) <1 ^ S I J 'C. C Chai"elain , H • , 1 < ( The Open Sore of the World.” AFRICA’S INTERNAL SL^E-TRADE AND A PRACTICAL PLAN FOR ITS EXTINCTION. BY ^ HELIXHATELAIN WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY REV. JOSIAH STRONG, D.D. 1896: New York. INTRODUCTORY. The following presentation of facts, together with the suggested project, appeals to every one interested in the progress of civilization and of Christianity. The scheme proposed seems to me entirely feasible, far-sighted and calculated to contribute much to the healing of the “ open sore of the world.” Mr. Heli Chatelain’s long experience in Africa, his exceptional opportunities of observation and his in¬ timate knowledge of the country, its people, their lan¬ guages, customs and condition entitle his suggestions to most careful consideration. He is ex-United States Commercial Agent at Loanda, West Africa; corre¬ sponding member of various geographical societies; author of a grammar of Tvimbundu, which is the gen¬ eral language of Angola, written in Portuguese; author also of a comparative grammar and of vocabularies, written in German, of a series of “Bantu Notes,” of the African articles in the Century Cyclopedia of Names of a volume entitled “ Folk-tales of Angola,” and trans¬ lator of two Gospels into Kimbundu. JosiAH Strong. GENERAL ACT OF THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE AND PHILAFRICAN LIBERATORS’ LEAGUE. On January 19, 1892, the President of the United States, as previously advised by the Senate, ratified a “ General Act between the United States of America and the other Powers for the repression of the African slave-trade, and the restriction of the im¬ portation into, and sale in, a certain defined zone of the African Continent, of fire-arms, ammunition and spirituous liquors.” The ratification was deposited with the King of the Belgians on February 2, 1892; the Act was pro¬ claimed on April 2, 1892, and on the same day it took effect. This Act or Treaty had been negotiated by the plenipotentiaries of the United States of America, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the Independent State of Kongo, the French Republic, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and Norway, the Ottoman Empire, and Zanzibar, at what is known as the Brussels Conference of 1889-90. This, the most representative Congress of the Christian and Mohammedan States that ever as¬ sembled, had been convened by the King of the Belgians, at the request of Great Britain, in answer 4 to a petition of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. It was the result and the climax of an anti-slavery movement which had stirred northern and southern Europe, Catholic and Protestant countries, down to the humblest strata and up to the highest ecclesiastic and political circles. At the voice of Cardinal Lavigerie, the civilized ■world had at last, in 1888, waked up to a conscious¬ ness of the appalling atrocities committed in Africa by Arab and native slave-raiders and slave-dealers at the places of capture, and on the march to tlie coast, as also of the existence of slavery as a con¬ stituent element of societ}^ in almost every part of the Dark Continent. Urged by public opinion, the Powers in Congress assembled laid down in the Brussels Act the rules which should govern them in the suppression of the slave-trade, the gradual abolition of slavery, and the restriction of the rum-trade in all parts of the Continent where their authority should be estab¬ lished. The Act wisely declares that the best means to extinguish the slave-trade, and slavery itself, are: (1) The organization of a civilized administration by Cliristian nations. (2) The establishment of a net-work of fortified stations and centers of civilization. (3) The development of lines of communication by o roads, especially railroads, by steam navigation on lakes and rivers, and by telegraphic wires. (4) The organization of an armed police force, to intercept slave-caravans and ensure the safety of the roads and waterways. (5) The exclusion of rum and fire-arms from certain regions. (6) The encouragement cf scientific exploration, of legitimate commerce, and of Christian missions without distinction of creed. It provides for the establishment of bureaus in Europe and in Africa^ to watch over the execution of its clauses, for the granting of letters of freedom by competent authorities, for tlie repatriation or the settlement and education of liberated slaves. Recognizing that mere liberation seldom improves the condition of the slave, it calls for the assistance of special societies organized for the purpose of liberating, settling and educating the victims of the slave-trade. As it stands, the xVet of the Brussels Conference answers the needs of the case for the present. Where it shows weak points, it is, or can be, sup¬ plemented by national legislation, and perfected by future Congresses. What has already been done toward the extinction of the slave-trade? * The United States Government pays its share towards tho expenses of these Bureaus. 