The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
White Mans Africa, Mr.. Poultney
BigeIOw's Latest Work.

BigeIOw's Latest Work.
Mr. Poultney Bigelow. one OF the most
Industrious and instructive of American au
thors, has a new book, entitled white
Mans Africa" 1t is a timely book for
Americans, whose interest in popular gov
eminent and in the progress of civilization
evokes their sympathy with the efforts be-
ing made in that direction in South Africa
The time has long since passed when even
intelligent people regarded that continent
as hopelessly and permanently given over
to wild beasts and savagery. 1t is evident
now that Africa will some day be the seat
of a new civilization and one or more dis
tinct nationalities. In his preface to this
work the author says: THE four republics
of South Africa have in their hands the
shaping Of a great nation. This empire
cannot be guided by wires from Berlin or
Amsterdam, New York or even London.
The greatest good of the greatest number
must become watchword from the Cape
to the Bambesi." Comparatively little at
tention has been given by the outside world
to the problems of government being
worked out by tho white colonists in Al
RIGA until Jameson's raid into the Trans
vaal country. That incident opened the eyes
of the civilized world to the fact that At
rican affairs were Of great significance. In
order to satisfy the public desire for trust
worthy information regarding the country
and its colonies and people, Mr.. Bigelow,
after a thorough study of the subject upon
the ground has written this book. The re-
gion that he calls White Mans Africa" is
that extending from the Cape Of Good Hope
for a thousand miles or so northeastward
along the Indian ocean. This" he says,
lis the New England of Africa, whose en-
terprsing sons are doggedly conquering the
wilderness step by step. carrying with them
Christianity and constitutional govern
ment." He draws a striking parallel be-
tween the colonization of New England and
that of South Africa, and points out the
reasons why one mas not progressed, within
it's limitations, as rapidly as the other.
-Four hundred years ago, says the author,
Portuguese navigators and Romish monks
established themselves along the whole
coast line of this continent, with the ~
ception of the Mediterranean shore. but
brought with them an administration di.
rected exclusively to the accumulation or
gold and indiscriminate conversion OF ma
tives. They and their work nave been
swept away leaving nothing but a few
ginger-colored officials to remind the traV-
eler that government cannot 1--we long I'M
less its foundations are laid on principles of
justice" The book does not deal much
with the past. 1t is essentially up TO date,
and deals with the Africa. of to-day The
authors conclusion is that 1.-The future OF
South Africa lies not in the hands of noisy
and frothy flibusterS or stock exchange
brokers, nor does it lie with small section
of Beers who still struggle for isolation.
The men who hold the future of that coun-
try in their hands are men of English as
we'll as Dutch descent. but who are no
other They are men who feel and act as
Afrikanders, whether their farms lie In
Natal or the Cape, the Transvaal =, or the
illustrated and published in attractive form
by Harper e. Brothers.