IL not bring back with # those tradi.
lions and that policy which form the most glorious
pages OF It's history We claim 70 De aisay SN,
zcd aud moral people, and yet OF late years We nave
allowed our Government 10 belle US. No sooner had
hr Bayard entered the state Department thah nc
withdrew nom the consideration Of the Senate the
Congo treaty, which had Just been signed. under
specious prctexts which Mr.: kasson our rcpresenta
tive at the conference, showed In The North American
Review for February, 1855, 70 DO utterly untrue.
ON ono n not two occasions our Government was
sked to Join with others IN preventing the expectation
10 Africa on the part Of It's citizens OF arms, ammuni
lion and LIQUOR Hut Mr. Bayard refused on the
ground Of injury 10 American interests, although J.
VAS not before known that the nquordeaers ana
arms manufacturers had more weight In our foreign
policy than the general moral feeling on the people
lie alleged Constitutional diiicultlcs for, according
10 Lord Salisbury "They 1.-THE United staiesl have
told us that owing 10 tho pecuanties OF their Con
stitutlon they arc not very anxious % enter INTO
obligations with foreign powers" lt Is whispered hat
American rum and American Iowder-though whether
OF tho Delaware brand Is not sad-haye found thelr
way into Africa, 10 the great advantage OF tno nraD
sIaycdeaers, and the ruin Of tho natives as wen as
10 the detrnent OF the MISSIONARIES Is ~ nov un
for us 10 instify our assertions Of being moral and
civilized, and accept festiouon on our oonln1ly ~,
which other nations arc Wiling 10 impose On 'ho'r
owni H.. .,
EUGENE SCHUYLER.
Alsssio Dec. 90, 1888.