6 In her East-African Empire, Germany has effectu¬ ally put down Arab rule, and she is making it more and more unsafe for the raiders to continue their in¬ human business around the Great Lakes. England has successfully fought, and still keeps in check, the slavers of Nyassa-land; and she is pre¬ paring more stringent measures for a gradual aboli¬ tion of slavery in her protectorates of Zanzibar, East-Africa and Uganda. In a series of brilliant campaigns, the Kongo State has destroyed the strongholds of the Arabs on Lake Tanganika, on the Lualaba, on the Aruwimi, on the Mobanghi, and it perseveres in the work of repression with unabated vigor. In this Avarfare it has been, and still is, valiantly supported by the military auxiliaries of the Catholic Missions, and by the Belgian Anti-Slavery Society, which has already equipped four military expedi¬ tions, and goes on doing very effective work on the western shore of Lake Tanganika. Many thousands of slaves have been freed. As many as could be received and cared for w'ere turned over to the Catholic and Protestant mission stations. The Kongo State has established and supports four colonies of liberated jmuths of both sexes, whose education for state service as artisans and soldiers has been intrusted to Catholic Fathers and Sisters. Towns of over 4,000 refugees have gathered around some fortified posts of the Belgian Anti- 7 Slavery Society and of the Catholic Stations on Lake Tanganika. Unfortunately the aggregate receiving capacity of all freedmen’s refuges and settlements is sadly inadequate, even in the relatively few places where the civilized authorities are able to interfere with the slaving business, and, owing no doubt to this lack, colonial governments have not resisted the temptation of compelling freedmen to involuntary servitude as soldiers, as laborers and as beasts of burden. Anti-slavery societies, such as the Brussels Act calls for, have been formed in all Catholic and Prot¬ estant countries of Europe; not only in those which have political interests in Africa, but also in Switz¬ erland, in Austria, in Holland, in Sweden and Norway. Pope Leo XIII., under whose leadership Cardinal Lavigerie had inaugurated the Anti-slavery Crusade, is still one of its most enthusiastic and munificent supporters. The Evangelical Alliance, in which all Protestant bodies unite, has twice invited its branches to pro¬ mote the organization of national liberation leagues. While the poorest in Europe do not withhold their pennies, the rich give of their wealth, the great use their infiuence, the brave offer their lives. In one day’s collection, the Catholic Churches raised $100,000, and, in a few months, Cardinal Lavigerie had received $300,000 for his crusade. 8 For the relief of its imperilled expedition on Lake Taiiganika, the Belgian Society raised, in little Belgium, by one appeal, $34,000, in addition to its regular contributions. At the head of the societies for the relief and the emancipation of African slaves, we find—in Ger¬ many : Prince Hoheulohe-Laugenburg, Count von Arnim-Muskau, General von Strubberg, the Arch¬ bishop of Cologne; in Switzerland; Edouard Na- ville and Count de St. George; In Italy : Prince Rospigliosi; in Belgium : Leopold 11., the Count of Flanders, Mgr. Jacobs, and the flower of the Belgian nobility and clergy, of scientific, financial and politi¬ cal circles. In fact, the whole Belgian nation seems to have become a vast Liberators’ League. What have the people of America done so far in this great humanitarian cause ? Nothing ! Our Government could not afford to refuse its co¬ operation to the civilized nations in the framing and sanctioning of laws for the healing of the world’s open sore ; can we, the people of America, afford to remain idle spectators while Europe is pouring out her gold and her blood in a sublime effort to give freedom and Christian civilization to the 100,000,000 slaves in martyred Africa? Hear the wail of Ethiopia as voiced by Burton ; “We are the flesh ; they are the knife ! ” Listen to Mackay of Uganda: “Africa is bleeding out her life-blood at every pore ! ” Harden not your heart against Livingstone’s last plea: “All I can add, in 9 my solitude, is: May Heaven’s rich blessing come down on every one —Amekicax, English or Turk— who will help to heal this open sore of the world ! ” While I write and while you read, while we slum¬ ber, eat or drink, or work, thousands of miles away, ’mid the blaze and smoke of burning homes, fathers and brothers are being shot or slain, children speared, young men and women chained and marched off to