New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-05

| has ever been made in this country that Federal
| troops were called TO fight Indians who were
| freely supplied with superior weapons by American
| Understand the complaints proved TO be well
| founded. After such illustrations OF the easy
morals of trade it cannot be thought surprising
that Christians furnish the rifles with which thc
! African slave trade is supported ana carilcu vi
What to do about the atrociOus traiic, now
ever, is the main consideration 1t is already con
coded that it cannot be touched by missionary
enterprises There must be rough work zone 10
clear away the evil The present imposslbill'y oil
destroying the market for slaves is formidable
obstacle, for while that market remains Save
hunting will be the most profitable business III
! Africa, and consequently the most tempting anu
certain to be followed. Thy next great dUhcul'y
is the climate which is deadly to whllc men, ana
so deadly that in the opinion OF the most expert
cnccd Judges all idea of sending a white lorco
into the country to cope with the slave-hun'ers
/ must be given up. Such force would DC SIMPLY
ex1erminntcd before it could effect anything. But
! If white men cannot stand the climate tie con-
dtions are narrowed most seriously, for this is TO
eliminate the energy, the intelligence, the DIS
cipline tie knowledge, in fact all the SUPERIOR
tics of advanced civilization, from tic armory of
tic antislavery cause There remains in effect
\ y
with negroes, and it must be confessed that the
prospect of success with such material is Of the
poorest. One small experiment has been made in
this direction NJ. Joubcrt, an eX-Pontifcal
Zouavc drilled and armed a band of some 200
negroes and actually succeeded for several years
in keeping back the slave-tradcrs while Joubcrt
himself did not succumb TO the climate. This is
perhaps valuable indication, and points to the
true method of action; native troops Differed by
white men.
But the extent OF the country. the quarrels of
the innumerable tribes with one another the ease
with which the Arabs make their way every
where. the readiness of nearly all the chiefs 10
take slaves from their nciClbors, all complicatc
the problem and surround it with new embarrass-
ments. Some observers even 20 so far as to say
that nothing less than the civilization OF all
Africa can stop the slave trade But that is I'M
reasonable and absurd inasmuch as il is perfectly
clear that until the slave trade is stopped there
cannot he much beginning of civilization.
At present Islamism is advancing over the Dark
Continent rapidly Wherever it is established
two things happen. Christianity is excluded,
and the slave trade is more firmly established
Neither of these conditions can hc regarded with
satisfaction by the nations OF ChriStendom. vet
il is not easy 70 show how they can help them
selves. There is possibility that any power
will at this day deliberately challenge a war
with Islam: tn complications are far too serious
Meanwhile, the situation in Africa grows steadily
worse. The fall Of khartoum, the collapse OF
Emin Pachas power, the success Of the MahdlS
the massacres in Uganda, have apparently nm
done nearly all the little that had been effected,
and in year or two the Arabs If left TO them
selves. will probably ovcrrun all the regions Of
Central Africa not occupied by those warl'c
and powerful tribes they are careful TO refrain
from molesting.
Cardinal Lavigcre has reached the conclusion
that the suppression Of the slave trade involves
the use of force and he is now endcavornc 70
bring the European Powers into an agreement
upon the question Of Joint action The selfish
interests of tic great Powers have thus far in
terfcred seriously with all propositions Of the
kind Their first thought u.s. what they can OBJ
tain for Themselves tleir second seems = be.
how they can thwart the acquisitiycncss OF their
nciehboIs As n result the world has witnessed
the not particularly improving spectacle Of
group Of civilized Powers disputng over and
then pariitioning among themselves country 10
which none of them possesses any genuine claims,
while the people 81 that country are being cN-
terminated by another race. armed for slave
hunting bv the invent We skin and tie com
'
when the African people are not dccimned ~
Arab slave hunters. they are being ruined hy
Christian aIn. and the ugly picture is complete
The problem, then. 10 which the phianthropc
Cardinal has addressed himself in his old age IS
clearly one which would tax the hest energies Of
youth. Scarcely ever. in fact, has an evil ap-
peared SO difficult Of approach, 50 strongly in
trcnched. MS this OF tie African slave trade.
Cardinal Lavigerc advocates the formation of
corps Of negroes, armed with European weapons
and led by European officers, and, all tie circum-
stances considered, this certainly appears to be
the only plan which promises any success. But
this plan must be undertaken upon large scale
if il is 10 be effective and il must be literally
endowed at the outset II is not al present even
certain that the Powers will reach an agreement
50 as 10 be able 10 act in concert on the question.
Undoubtedly, all the funds needed could, if nee
essary be obtained by private subscription, and
but for international jeaOuses believe il
would be practicable 10 arrange for tho suppress
sion Of the slave trade through private organIza-
ton. The world has plenty Of born administra-
tors. Of whom scores would be glad Of such an
opportunity. Tie Unicl States could furnish
the necessary brains in twenty -four hours How
ever accomplished tie work is one which will
have 10 be done, and the longer it is postponed
tie more difficult II will be- Tie efforts of Car
dinal Layigcric to quicken the general cons fence
and TO stimulate governmental sluggishness are
worthy Of all praise, and Mr.. Clarke in this
book, has succeeded in showing that the yencra-
BILE prince Of the Church is cmphatically the right
for the work
MR.. LEWIS CARROLLS NEW BOOK.