The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-25
TRIALS IN EAST AFRICA.
Slaves Trade Suppression in zanziba,
 and the Mutiny in Uganda.

Slaves Trade Suppression in Zanzibar
 and the Mutiny in Uganda.
 Even in these days of railway,
 steamships and telegraphs British
 East Africa is for the purposes of gov
 ernment almost as far from London as
 was India in the time of Give and of
 Hastings, and the English administra- tors there have something of the same freedom of action that the two pro- consuls," as Macaulay would say, en- joyed in Hindustan. Now, the English guardian of the sultan of Zanzibar and the real ruler of that island and the neighboring territory, as Sir Arthur Hardinge, by all accounts an able man,
 exercising his protectorate efficiently,
 and steadily increasing British influ-
 ence and trade in East Africa. Since, as consul general, he began his admin istration in 1895, he has restored and
 kept the peace in a country constantly
 desolated by the internal wars of Arab chiefs and native tribes. and by the raids of other Arabs and other tribes from without. He has developed the beginnings of civilized government, and he has even interested the better sort of native Arabs and Swahilis in them. He has found them, indeed, the best
 means for the increase of British influ- ence and trade in East Africa and for the general progress of the country. Therefore he has sought though all ways as predominant partner, to con- ciliate them. Apparently he has suc- | ceeded, but to the proportional increase of his difficulties at home.
 The Arabs and the Swa.hi1ls do not see slavery and the slave trade in their | territory with the eyes of missionary | bishops, of speakers at philanthropic 1 meetings or of members rising to ask questions on the subject in the House of Commons. Neither does Sir Arthur | Hardinge. Naturally he does not, like his Arabs, regard slavery as part of | the order of things, and the slave trade as lucrative and legitimate industry; | but he is disposed to go slowly in the | prohibition of both, to bear in mind | what on the ground seem mitigating | circumstances, to offend Arab sus- l capabilities as little as possible, and to | keep an eye to labor market largely | supplied by slaves. He knows that he
 Is dealing with a people among which | slaves rather than coin have been long the usual medium of exchange, and of
 such understanding of the new condi- tions that manumitted slave, who had | recovered some money for assault from
 former master, went forthwith to
 buy slave with it for herself. He has,
 however, according to his reports, sup
 pressed the slave trade on the adjacent | o,,I cfrtn l1 nr
 land. Slavery itself has now no legal
 status in British East Africa but in
 the liberator of the slaves Sir Arthur
 and his subordinates are proceeding
 very slowly, seeking to substitute 8
 milder serfdom that shall lead with
 time to gradual manumission. They
 believe swifter progress impraotioable
 for the sake of what seem to then
 more important considerations they
 may tolerate violations of the recon laws and decrees against the custom
 In any case, there are suspicion ant wrath kindling against them at home
 and in their own territory. Missonar. !, ies, high and low, are writing to Lon don that the emancpatine decrees car , " so many conditions that they defeat , their nominal purpose; that Arab of !, ficials are left to apply them, and do st according to their own point of view and that Sir Arthur permits, not to sa, encourages, all these things. Therefor for British honor and freedom the gov , ernment and parliament should inter . fere. The Spectator, in It's most self 1 righteous tone, solemnlly accuses Si Arthur of "defance" of everybody ant ] everything from Lord Salisbury ant ] Parliament down. The wholel matte is bound to be discussed at the ap
 preaching session, and, though 1t in
 vites empty rhetoric, to be made clear
 CT.
 Sir Arthur Hardinge is also nominal ly responsible for the administration 0 l the interior protectorate of Uganda but he has been too much occupied l with the concerns of the East Afical , coast and islands while the conduct 0
 affairs In the country about the grea , Nile lakes has been left too frankly il 7 the hands of other men to make hin bear the burden of the misfortune that have befallen there. Since tn f British established themselves in Ugan . da, there has been little turbulence
 Every report for some years past ha borne witness to the establishment 0 : orderly government, the growth 0 trade, the development of the countr |. ard of the natives, and the progress 0 teachers and missionaries. The rail
 way from the coast to the interior
 built by a parliamentary grant, au
 new partly completed, was finally | T establish the English so sec4rely i e Uganda that it might even haeem. tdse of operations from the sout against the khalifa, and certainly fo | the extension of English territory an . influence in the country of the uppe