ITEMS FROM THE GOLD COAST.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 158, 7 December 1874, Page 3

ITEMS FROM THE GOLD COAST.

A correspondent of the Standard, writing from tho Gold Coast, sends some interesting items. Captain Lees has returned from Coomassie, followed by a train of Ashantce traders. His mission has been a success. The secession of Jaubin is accomplished ; this may be compared to the secession of Scotland from England, and the Ashantce empire may therefore be considered at. an end. Government has wisely prohibited the importation of arms and munitions of war, for it is not easy to govern so vast a country when every Fantce has a musket and a barrel of powder in his hut. Finally, the Standard correspondent informs us that the question of domestic slavery is creating considerable excitement just now throughout the Protectorate. lie advises the Government “to take the bull by the horns, and abolish it at once and for ever.” But he adds that the owners of slaves will expect compensation, and it would indeed be unjust to set free all the slaves or try to set them free with a stroke of the pen. But compensation would be merely a kind of slave-deal-ing, and would lead to enormous peculation. The owners would sell their slaves, and then obtain other slaves from over the border. In a wild and extensive territory this could not be prevented. Secondly, what would prevent a chief from declaring his poor relations to be slaves, and obtaining compensation for the same ? In other cascsthe slave would receive a part of the money, then go back and be a slave as before. The only thing to be done is to set free all slaves who run away from their masters and claim the protection of the flag. The number would not at first be very great, for these men, in order to live, would have to work harder in freedom than when they were slaves. However, a class of free laborers would thus gradually come into existence, and slavery, sooner or later, would die of itself, as happened in certain countries of Europe.