The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-08-21
RUM IN AFRICA.
The Dark Continent Threatened with
Greater Evil Than Slavery.

long and exciting scramble for the
possession OF the African continent.
Around the entire circuit its coast line
has been dotted with colonies OF differ
ent 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 as the North Amerl-
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-
ingstone, it was finally agreed in 1888
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
the 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 PIP
miles, o yer which distance consider
able trade is now done by men porters.
The King Of the Belgiaps 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 some thing
more than furnish an example in eco
aomical and symmetrical government
As a 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. wht
are each striving either for the gain.
of trade. colonial outlets for surplus
population, or for careers in new
fields for younger 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 tn,
Mohammedan adherents are about fit,
millions, or more than the adherent
of all other religions combined. A
between Christianity and Islamism tn
natives may not be able to choose in
diligently, since Christianity it seems
is accompanied by the traffic in arden
spirits, whereas the Arabian religion
though it tolerates the slav,
traffic, forbids the use OF intoxicat
ing liquors. Slavery in its hor
rid aspect of man stealing
l will die out as soon as it ceases to be
r source of profit; the railroad itsel
A will, when developed, extinguish it
The combined efforts of civilized ma
tions are narrowing the circle of tn
slave market Not so with the traffi
in spirituous liquors. The uncivilize,
man seems to bo incapable of sell
restraint in the presence of this Sc
. ductivs drug. We properly execrat
d 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
ton of England in forcing upon tn
Chinese the admission of opium, i
: spite of the protest Of its Government,
has received general reprobation