Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-05-27
TAKEN TO TASK.
Stanley's. Recent Jtterances
AstOnish His Old Friends.
Is the Great Explorer Affected
With SWell-Head2

Lovers of Peace See no Encouragement in
His Talk-Scathing Letter, Replying to
Lord Salisbury, in Which England's At
titude of African Affairs is Severely
Criticized.
LONDON, May 27.--Persons of peace
able turn of mind, who have weak
spot in their hearts for arbitration. dis
armament and other non-warlike
schemes, have had much to grieve them
lately. In the first place Mr.. Stanley,
who has been sort of pet of these
gentry, has astonished them by sneering
at them in public as old grannies and
fools.
Nothing could be more cynical nor
more cruel than the explorers sudden
and candid declaration of contempt for
the peace contingent. Heretofore he has
allowed himself to be lauded to the
skies, the pioneer of civilization and
Christianity, the opener mp of COM
merce, the deliverer of the blacks from
the bondage of ignorance, the friend of
the missionary, ETC., but now he throws
off the mask and stands revealed as the
gigantic land grabber, pure and simple,
the acquirer of territory by peaceable
methods if possible, but if not, then by
force.
At least the religious societies and
peace organizations-such of them as
have recovered their breath since Stan
ley's recent speech-are now saving
these things about him.
All Nations Arming Themselves.
They have also found little COM
fort in the political happenings
of the week. Every nation is in.
creasing. its armament, even little
Denmark has felt compelled to show
that she can buy guns just like her big
neighbors. and she has bought her full
proportion, at the least; namely, seven
teen forty-calibre steel guns and twenty
four long range pieces of somewhat less
capacity.
At home things do not look much
brighter for those who anticipate the
day of universal brotherhood. Right
Hon. Edward Stanhope, secretary of
state for war, in speech stated
that the government was giving
very close attention to England's coast
defences, which it proposed to greatly
improve, and in fact to perfect. De
fense is not exactly war, but it implies
war, and the secretary's remarks make
it clear that no delusions as to the pos
sibility of disarmament prevails among
those who are responsible for the safety
of the country. All of which is doubt
less regretted by many people beside the
peace cranks."
The Times prints long and caustic
letter from Mr.. Stanley in reply to the
recent utterances Of Lord Salisbury. Mr..
Stanley declares that he has nothing but
a sentimental interest in any part of
Africa, but he says that on finding that
many of his friends have embarked their
money in an African enterprise on the
strength of a charter not worth coun-
terfeit sixpence, unless the terms of the
understanding with Germany are rigidly
adhered to, and there being every indi-
cation of a disposition ON the part of the
government to help Germans instead of
Englishmen, he has urged his friends to
discover the exact limits Of their terri
tory.
Plain Talk.
He wishes to quarrel with neither
Germany nor England, but says boldly
that if the German colonial demands be
granted it would be more economical to
make Germany gift of the whole Brit
ish sphere. Then British investors
might obtain so many shillings for the
pounds they so credulously have been
victimized out Of.
In conclusion ho declares that the Ger.
man sphere is the finest in Africa, and
adds: Still their cry is give, give If
you think they are better adapted than
the English to ciyilize the African, do
not give half heartedly. Yield all, in.
cluding Egypt; never word of protest
shall You hear from me. Excessive ami.
ability may become an infirmity, and
the infirmity of negligence, like other
diseases, grows till it is chronic senil.
tfxy y