Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-08-10
SENATOR CHANDLER


CoFCoRD. N. H, Aug 9-In answer to
= communication signed by the secretary
and chairman Of the Cor gregstionsl Club
at Chicago, c6ncerpirg the neaty pending
in the United States Senate relative to the
suppression of the slave trade and the reeu.
lation of the rum trsfiic in Africa, Senator
Chandler wrote:
"An unwise sitempt hiss been made to
attribute to those opposing it in is present
form as unsillinQness to promote the sup
preston Of the slave trade and Of the use Of
intoxicating liquors in Africa There il.
not, in my belief, srv just foundation for
su ch an assertion. With The main o. ct
With whom have conferred are in entire
sympathy.
"Tbe whole poin. is: Shall the United
States, as s prelimi ,ary to such expression
and request, enter into q foim.l treaty
whereby we declare our approval of The
seizure and partition Of the continent Of
Africa by its European conquerors and for
ever estop ourselves as a n.tion from OBJ
jscting 70 such seizure aud partition or en-
desvoring to arouse sgsinst the subjugstion
io Africa Of the righteous ind xnaiion Of all
Christian people
"President Harrison ard Secretary
Blaine we're. undoubtedly, in conserving to
the treaty. sotu.ted BY the same worthy
moiivesvfirh control the Chicago Congre-
zsiional Cluo; but they surely cannot have
weighed with care certain delcsrs,ious Of
the treaty, which explicitly state that the
United States is equally interested With the
other lG powers, not merely in the sup.
preston Of the slave trade and Of the rum
trsffic in Africa but also ia oil the meas
ures adopted by those other powers for in
creasing their possessins and strengthening
their prote in that continent; all Hof
course, for the purpose Of giving the coun-
Try 'pesce and civilization, meaning nee.
essariIy peace through var-there has been
no other peace--aud civilization through
col q iesis-.tsre has been no other civilizs-
ton.
II, q1ite satisfactorily sppeafs to my
mind that the L aited States ought not to
enter into formsl treaty. which not only
makes no protest sgain.t the recent par
tittoning Of Africa. but expressly approves
tina. partition Jog By declaring the United
States TO be tqasiiy interested therein.
Tbs posss.i acquired by European
power, in Africs have, almost without ex-
cspiion, been ebained by shedding the
blood Of IocenL natives. Unquestionable
invasion and unprovoked aid devastating
war have marked the conquests Of Africa.
80 far - actual possession has been
taken thereof. and, ct least, some petitions
made on paper Of the whole Of the CONT
nens, to which, by clauses inserted In Q
treaty protesting to be wholly philanthropic,
the United States 10 asked to give its
formal approval.
II have no doubt that the whole desire
of the European powers for the adhesion
Of the United States arises from purpose
to obtain the assent Of our government and
people to the seizure and division Of Africa
by thoss powers and to estop us hereafter
from ever Directing to or c,iticising the |
methods by mich the usurpations have |
been accomplished.
IL DO not believe that the American peo- |
rle o, Pfesid-nt Harrison desire to place |
the United States in this position. I am |
confident that this treaty viii be withdraw !