The Portland daily press., 1891-09-30
The Congo free State.

In a recent interview Mr.. w. o. Tisdel.
VINO claimed to be diplomatic agent of the
United States to the Congo Free State, made
some very disparaging statements concern
ing the condition Of affairs in that country.
Among other things he said that the climate
was deadly, that the soil was barren and un
productive, that most Of the natives went
stark naked, that labor was very hard to get.
as The natives spent their time in loafing or
In killing one another, that all the Interna-
tl0nal Associations stations had to be sur
rounded with stockades for defence, that gin
was the great agent for spreading the white
mans Influence. that the death rate among
American missionaries was very high, and
tnat ne had never met christianizcd adult
IN all his travels through Africa According
to Mr.. Tisdel, the Congo Free State was
country little better than desert, and its
people savages beyond the hope of reaemp-
ton.
But now comes the Rev. joseph Clark
who has for eleven years been missionary
n the Congo country, and d. MES Mr.. Tis-
dePs statements all and singular. The eli
mate, Mr.. Clark says, instead of being dead
ly, is better than that Of India, and nobody
need have any fear Of 1t as long as he is care
ful OF what he eats, and takes occasional doses
OF quinine. The days are warm, but the
nights are cool and comfortable. Mr.. Clark
had four children born in the country. and
they are all living and in robust health
As for the soil, Mr.. Clark proves conclu-
siVely that 1t is not barren by pointing to a
long list OF articles that are raised there in
profusion, among them maize, peas, beans,
sweet potatoes, yams. peanuts, tomatoes,
lines, pine apples, coffee, cocoa, oranges.
plums, bananas, watermelons and many 9TH
er fruits and vegetables. As to the story
that most of the natives go naked, Mr.. Clark
says that during his eleven years residence
he has never seen naked adult, though
doubtless In the Interior there are tribes that
wear no clothing. Labor is hard to get SIM
ply because very large part of the natives
are continually engaged in carrying goods to
the coast, owing to the lack of railroads and
other means Of transportation. The women
do most Of the gardening, but the men by no
means loaf around, being engaged the most
OF the time In transporting heavy loads on
their heads or their backs. Instead of being
OF murderous disposition the natives were
exceedingly peaceable, and white men and
women unattended except by their guides
could travel hundreds of miles without dan
ger. Neither is it true that the Associa-
tton's stations were surrounded by stock
AIDES for defence. There is not stockade
about any Of them, and In only one instance
has Mr.. Clark known any Of them to be at
tackled. and that many years ago. In an
swer to the statement that there is great NOR
tally among the missionaries, Mr.. Clark
presents the fact that though for the past
seven years the Baptist missionaries in the
Congo country have averaged twenty-eight
males and females, there have been only
tnree deaths. As for gin being the only
cVilzlng agent, the Baptist mission alone
mas spent$15OoOo per annum for trade goods.
using no rum or gin. Mr. Clark thinks the
reason Mr.. Tisdel saw NO christIanizod ad,,,t
was the same why Lord Nelson saw No s,o,
nal Tor retreat when he put his glass 70 he
blind eye. Mr. Clark knew manv natives
who had become christianized.
AS between the testimony of Mr.. Tisdo,
VINO made flying trip through the region ~
which he speaks and Of Mr.. Clark. who bos
lived there eleven years, the public will No,
ma II difficult to determine which "a on
tltled TO the greater credence as an accuro,o
description OF the state of the Congo count,
and OF the people who inhabit It.