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best for any people. All Missionary Boards are now agreed in this. And we are potently called of God to note our day and to improve our present opportunity.
For three hundred years the cupidity of the dominant races has made Africa the hunting- ground for the bondmen of the world. And for nearly as many years, devoted, self- denying men and women have been trying to evangelise that continent. But the success has been very partial. The accursed slavetrade and other white vices have constituted a terrible enemy against them. They have toiled and suffered to reach the country but to labour a little while in discouragement, and then to lie down in death. But from the Western Continent there comes light in connection with the emancipated and educated slaves of that country.
Races of men have their epochs as well as the organised nations, and Africa's hour seems to have come. The faith- begotten expectations of her sable children in America are being realised, and that long plundered mother- continent is now opening up for a better life and a nobler destiny. The discoveries of Dr. Livingstone and other distinguished travellers have turned the thought and the heart of thousands of the best Christians and philanthropists of the world towards Africa. But will this be permanent? We think it will." If so, then, under the Divine blessing, slavery and the slave- trade in Africa may speedily be abolished..... From what is passing in the great valley of the Nile it is clear that one of two great things will shortly take place: either slavery will be abolished in the Mohammedan countries, and with it the slave- trade in Africa, or the world must witness a new slave- market of enor