Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-15
Africa for the Caucasian.

The proposition 10 colonize the southern
negroes in the Congo country is all very
well in theory, but il is far from being
practicable. In the first place the negroes
of the South could not be induced to emf
crate TO Africa, and in the second place the
Congo country is destined TO be coionlzed
bv the white man. The more we learn OF
SrANLEYs remarkable journey, which, aside
from his ascent of the Congo, embraced
some twcnty-thrce hundred miles OF travel
on foot. and the more light other explorers
throw upon the tributaries of the Congo,
the more apparent it becomes that IN
course of time in the Congo and
the lake regions history will repeat
itself-that il. that the natives-the infe-
rior races-will eventually be driven to the
wall by the all-conquering Caucasian. The
country through which STANLEY passedan
immense belts Of territory contiguous to
and north and south of hisroute is the rlch-
est in the world. It's capabilities for develop
mont are almost beyond comprehension,
and in this dav Of bold engineering and
adventurous progress the question OF pene-
tratinc and communicating with the inte-
rior bv steamer and rail constitutes the
least of the difficulties that confront
those who have longing eyes upon its
wealth. There is not rail or steamboat
route 10 tho heart Of the Dark Continent
that has been projected from either the
cast or the west coast that does not appear
feasible rs mere matter OF commuhica-
tion. including what we may term the
Great east central line from Suakim Cif the
Nile, the lakes, and the Shire to the mouth
of the Zambeze. However long before that
line becomes an accomplished fact, IL is
nrohaLle the Mombasa and the IambeZe
roads from the east coast and the road
a-ound the Congo falls will baye been
finished. Indeed the completion OF
these last would seem an essential
preroouisife 10 the establishment OF
| the frst-named line. The African continent
is already almost completely 6lrdled by
European Powers. the English, Cerman5
French. Belgians. and Portuguese all having
large possessions, while III aadiuon
England controls Egypt and has an empire
in South Afrlca. Under these conditions
/ is il IN the nature of the white man to
allow the country TO remain in the grasp
of the negro: The population Of Africa
is roughly estimated NJ 100000, OO0 OF winch
about 600 900 are Europeans, settled IN
tho north and in the Bc"r States, $4,000, OOl
Seuites. and the rest If we include the
Abvssjpjans. natives. The hostility Of The
natives presents the chief obstacle to the
opcninc up Of Africa, but when once the
Caucasian gets q firm focthold IN the fer
tile region described by STANLEY, JuNkfI'
SHwF1NruRru. WEIsMANN, and others IL
will not be long before tie natives are
brought into subsection and the Arabs are
ground into harinlessucss between the up
uer and neither milstones Of European
civilization. The colonization Of the Congo
( and the lake regions by Caucaslans means
Caucasian expansion both no7thward and
uthward-northward until the Soudan IS
reconouered. and southwark until the line
of south African civilization Is reached
That IS what the logic Of present events
points to as the result in the future.