New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-11
STANLEY CALLS TO ACTION
A CATASTROPHE THREATENS AFRICA.
THE FAMOUS EXPLORER SAYS THE SUPPRESSION
OF SLAVERY THERE DEPENDS ON THE


Sir: Once again in the course of its brief his
tory the fate of the Independent State Of the
Congo depends upon the good will OF the United
States. The Government Of this country was the
first 70 recognize the new African State founded
! nv Ieopold H. the King of the Belgans. and the
European Powers, after short delay, followed
the EXAMPLE set them by the great American ke-
nublic. On February 25, 1885, the territory &C
onired by the international Association became
known as the "Etat Independent du Congo"
Since that date the State has made remarKaoe
propess IL has begun the construction oil
railroad from the Atlantic TO Stanley FOOL len
miles. at last accounts, had been completed III
1894 it is hoped that the railway VIII DC hhlSheu'
b,, which easv access to 5000 miles of navigaDle
water will have been secured. At present 1otlla
~ thirty steamers, which have been carried
laboriously on the heads and shoulders OF natlVe
carriers collect the commerce OF The upper OohEo'
The human CARRYING force, which in 1879 num-
bered A. few hundred hos increased to 75oOo HELL
A region so sparsely populated as the OohRo
Cataract region cannot furnish very many moio
men for this work, but in S94 1t is believed 'naV
the railway will be able to take the place OF TINS
man-transport power and the 1o'ooo ha'i''
carriers will he utilized in other ways.
ANY reflective man will be able to perceive wilaC
blessing it will be to the country wheh 'neSe
thousands of natives relieved from the transport
service can devote themselves to the cultivation
of the soil. =.
Great improvements have also taken place in
tho Inner Congo. Tribes addicted to cannibal-
ism. such as the Bangalas, have been made discl-
Mined soldiers and police. There are $500 OF
the Bangalas engaged on the police force, ana
their camps or stations are scattered along l,4Oo
miles of river At the conf ence OF the Aruwlml
with the Congo there is permanent camp OF
600 Bangalas under Belgian officers. AT the
Station Of Bangala there is strong force Oh
Houssas, Congoese and Zanzibaris. Far up the
Lumami. the Sankuru and the Kasai tributaries
are strongly built stations containing efiiclent
garrisons.
Until the recognition of the Congo State ny
Europe and America King Leopold had expended
personally 100000 in support OF the project
Since February 25, 1885, up to the present time
the King has contributed 81 200, 600, or 100000
annually
The continually increasing forces, military and
police, of the State necessitated q greater ex-
nendture. The export duties furnished $125,O0O
annually Still other means had TO be found to
meet defciency-and the Sovereign of the State,
through his Government, had recourse to taxa
ton, sale of licenses, permits, etc, to meet the
obligations. Finally the King had to appeal TO
Belgium for aid, and the Bel giam Government con-
sented TO furnish 100000 annually for ten years.
Thus the revenue of the State stood as fol
lows:
From King LeopOld's privy purse co co
From the Belgian Government 19gV0 00
From post taxes, oOVVV
Total
This sum would have proved ample for an
economical Administration, permitted TO proceed
slowly toward the fulElment of its destiny. But
the State was in peculiar condition. No other
territory in Africa, except the Soudan, could show
the same state of things. half Of the area
was already overrun by the slave-traders from
Zanzibar and the African coast Tippu lib was
at Stanley Falls with 5000 armed men Abed bin
Salim nvaging the Great Forest with about
dozen bands, numbering from 100 to 600 men;
Massoud bin Abdallah, Nasur bin Sultan, Said bin
Habeeb and many others ravaged the Territory
west of the Congo Lualaba with their powerful
bands of ivory raiders, slave catchers, etc.
There would be no exaggeraton in stating that
the aggregate forces of the slavers numbered
e, 900 armed men. To prevent these penetrating
to the western half of the Congo State the Kings
best efforts were directed to raising native force
from the Congo tribes. Time required to
discipline them, to curb their instincts for can
nibalsm, orgie and excess. He was successful.
Armed posts were freely established not far from
the line of devastation.
That is the condition of things to-day. The
Arabs halted by q line of defenders. If
the Arabs attempt TO cross that line they must
and will be repealed, On the other hand, If the
line of defenders attempt 10 advance into the
devastated territory occupied by the Arabs IA
serious reverse may be expected. They could do
no more than annoy the slave-traders. 10 drive
them out of the country altogether, the defenders
would have to occupy strategic positions and this
requires money
Now, any one who has read the proceedings and
"ace" Of the Brussels Arft-Savery Conference
which was held last year, will DE aware of the
expectations formed by the seventeen Powers (of
Europe and AmericaJ in regard TO the Government
of the Congo State. 1T is expected that the Congo
State will proceed at once TO exercise its full
powers, and declare war against these $4,000
slave traders, and continue it until they have
utterly ceased their mUrderOus trade. it will
be said that the Congo State has proved to be
failure.
Powers at the conference empowered the Congo
State to impose import duties. As soon as the
notifications between the Powers had been effected
this prvilege-eXercised by every State in the
wOrld-was to be exercised by the Congo State.
| The European Powers have ratified the act Of the
conference but the United States Senate has adj
| ourned after having rejected the Brussels act,
and without ratifying the treaty between the
| United States and the Congo State, which was
| concluded on January "a last.
The importance Of this last statement lies in
the fact that both the act of the conference and
parties before the I'd Of July next otherwise the
| famous Anti-Slavery Conference of 1890 will have
| become an utter failure.
| As the United States Government was the first
| 10 recognize the Congo State and as the American
| representatives signed the act OF the confer
| ence which to eXtirpate slavery from its last
| stronghold il will strike every one that it would
| be most deplorable If the United States were 10
withdraw its adhesion.
1t is impossible that Republican Administra-
ton can let this opportunity pass away 10 eX-
press by its acts consistent adhesion TO the
principles of the Republican party If the I'd of
| July arrives without the exchange of the ratih-
cations having been effected, the Republican party
will, unconsciously perhaps, have earned for itself
of having abandoned its principles.
There is yet time to call a special session Of the
Senate for this purpose or perhaps the President
and the able Secretary OF State may be able Ia
avert this appalling catastrophe to Africa
i commend q candid consideration of the sub
ect 10 your powerful Journal knowing well what
The New-York Tribune has done in the past fol-
the Africans. 1t is in your power 10 suppress
l. -, III .vi,,o &. IN