Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-29
THE TWENTIETH CENrURY,s TASK.

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY's TASK.
The opening of the anti-slavery congress
in Paris yesterday, is the formal inception
of movement which has not been rivaled
in importance to civilization, since the pre-
ceding movement commenced in the early
part OF the century against slavery in the
civilized world. 1t is probably just to
estimate the importance of freeing chris
tendon from the barbarism of slave-holding,
above relieving an uncivilized and heather
continent from the horrors ofthe slave-trade.
The first work has been completed. Chattel
slavery is not now maintained in any Chris
tian country. The next work for Christian
civilization is that urged by Cardinal Lava
gerie, and inaugurated by this congress, Of
suppressing the murder and rapine which is
now conducted by the slave-hunters In the
heart of Africa.
While tine importance of suppressing the
slave-trade in Africa may be secondary to
that of emancipation in civilized nations,
the difficulties are far greater. As the
earlier task required conflict of nearly
two-thirds of the century, that which is now
taken up must be expected to be pro-
tracted struggle. The nations which held
slaves in the early part of the century were
capable of being affected by appeals to the
principles of justice and humanity. The
suppression of the slave-trade in Africa is
rendered ten times more difficult because
wherever it exists the victims as well
as the slave-hunters regard it as the natural
order of things. How to stop slave-hunting
and establish respect for human rights
among millions of savages, of whom the
victims fail to be the hunters only because
they are the weaker, is no easy problem.
The way in which the slave-trade and all
its destruction of human life is rooted in
Africa may be illustrated by the report that
the German officials at Bagamoyo have
recognized it. The report is denied, snd its
measure of truth is not determined. But it
is to be said that while power which has
pushed its colonization policy by the force
of Krupp guns ought to be able to suppress
the slave-trade, the German officials, if the
report is true, have done no more than
some of the most devoted opponents of that
sum of barbarous villainies. Gordon at
Knartoum was obliged to try the expedlent
of pacifcation by recognizing the right of
Soudanese to pursue the trade. Stanley at
the upper falls of the Congo had to make
terms with Tippoo Tib, the King of the
slavers. So far civilization has had to gain
a foothold in the interior OF Africa by suf-
france of the slaye-trade; and the positions
must be reversed before it can conquer the |
power which now holds that region from
Stanley Falls to Unyambembe, and from
Khartoum to the Nyassa.
1t is evident that the first work Of the |
congress must be to organize force or to
,ersude the governments of christendom to
mite in doing so. While civilization can
lot yet follow up and punish the bands of
lave-hunters in the jungles of Africa, it
AN by means of the great rivers which pene-
rate the continent cut off the profits or the
rade by armed steamers and fortified sta
ions which will make it impossible to
the gangs of captives to market
It is pity that Christianity has not been
lnselfish enough to unite in opening up
Africa to civilized commerce without
chemes of territorial aggrandizement
Since that ideal of civilized progress has
'anished, the congress must rely on bring
ng influence to bear on each Government to
o its share in stopping the slave gangs.
With the Nile, Niger, Congo and Zambesi
pened up by steamers, and the stations at
he head of these streams united by roads,
be trade of barharism may be suppressed
nd that of civilization can take its place.
Unless civilized greed permits the debauch-
ry of the rum-trade to be substituted for the
evastation of the slave-trade, Christian
ommerce will go hand in hand with mis-
ions in giving the savages some idea of
uman rights and the principles of justice
nd mercy,
Such task is one which appeals to phi
and is well worthy the enthu-
iasm and devotion of those who undertake
= 1t may require the greater part of the
ext century to bring it to a successful
,sue, but when the cause is victorious,
hose who help it to success will be entitled
, the same glory that is now accorded to
be advocates OF emancipation in the early
arty of this century.