The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-17
DEFEND The CONGO STATE.
BELGIAN SOCIETIES REPLY TO
THE CHARGES or CRt ELTI.
Denisls That Natives Arc lh.Treateti--Thc
slave Trade Wiped Out and Cannilla's
Rare-TrOubles Caused u. Fetch Dog
tors-PrOgress Under Belgian Rule


Rare Troubles Caused u, Fetch bog
tors-Prsgress Under Belgian Rule.
A number OF the leading societies Of
Belgium ave formed federation for the
purpose of replying to the accusations
a against the administration Of the Congo
Free State and of promoting the interests
of Belgium in colonial work The orgahi-
za ions in this federation are the Brussels
and Antwerp Geographical societies, the
Belgian Maj thine League, the Belgian
Agricultural societies. the Brussels Society
of Colonial Studies, the Antwerp African
Club, the Brussels African Club and the
Brussels Colonial Club.
They have a membership of more than
1000, including most Of the prominent
men Of the country. The federation has
begun the publication Of u magazine called
The Truth About the Congo, which is pub
lished in English, French and German
and will be widely distributed.
At the meeting held about seven weeks
ago, when the federation was organized,
the principal speech was made by Baron
Wahis, Governor General Of the Congo
Free State, who presided over the meet
ing. He enumerated the charges against
the Congo State and answered them.
He showed the condition Of the country
when King Leopold first began his great
work there He said that for long time
the white trading houses on the lower
Congo derived their profits from the sale
of slaves. Later their chief profits came
from the sale Of alcohol.
They made expeditions into the interior
and often burned native villages. whose
inhabitants had failed to bring in the guam
titles of palm nuts and other products ex-
pected. Their punishment had no limits
Their laborers we're slaves, upon whom
they inflicted the worst torments Tor the
smallest infraction Of their orders.
Above Stanley Pool, as far az Stanley
Falls, there was complete savagery, e.
pecially cannibalism in all its horrors
Above Stanley Falls was the Arab regime
the region of the slave hunters, whose
horrors we're 80 well described by Cardinal
Lavigerie
A great change has been produced in
that immense stretch Of country. Mr.,
Bentley, an English missionary. who has
been in Africa thirty years, expresses in
his recent book his admiration for the
enormous progress which has been made
toward the protection Of the blacks since
they came under the government OF the
Congo State
Government measures have entirely
suppressed the traffic in slaves for the pur.
pose OF supplying the cannibal markets
Cannibalism still exists, but only IN regions
far distant from the stations.
Tie Arab slave trade has entirely disaP.
peared The population is grouping Itself
in increasing numbers around the State
posts.
baron Wahis spoke OF the accusation that
enormous and continuous slaughter is
provoked by the revolts of soldiers and
of the population, who are crushed by
imposts OF every kind He said that
revolts of soldiers had occurred and had
produced sanguinary struggles. The Gov,
eminent had taken proper measures ana
revolts would he very rare in future;
Disturbances among the populauon,
diminishing. 1t is gross error 10 assert
that the revolts of the people are chieny
caused by the taxes exacted from them
The fetch doctors in particular nave
often urged the natives to revolt IN oroer
to maintain their authority, which is CON
increases. Taxation is one OF the least
causes of revolt, because the taxes IN Tue
zones of the chiefs are based upon con-
tracts between the State and the chlefs,
who are left almost free to fix the tax &C.
cordng to the means OF raising It. -.
All reasonable men admit that 1T Ia legiti-
mate to create taxes and TO cause thein
to be paid The Government uses COM
pulsion only when absolutely necessary,
and all possible precautions are taken 10
AVERT resistance SO that an armed force
may not be employed.
Neither women nor children can be
arrested in order to oblige the natives
TO paw the tax. 1t is the law of the State
that any force sent out to make an arrest
must be commanded by a white officer,
"The Government, says Baron Wahls'
"has taken all measures to prevent traders
from practising violence upon the natives.
Traders are forbidden to exercise any
constraint upon natives to compel them
to supply rubber
"The number OF guns at tho commercial
stations is limited to twenty-five; they are
tation. and under no pretext may they
be taken out Of the station. These orders
have not been easy to enforce. Many
traders have tried to evade them. some
have succeeded in doing so, and during
my last stay on the Congo took rigorous
measures TO en OrCe tntse regulations.
THAT there are still frequent conflicts
throughout the vast territory OF the Congo
State il not improbable, and they may be
continued, no doubt. for long time in the
midst Of these warlike populations, but
az have already said. they are steadily
diminishing in number.
"The work Of each native rubber collect or
ia very small Where rubber is abundant
he can gather in one day the tax required
of him for month The natives receive
cloth and other materials for the rubber
they collect, the desire to add to their we'll
being increasing every year, and they
know that they are working not only to
pay the tax but also to improve their
condition.
1T is also said that our military service
is an odous imposition on the natives
In 1901, when the public force was first
organized milita airy service was unknown
to the natives and appeared frightful to
them. For several years past this idea
has entirely disappeared.
"The soldiers are treated with kindness
serve with pleasure, and when they pass
into the reserve they are proud to 60 back
20 show the men Of their race the superiority
that military instruction and education has
given them. Only 5000 recruits are re-
1uired annually to maintain the active force;
which, considering the fact that the Congo
State rIles over millions Of people, is a
very slight charge on the population-par
ticnlarly when we remember that many OF
these 1000 recruits are volunteers.
1.-THE Government of the Congo State
awaits with confidence the result Of the
- 4!