STANLEY: HIS CHARACTER.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 444, 22 April 1890, Page 3

STANLEY: HIS CHARACTER.

TWO OPINIONS CONCERNING HIM. In January last a cable message gave the information that John Burns had called Stanley a “buccaneer.” There is now to hand the Star’s report of the London Connty Council meeting. Then (says the Star) came the sensation. bubns >oss, and at the height of his great voice ottered a loud protest against the idea. In the first place the Council had no power to spend money for such a purpose, and even if it had Mr Williams was vastly mistaken if he thought the people of London were so very fond of the record of a man who had spent hie time in devastating and ravaging whole districts io an nnknown country. No doubt Stanley deserved the thanks of certain commercial sections whose interests he had pressed forward. Hie treatment of the natives amounted to brutality. “ I have,” said the speaker, “ been amongst these natives myself for over a twelvemonth, and never even had to strike one of them.” But this man, who made no scruple of foreaking his sick followers in the wilds when he found them an incumbrance, who bad shot and court martialled all round, was to be fd-.ed, and that too on the motion of a minister of Christ I To such men as Livingstone, Speke, and Cameron honor was due; but it was a long jump down from them to Stanley, who was no pioneer of civilisation, but only the advance guard of a shoddy commercialism panting for fresh markets, anxious for profits, willing to exploit the natives and to shoot them down in accomplishing that exploitation if needed. This buccaneer of the Congo was unworthy of their honor. All this time the Council, which at first seemed amazed, was roaring out dissent round Burns, who, never heeding that, went on stentoriously in tones louder than all dissent, stopping neither for protestations, points uf order, nor the general wail of “ Pray don't let him goon, Mr Chairman,” that rose all round. Then Mr Lawson rose and hoped that the public would not think because they rejected Mr Williams' motion, that they therefore, agreed with this last speaker. Mr Stanley’s works spoke for him. [“ Hear, hear ’’—with emphasis—from John.) He wished to move that the Council expressed regret for the utterance of Burns's views. But here it seemed that Burns was not alone, 'or there arose a considerable counter cry of * No, no;” and Mr Lawson hurriedly dropped bis regretful proposal. After which Mr Williams hastened to withdraw bis suggestion, io which the Council gladly assented as getting id of an* unfortunate incident, WHAT STEAD THINKS.

Stead, late editor of the Pall Mall, has given us the other side in the first character sketch in his “ Review of Reviews.” We give two extracts, which are as follows A CHARMED LIFE. Mr Stanley seems to bear a charmed life. No one has been more in perils oft, and yet here he is to-day, after half a century of rough and tumble, as tough and sound and vigorous as ever. What a picture of vicissitude is there not presented by his life, from the time when, as a baby, he was carried to the Welsh workhouse, down to his triumphal reception at Zanzibar 1 His life is one long romance. When a mere boy he ran off to sea from the butcher's shop where he was sent to earn his bread, and found his way to New Oi leans. Thee is something very characteristic in his first utterance that is recorded. Seeing an announcement in the shop of one Henry Mortlake Stanley that a boy was wanted, be entered and asked for the situation. “ And what can you do, my lad ?” said a kindlylooking tradesman. “ Anything,” was the reply, "that a boy of my age and strength could be expected to do.” He got the situation, and on the death of his employer, who had adopted him as his son, assumed his name. That is how John Bowlands became H. M. Stanley.

AS A LEADER OF MEN. His mother remarked of him while a boy, that he was always small, light, and somewhat weak, though very tenacious and lively. Lieutenant Braconnier, who served with him as lieutenant on the Congo, gave the following interesting analysis of his character, from the point of view of a subordinate: —He is a man of sudden resolutions and irresolutions. Ten minutes before he starts he hardly knows himself whether or where he is going. No one can admire Stanley’s qualities more than I. He is a man of iron—easily discouraged, indeed, but quick to regain courage ; full of dogged will, which is his strength, and a splendid leader. In his dealings with the natives, whatever lies people may say of him, he is invariably xnn>, innciruL, and politic. He can palaver with them. He respects their religions, their customs, their traditions. There is not an atom of truth in the iniquitous accusations of cruelty brought against him and the officers in general. But he has one fault, he is not so unselfish as be might be. He is far too inconsiderate of his European fellow workers, and more esteemed than liked. He treats his white companions as though be were a little king,—lives apart, never "chums” with them, and at certain moments would think it justifiable to sacrifice any one of them to bis own safety. I never asked him for reasons. Sometimes be would say to me, “ Braconnier, strike yonr tents, we start in ten minutes." Had I been foolish enough to say, “Where are we going?" he would have answered, “Mind your own business, not mine.” I have watched him smoking under his tent, knowing all the time his officers had no tobacco, and it would never occur to him to offer them a pipe. You must live with him a long time to understand him. However long you might know him I doubt that you would ever become hia friend. This is an apartness about Mr Stanley that others have noticed besides Lieutenant Braconnier. Io society be is pleasant enough, but there is always a certain element of reserve. In this he was very different from General Gordon,