The sun., 1901-11-10
MISREPRESENTING THE CONGO
An American Tells More stories Of Horrors
In That Region.

An American named Edgar Canisius.
who has retired from the service OF the
Congo Free State. is reported TO be- in
London telling terrible stories about the
killing Of hundreds Of natives IL they re-
fused TO collect rubber. He says they
are practically forced AZ the muzzle Of rifles
to gather rubber and sell 1t for two cents
a pound, the product being sold later at
ntwerp for 10 cents a pound.
There IL reason 10 believe that the story
OF horrors which this man is now relating
is much exaggerated. The natives OF the
upper Congo, where rubber IL collected,
have been treated badly enough in the
past; but for two years. the Government
has been doing everything IN its power
10 protect the natives.
over year ago. Mr.. Liebrechts. Secre-
tary of tho Interior in Congo Free State
Government. said hat the State had acted
with energy in it's endeavor to protect
all the natives It's military posts, however
had not been able 10 keep the entire rubber
collecting region under perpetual guard.
He declared that the white authors OF the
crimes which had just come 10 light would
not fail to receive their deserts. They
would be taken before the court at Bona
the capital, and II the charges were proved
they would be severely punished.
A little later, Mr.. de Cuvellier. the Secre-
tary Of Foreign Affairs wrote To the Belgian
Minister Of Foreign Affairs that there we're
then in the prison al Bona twenty white
men who had ieen found guilty OF acts of
cruelty toward the natives, One Of these
men was condemned to life imprisonment.
another 10 ten and another to two and a
half years In prison. Lesser penalties were
Inflicted upon the remaining Offenders
Capt. Charles Lcmaire wrote about two
months ago that the most rigorous orders
had teen given 20 officials 10 infict severe
punishment for III treatment Of the natives
lie added that these orders are being daily
executed but admitted that s"me wrongs
NAV still be Inflicted upon the natives bs-
cause the official staif can scarcely extend
the full protection Of the laws over the
enormous territory m which the whites
are now working
man. Who for nine years has been nls-
-ionhry on the upper Congo, sent letter
10 England. which was published last month
~ which hs said
Il am glad TO say that things have vastly
improved on the Congo. AZ far as the treat
Inent of the natives IL concerned. Tie
state has for some time been keeping a
sharp lookout foT officials and traders who
dare 20 illireat the natives, and 10 my
luo~l.dg- quite numlrr 10 white met
have i.s'n severely punished lot ab'issng
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