Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
AN AFRICAN COLONY.
How the Congo State Was First Or
ganized and is Now Governed.
FIGHTING TIE SLAVE HUNTERS.
Questions to be Discussed by the Anti
Slavery Congress.
A LIST OF THE DELEGATES PRESENT

congo. During the second week OF Sep
tember, 1876, His Majesty Leopold II, Kim
of the Belgians, invited number of dis
tinguished African travellers to meet at hi
place in Brussel. Germany, Austro- n un
gary, Belgiums, France, Great Britain
Italy and Russia had eminent representa-
tives in this conference. The question sub
mitted to these gentlemen was, What arr
the best methods of opening equatoria
Africa to civilization? After a free inter
change of views, these eminent African
travellers separated. On June 20 and 21
1877, Congress was called at Brussels, il
which Belgium, France. Germany, Spain
Switzerland, the Netherlands and thu
United States were represented. Thii
Congress organized the African
International Association of the Congo
An executive committee was appointed
consisting of three delegates of the English.
speaking, Germanic and Latin raees-Dr
Natchtigal, of Berlin; Monsieur de Quatre.
fages, of the Institute of Paris, and the
Hon. Henry s. Sanford, of Florida, United
States of America. The work of this CON-
mittee was difficult since its plan contem-
plated the establishment OF scientific
stations along the banks OF the Congo river.
To do this a large corps of hardy, resolute
and faithful pioneers, under the leadership
of Mr.. Henry M. Stanley, had to be organ
lied and sent into the valley of the Congo,
Land had to be secured from native chiefs
by purchase and by treaty; a temporary
government had to be organized to maintain
order and to protect life and property; and
a flag was adopted-a gold star in field of
blue; and theslave trade had to be grappled
with. This work went steadily forward
under the direction of the intrepid Stanley,
until the chiefs Of 450 independent tribes
had given in their allegiance to the associa-
ton under carefully drawn treaty stipula-
tions.
UNCLE SAM TO THE RESCUE.
This growing African State soon turned
to the masters of European diplomacy for
recognition, but this was promptly denied
it.. At length the hands Of this tottering,
helpless child we're stretched out pleadingly
to the Government of the United States, and
on April 10, 1884, the Senate of the United
States passed a resolution recognizing the
flag Of the association as that of a friendly
Government. On April %, 1884, President
Chester A. Arthur directed his Secretary Of
State to issue al order. requiring all army
and navy officers to recognize the flag of the
Association 1nternationale du Congo as
the nag Of q friendly Government. This ac-
ton had a most salutary effect upon the
Governments OF Europe. and on November
10, 1884, Prince Bismarck called the Berlin
Conference on the Congo State to order,
which consisted of 19 delegates, representing
IA Powers. Three propositions were sub
mitted for the consideration of the confer
ence, viz: First, the free navigation, with
free trade, on the River Congo; second. the
free navigation of the River Niger: third.
the formaIities to be observed for valid an.
nexationiof territory in future on the Afri-
ban Continent.
Thesessions Of the Conference were held
German Chancellor's palace on Will
helmstrasse, in the same room where the
Berlin Congress of 1873 had met Including
brief adiournments the deliberations OF the
conference occupied three and one-half
months, and its work embraced the follow
ing points:
l. A declaration relative to the freedom of
trade in the basin Of the Congo, its mouths and
districts, with certain arrange
nents connected Herewith. 2. A declaration
the slave trade and the operations
IN land and sea which supply the slaves for the
;rade. 8, A declaration relative to the neutral
ty Of the territories comprised in the said basin
If the Congo. 4 An act as to the navigation of
The Congo which takes into consideration the
ocal circumstances affecting the river, its af-
1uents and the waters that are similar to them;
he general principles set forth in the articles IOS
TO ll6 of the final act Of the Congress of Vienna.
Ind intended to regulate between the signatory
powers to that actthe free navigation Of navi-
Fable water courses that separate or traverse
Ieveral States-principles that have once been
generally applied to the rivers Of Europe and
America, and notably to the Danube, with the
nndi AnaN f0r7a hyf ho c1FD -sa
IF 1855, of Berlin of 1873 of London of 1871, and
If 1883. s. An act for the navigation of
he Niger. which also takes into consideration
he lOcal circumstances affecting this river and
is affluenrs on the same principles set forth in
articles 108 TO 116 Of the final act of the Con-
sress of Vienna. 6. A declaration intro
lucing into international relations uniform
'ulcs with regard to annexations which may
AXE place in the future, on the African Conti-
lent. Two million four hundred thousand
Guare miles of African territory were passed
lpon. and the great conference. having duly
the v ork of the Association Inter-
rationale du Congo" adjourned on February
8, 1885.
CRowNING A KING.
The work which had been undertaken bv |
he association had increased to such pro-
,ortions as to require larger methods to |
AIRY it forward successfully. Accordingly |
he promoters of the enterprise determined |
o found State on the African Continent, |
nd requested His Majesty, King Leopold |
/, to become the head of the new Govern |
nent. But there was constitutional diff |
ulty in the way of the consummation of |
his desire of the promoters of the associa-
ion. Article LXII OF the Belgian Consti-
ution says: ''The King cannot be at the |
anne time chief of another State without |
he consent of the two Chambers. Neither |
the two Chambers can discuss this subject |
Inless two-thirds at least of the members |
omposing it be present, and the resolution /
an only be passed providing it Is supported |
" two-thirds of the votes." On April %, |
n the Chamber of Representatives, and on
April 80, 1885, in the Senate, the following |
was passed: "His Majesty, Leo
'old II, King of the Belgians, is authorized |
o become the head of the State founded in
Africa by the Association Internationale.lu |
,ongo.' The union between Belgium and |
be new State shall be exclusively personal"
His Majesty signalized his entrance into |
his new Office by the appointment, on May |
/, 1886, of three Administrators General, to |
e the heads of three ministerial depart /
nents, viz: A Home Department, or De- |
,artment Of Interior, Financial Department |
nd Department Of Foreign Affairs, includ-
ng Judicial Affairs. On August 1, 1885, |
he King caused the Administrator General
I Foreign Affairs to notify the Powers that
q the future the possessionso OF the "Associa-
ion Internationale du Congo" would con-
titute 'L'Etat Independent du Congo"
hat His Majesty, in accordance
nth the wish of the association,
7ould assume the title of sovereign
{ the Etat Independent du Congo; and
hat the union between Belgium and this
tate would be exclusively personal. On
he same date the Independent State Of
,ongo was declared perpetually neutral in
ecordance with the principles laid down in
'hapter III of the General Act of the Con-
srence of Berlin. This declaration was
lade to the powers by the Administrator
ieneral Of the Department Of Foreign Af-
airs. The frontiers and limits Of this new