The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25

mitted 10 the couple The children Of slaves
are themselves slaves, and the property OF
the owner OF their parents: or If they are
the slaves of different masters, the first
child belongs to the mothers master, the
second to the fathers, and so on alter
nately: and these children can be sold as
slaves. Again, slave mas no rights OF
citizenship: he can neither sue nor be sued
in a court of law; he has no redress Tor
grievances, and. In fact. is mere chattel,
to be sold or bought SIT Will Such is the
demand, the supply TO meet which comes
principally from the pagan tribes VINO are
the aborigines of the country, while the
r re are the chlursh % VS. -
Slavery. however, does not conduce 70
much increase of the population probably
this source does not account for more than
l per cent. of the slaves. The process OF
slave making adopted by the Fulahs varies
according TO the nature of the tribe against
which their operations are directed. In the
case of weak tribes. known to be lncdpa-
BILE of much resistance, the method Is that
of the raZzia pure and simple, when whole
villages are surrounded and the 1nhaDltants
OF both sexes and of all ages are carried
Off But when the pagan tribes are too
powerful to make rading in this fashion
profitable recourse is had to the meanest
devices by which the unfortunate People
are waylaid and kidnapped or enticed away
from their homes A certain trade is also
done by open purchase from the larger pa
gan tribes who, in some Instances, Will sen
to the Mohammedan members OF smaller
tribes whom they have captured in war, as
we'll as individuals of their own tribe whom
however. is less common than 1t is under
the Arabs in East Africa.
NEED OF ROADS AND RAILWAYS.
In the present state of West Central At
rica without railways or good roads, TO
put an end to slave raiding by force OF
arms is an absolute impossibility. No force
that England could spare to put into the
country would be sufficiently strong TO cope
with the raiders in all directions; and TO
crush them in one part merely means driV-
ing them to some other hunting ground
little farther afield. The whole solution,
however, lies in a nutshell once do away
with the demand for slaves, and the supply
will at once cease, as, indeed, happened in
the case of the oversee slave trade of the
west coast when slavery became Illegal in
America and other parts. 1t must be re-
membered that although Europe has Ill
Vided Africa into what are called spheres or
influence, she has at present absolutely no
Jurisdiction over the majority of the Mo-
hammedan states in these spheres and the
most that can be done by way of compul-
sion is to stop the subsidies paid to the
rulers for the right of trading in their ter
course, put an end to all commercial enter
prise, and consequently the reason for the
presence of Europe in Africa. The
passing of resolutions in LONDON viii never
abolish the slave trade in Africa. What is
wanted is real systematic action in the
country itself and were missionary and
other philanthropic societies to combine,
and consent to be guided by the advice OF
those who are acquainted with Africa,
then the question might be settled forever.
Ask the average Englishman what Euro
pean power has been the champion of the
abolition of slavery and he will readily an
swer England" He will undoubtedly be
correct; yet If we look at Africa now vir-
tually belonging to half dozen European
powers what do we find? That England,
of all nations, flies her flag over or. at
any rate, has under her protection, thou
sands of square miles in which attempt
has been made to suppress slavery, and
where, indeed, she actually recognizes the
legal status of slavery AS long we ac-
knowledge the right of a Mohammedan or
any other African to hold slaves We are
aiding and abettng the slave trade: we are
practically encouraging the supply by al
lowing the demand to continue.