The Washington times., 1902-04-13

| Mandumba,'' etc. received from King
| Leopold his command to proceed TO CUBA
| and assume here the special representa-
| ton of Congo Africans resident OF this
island The Spanish authorities. evident
| ly inspired by the Catholic Bishop of Ha-
vana, were at first indisposed toward the
envoy ION the Free State, on account
of his Professionalism; but Don William
was determined not to let such trifling
| differences this come between him and
the success of his mission to Cuba. He
shaved off his mustache and cut his
beard close. attended mass at the Cathe-
dral regularly for a fortnight and then
called on good Bishop Santander and ask
ed to be ordained priest of the great,
democratic Church of Rome. to which, as
matter of fact. nearly all of his Congo
and other African wards residing here
belong. week later he had his neces-
sary eXeauatur from the civil and mill
tary authorities of the island AS a COM
pliment to the bishop, who became his
sponsor under the new dispensation. the
black priest tackled on a third name; so
that, the late Rev. William George be-
came Father Emmanuel-or, in civil life
William George Emmanuel, esq, alias
Don Manuel" Highly educated and
speaking a dozen or more languages with
fiuency, the Congro padre was admitted
to number of the leading clubs Of Ha-
vana, including the Spanish Casino. where
he made numerous valued friends.
When Weyler, "the Spanish butcher"
was last sent out from Spain as captain
general, and with instructions to put
down the Cuban revolution at all costs.
he was surprised to find upon his arrival
here to assume command of operations
against Maceo and Sanchez and Garcia
and Maxine Gomez, that, owing to re-
spect for their treaty rights as recognized
aliens. none of the more than 30 OO0 Afri-
cans under Father Emmanuels absolute
control, had as yet been forced to Shout
der Mauser along with the Spanish vol
unteers and allied guerrilla bands in de-
Tense of the cities. towns. villages. big
plantations, and to assist in keeping rail-
way communications open, and one of his
first acts was to call the padre to the
palace and demand, as pledge of loyalty.
that regiment of Congos be at once ten
dered in voluntary defense of the Crown
threatening, otherwise to expel all of
them from the island as pernicious aliens.
confiscating their communal and personal
properties to sustain the Spanish regular
troops.
Braved Butcher" Weyler.
Father Emmanuel. undismayed by these
threats, told Weyler that any such high
handed methods as those indicated could
only serve to drive the old ex-slaves from
their peaceahle pursuits in the towns
and on the plantations to swell the insur-
gent ranks in the field; that, on the other
hand, the King Of the BelGians would be
only too glad to cooperate with Spanish
authority in any steps looking toward the
expatriation of all the old Africans in
Cuba, with their families. And, In clos
ing the interview. he warned the Butch
er" that any attempt he might make to
arbitrarily confsoate Congo properties,
would provoke protest. not alone from
Belgium and France, but likewise from
Portuguese and British authorities inter-
ested to some extent in the old treaties
recognizing his wards as aliens to Span
ism sovereignty; and he also emphasized
the righteousness OF the captain generals
demand, by calling attention to the fact
that with few rare exceptions, the
Congo negroes of Cuba emancipated in rs