the slave-mart. All along the thousand narrow paths trod by trading caravans,' in the Sudan and in the Kongo Basin, hundreds of women and men are breaking d(jwn to rise no more, waiting to be finished and buried by the hyenas. In the planta¬ tions, men, women and children are being Avorked to death ; up and doAvn a whole Continent man is used as currency, and young people are being sold as chattels by parents who know no better. So deep-rooted and so vast is the evil, that even when America shall vie with Europe in holy enthu¬ siasm and practical effort, two or three generations will have their hands full to carry out the program of the present movement. During my twelve years of unpaid service in the African cause, I have had abundant opportunity to become acquainted with African slavery and slave- trade. I know the roots of the system ; its work¬ ings ; its fruits. Gangs of slaves, ten, twenty, fifty, a hundred at a time, from all parts of the interior, scarred and starved, walking skeletons picking up dirt to beguile the gnawings of hunger, have again 10 and again passed before my eyes. And I could not help ! In agony of soul, I had to turn away, and try to forget. But the thought of it clung to me ; it preyed on my vitals; it helped to bring me down to the borders of eternity. But, even there, the vision kept haunting me by day as by night; A dream IVe had, To drive me mad : I saw Ham stand With outstretclied hand. His hollow cheek. His knees so weak. His starving look My stout heart shook. He said no word ; No sound was heard ; Yet in mine ear Came ringing clear; Christ in Ham’s stead You see unfed. Shall Christ in pain Thus plead in vain ? No ! if I can help it. Emerging into convales¬ cence, I vow’ed that, rather than whither under the stare of that vision, I would die. if need be, in the attempt to create, in America, a League of Liber¬ ators, which would achieve for captive Ham, what, short-lived and single-handed, I could not hope to accomplish. To help forward this movement by word or deed, editors of the secular and religious press, preachers 11 of the Word, philanthropists, and all those who with the enjoyment of freedom’s privileges realize the duty of helping others to the same blessings, are earnestly, hopefully, appealed to. Last in the order of time, America may yet, with their potent help, take the lead in this international movement for the wiping out of slavery through the triumph of Christian civilization in Darkest Afiica. Heli Chatelain. PLAN OF THE “PHILAFRICAN LIBERATORS’ LEAGUE.” Objects: (1) To gather and diffuse authentic infor¬ mation regarding slavery and slave-trade in Africa. (2) To found, in Africa, refuges and settlements of liberated slaves, in accordance with the Brussels Act. Plan of Work: (1) Obtain from England, Ger¬ many, France, Portugal or the Kongo State suitable concessions of land and the promise of liberated slaves—if possible, with a subsidy. (2) Settle these ex-slaves on alternate lots, with the needful tools, seeds, clothing and food to enable them to raise a first crop. (3) Teach them by example how to improve native house-building, farming and industries ; introduce civilized trades and new cultures of salable produce. 12 (4) Induce the settlers to work, by purchasing tliis salable produce and giving them in exchange useful articles of trade; encouraging them also in thrift. (5) Sell them the empty lots as fast as they have earned enough to pay for them, and procure them legal titles to their farms as soon as they realize the importance and responsibilities of proprietorship. (6) Teach them reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and give practical instruction in non¬ sectarian Christian religion, as well as in civilized citizenship. (The fact that since the first English mission went to Uganda, in 1872, over 50,000 Ba-ganda have learnt to read, shirking no hard work to earn where¬ with to buy books, and that the Protestant chiefs have voluntarily manumitted their slaves, shows that educational effort pays.) (7) Submit each colony to a code of rules de¬ signed to exclude the main causes of the African’s miseries and of the ruler’s difficulties, which causes are: (a) Witch-doctoring (practical poisoning), legal ordeals (from which thousands die year after year), and all heathen practices; (b) polygamy, with all its evil concomitants (cause of endless misery); (c) rum and hemp-smoking (two baneful, brutalizing agen¬ cies); (fO Mleness (largely due to slavery); (e) im¬ moral white men. of Workers. —(1) A superintendent (if pos- 13 sible a medical man); (2) a farmer and mechanic; (3) a teacher (one or two of these married); (4) native Christians or colored Americans as assistants. Probable Cost .