Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Häfte 7-8 - Sällskapets förhandlingar
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
XIV
SÄLLSKAPETS FÖRHANDLINGAR.
Africa. We have with sympathy and admiration learned how he found
Li-vingstone, how he discovered Kongo, how he in the best and most practieal
meaning of the word is opening a way for the trade along this river. Our
sympathy for Mr Stanleys work is so great, because we know, that our own
country some thousand years ago has been in about the same position to
the Mediterranean peoples, as Central Africa in our days is to* the
inhabi-tants of Europé. We do not know the names of the Livingstones and
Stanleys who discovered Scandinavia and opened it for. the beneficent influence
of the civilization. But we know what Mr Stanley is doing and we thank
him for that.»
Till svar härå yttrade Mr Stevens, sedan h¾n ur ordförandens hand
mottagit medaljen, följande ord:
»It is with pleasure, that I am able to be the medium of
communica-tiori between the Geographical Society of Stockholm and the distinguished
African traveller, whom you so appropriately honor. As the representative
of the native country of that gentleman, I esteem it an honor to be made
the custodian of the medal which your illustrious Association has awarded
as a token of its appreciation of his great services to mankind by his
dis-coveries in a portion of the world, which had long resisted the approaches
of civilized man. A member of the fraternity of thinkers and workers who
are making the press the strongest force and one of the chief directing
agencies of modern times, he become deeply interested in the fäte of
Li-vingstone and in the härd problem ,which cost the life of that heroic
inve-stigator, and of so many brave men before him. Nothing daunted by the
hardships and sufferings which his first humane and successful effort had
cost him, he resolved to overcome the difficulties which had baffled the
skill and resolution of so many brave men. The story of his trials and
difficulties in a tropical climate, amid the perils of disease, of dangerous
rivers and cataracts, and of savage men, I need not attempt to¾-epeat.. It
came to the world as a-startling epic, surrounded with all the fascinations
of genius and romance. No reflecting man can read it from beginning to
its successful close without being impressed with the remarkable balance of
qualities it required, the cool selfcommand, the continuous force of will,
and the inexhaustible enthusiasm he maintåined until he had passed the
Dark Continent, opening through it a pathway of light, and unlocking to
the gaze of nations the mysteries which had been so long concealed. To
lead a mighty army on a väst military campaign, or to push a storming
column amid the cross-fires of cannon on the field of battle, requires not
equal capacity nor courage more unyielding, and it deserves to receive from
intelligent mankind equal, if not more genuine homage. May the field of
his brilliant successes in behalf of geographical science, of peaceful
civilization, of the Christian religion, and of legitimate, commerce, never become
the theatre of bitter rival ambitions, of the boisterous show of arms, and
the clamor of hostile national greed, but of noble and human efforts, for
which Providencc furnishes such a splendid opportunity.
This successful campaign of Stanley across Africa did not long’ precede
the opening of the icy gateway of the North-East by oné of your members,
who by his daring voyage of the Vega put a girdle of light around the
globe. in receiving from tjie compatriots of Nordenskiöld and Palander
this testimonial to Stanley, allow me to express the warm appreciation of
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
