New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-22
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
THE CONGO AND THE SLAVE TRADE.
THE BELGIAN MINISTER REPLIES TO IhE'
CHARGES MADE IN THE ENGLISH AND
FRENCH JOURNALS

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: find in yorr esteemed journal Of the 18Th IN
slant an editorial article entitled slave Iradihs "
Free State" 1870,
have no knowledge Of the publications and oil lhe
altogether improbable information upon winch uic
article in question IS based. But can assure you
that neither the Belgian officers who are reierreu ~
therein nor the agents OF the Belgian companies ~
tabllshcd on the Congo have either rccrh'eu' "'
mlted 10 their service. employed slaves hor nav
they I'm any way encouraged or favored ulc o
OF slaves Even had they wished or attempted - Wv
so-which Is as far from their thought as from 'ha'
of any Christian, OF any American citlzeh-ho SUI
infrnction Of the laws Of humanity would nave DcV"
tolerated in the Independent state OF Congo, winch -
subject to the sovereignty of King Leopold mat s'e"'
monarch who Is the soul of the ant-slaVcry hoto
mcnt and who has endowed that new country WIN
the most liberal institutions Every reference 10 Wv.
existence even Of passive tolerance on the part OIL
the Congo authorities, as on that OF the beisinii
ties operating in Africa, constitute an Insult 10 ,'
sacred and generous cause at the head OF which bc
GUM Is proud TO see her king,
Far from recruiting or employing slaves, the beis'a'
companies on the Congo exact from their worhhio" .
declaration that they have been engaged ana Droue'
thithcr Of their free WILL 1t cannot Dc ochou'
olso that tho benefcent work OF the Anslavery CON
gress. in which the United states took 50 prominent d
part has not yet had time to bear fruit everywhere III
Africa The treaty OF Brussels Is not yet In r"cc'
ard accordingly the horrors OF the shameful slave ''o
have not yet disappeared from the African continent
But the sincere conviction and tho proof which P@,
NJ hs iuccsSau efforts toward that end by the ,Osv
Government since its Institution, a. wei as MY h ,io
edge Of the sentiments which animate my nat, =
cnnoty render II necessary for protest again
every allu>ion the existence on their part OF any
participation either active or passive ana Oh any W.
cmraeement either direct or Indirect IN the vic "
yonr country sir possessed Of so ma9 s ,bc ss
OF the emancipation OF tho Oppressed rae slouu ~
seems TO me- be the very first to appiaud ana enc9ae
the noble and generous efforts II King Leop3Il;;
voIr rodcri on Tho subject by bringing corrections
10 their Knowledge Thanking you In advance for your
courtesy. / remain. sir, very Truly your, .,,.rr
New York. Feb. 20, 1o92 y. LIZ "iiAii'
I'VE take great pleasure in making public the
above letter from the Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plcnipotentary of His Majesty the King
of the Begians, and are glad To receive his as
surancc that the specific charges which We quoted
from The Times of London, and " IL Temps,
Of Paris, are unfounded. We yield place to no
one in esteem for King Leopold, and in apprecla-
ton Of his noble work for the redemption OF
Africa and We had no thought Of intmating that
he or his immediate agents, would for moment
dream of countcnancing in the least degree any
connivance with liberation of the Save trade
But these charges, not against the Government,
but against the contractors, were repeatedly made'
in explicit terms in journals Of the highest crcdl-
hilitv: and until they were rcfutcd and disposed
of by at least equal authority, il was Impossible
not TO regard Them seriously, and To demand, as
we did. that they be investigated and the world
satisfied beyond doubt, of their truth or faslty.
II is pleasant TO observe Mr.. lie CHATS confidence
in their falsty and we trust that all the civilized
world will quickly have cause TO share that con-
Gdencc Ed