—Foundation and first year of one settlement for about 200 men and women $10,000; second year §2,000; within a few years final self- support. It is hoped that each settlement will become self- propagating, the income from the sale of empty lots enabling the Society to start another colony. Any person or company giving $5,000 would have the naming of a settlement and a voice in its management. Organization (special features).— Name: “Phil- african Liberators’League.” Membeksiiip : Every person contributing $1 annually. Local Branches: to be established in principal cities. Officers: (1) An Executive Committee, composed of prominent men and women, who take a practical interest in the League and are able to meet at stated times; (2) A General Council composed of delegates of Local Branches; (3) An International Council, composed of great names connected with African work; its functions being honorary and advisory; (4) And, of course, the usual staff of presidents, secretaries, trustees, etc. General Policy .—Unlike some European societies, the Philafricau League is not going to fight the Arabs nor the native slave-dealers; nor will it 14 attack slave-holders or the native institution of slavery where it is still legal. It will simply take the slaves whom the governments have liberated, and transform them, in cordial understanding with said governments, into hard-working, civilized, law-abiding Christian citizens of the countries in which they reside. Owing to political rivalry, French, German or Belgian societies have no thought of founding colonies in territories of another nationality. As neutrals, the Americans, as well as the Swiss, are welcome in all sections of the continent. A FEW ARTICLES OF THE BRUSSELS ACT. Article IV.—The Powers promise to encourage, aid and protect such national associations and enter¬ prises due to private initiative as may wish to co¬ operate in the repression of tlie slave trade, subject to their receiving previous authorization. Article LXXXVIIL—The signatory Powers shall favor in their possessions the foundation of establishments of refuge for women and of educa¬ tion for liberated children. Article LXXXVII.—The liberation offices or the authorities charged with this service shall de¬ liver letters of release, and shall keep a register thereof. In case of the denunciation of an act connected 15 with the slave trade, or one of illegal detention, or on application of the slaves themselves, the said offices or authorities shall exercise all necessary diligence to insure the release of the slaves and the punishment of the offenders. The delivery of letters of release shall in no case be delayed if the slaves be accused of a crime or offense against the common law. But after the de¬ livery of the said letters an investigation shall be proceeded with in the form established by the ordinary procedure. Article LXXXIX.—Freed slaves may always apply to the offices for protection in the enjoyment of their freedom. Whoever shall have used fraud¬ ulent or violent means to deprive a freed slave of his letters of release, or of his liberty, shall be con¬ sidered as a slave-dealer. Article XVIII.—In the possessions of each of the contracting Powers it shall be the duty of the government to protect liberated slaves; to return them, if possible, to their country; to procure means of subsistence for them, and, in particular, to take charge of the education and subsequent em¬ ployment of abandoned children. Persons desiring to become liberators at home or abroad, or to help in starting Local Leagues, or to obtain additional information, may address Heli Chatelain, 511, United Charities Building, corner Fourth Avenue and 22d St., New York. 16 Contributions may be sent in care of Dr. Louis Ivlopscb, proprietor “Christian Herald,” Bible House, New York, who will acknowledge. Funds for the first colony should be forthcoming as speedily as possible, so that work may begin in the dry season. Delay will cause additional diffi¬ culties, sickness and possibly death. The project of this “ Philafrican Liberators' League” has been officially endorsed by a resolu¬ tion of the African Congress, held at Atlanta, Ga., December 13-15, 1895; a Congress in which the leading men of the colored race in America, and friends of the negro from North and South had assembled to study the problems of the race and of the Dark Continent. Writing about it, the Rt. Rev. H. C. Potter, Bishop of New York, says: “ It is a noble recogni¬ tion of an imperious duty, and it has my hearty sympathy and approval.” It is also recommended by Hon. Chas. P. Daly, Paul B. Du Chaillu, Cyrus C. Adams, Esq., Hon. Oscar S. Straus, Wm. E. Dodge, Esq., Cleveland H. Dodge, Esq., Drs. T. B. and C. E. Welch, Harrington Putnam, Esq., Bishop Wm. Taylor, Bishop I. W. Joyce, Rev. Lyman Abbott, D.D., Rev. David H. Greer, D.D., Rev. C. C. Tiffany, D.D., Rev. a. F. Beard, D.D., Rev. Chas. E. Knox, D.D., and others.