HOPE FOR AFRICA. "ETHIOPIA shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."-PSALM 68: 31. THE continent of Africa occupies an important geographical position. It lies between two great oceans -the highways of the principal portions of commerce. It contains twelve millions of square miles, with a population of one hundred and sixty millions. But, notwithstanding its physical and relative importance, it has lain, until a comparatively recent period, shrouded from the view of the inhabitants of other portions of the earth. While the spirit of adventure has opened up the most uninviting parts of Europe; while Asia, with its impenetrable jungle and ferocious animals, has been traversed from one end to the other; while the ancient and mighty forests of America have fallen before the power of enterprise and the charm of civilization-the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains scaled, the Andes and the Cordilleras measured; while the distant isles of the sea have been visited and occupied by intelligence, industry, and enterprise; while the cold and barren, and almost inaccessible regions of the earth have been approached and explored as far as human beings are found-Africa, lying in the very pathway of commerce, offering as many inducements to the seekers after scientific knowledge as any other land, presenting as numerous objects for the labors of the philanthropist as any other country, has been passed by by the traveler and the philanthropist, and the civilized world has been left to entertain at best but the most vague and unsatisfactory conjectures as to the character of the country, and the condition of its inhabitants. To the majority of civilized and enlightened men, Africa is hardly ever made a subject of earnest thought. Various interests of more immediate concern crowd out thoughts of a land which is spoken of, perhaps, only when instances of degradation, ignorance, and superstition are referred to. The other portion of the civilized world, who think and speak of Africa, are divided in their views and feelings with regard to that land, and in the motives which actuate them to be at all interested. Some regard it as a place with which a lucrative trade may be "driven;" where the articles of commerce, palm-oil, cam-wood, ivory, and other rare productions may be obtained. These speak of Africa only in connection with these things. All their interests in the land are of a commercial nature. Others, with souls more sordid and hearts more avaricious, who are never once troubled by any sentiment of humanity, are interested in Africa only as a scene for plunder and carnage. From these, Africa has had the most frequent and the most constant visits, during the last three centuries. They have spread all along the coast of that peninsula formerly the abode of peace and plenty, of industry and love-"arrows, firebrands, and death." In their pursuit of blood-"not beasts' but human gore"-they have scattered desolation, and misery, and degradation into all parts of the land whither they have had access; so that not unfrequently has it occurred that some unfortunate and lonely sufferer, standing amid a scene of desolation, having escaped the cruel chase of the slaver, whose ruthless hands have borne away his relatives and acquaintances, has earnestly cursed civilization, and has solemnly prayed, as he has stood surveying the melancholy relics of his home, that an insurmountable and impenetrable barrier—some wall of mountain height-might be erected between his country and all civilized nations. Only a few, very few, have regarded Africa as a land inhabited by human beings, children of the same common Father, travelers to the same judgment-seat of Christ, and heirs of the same awful immortality. These few have endeavored to hold up that land as the object of the sympathy, the labors, and the prayers of the Christian world. They have held her up as the victim of unfortunate circumstances, which have operated against her progress, and prevented her from keeping pace, in the march of human improvement, with other and more favored portions of the earth. These few have endeavored, and are now endeavoring to awaken a deeper interest in that land. Through their noble efforts, that forgotten country is becoming better known. Its inhabitants are receiving more of the sympathy of the enlightened portion of mankind; and efforts are making to introduce among them the blessings of civilization and Christianity-to accelerate the day when "Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God." But there are adversaries. There are those who have no sympathy to bestow upon the African. His complexion and hair furnish to them conclusive reasons why he should be excluded from their benevolence. They wish nothing to do with him. Their charities, when the negro is mentioned, immediately contract. Their |