The Washington times., 1903-06-14

NV atrocious cruelties have re-
Gently been directed against
the government of the Congo independ-
ent state and against its agents in Cen
trail Africa. They emanate principally
from former employe of the independ-
ent state who, having been dismissed,
brought out his accusations in volume
published in London a short time ago.
A large number of newspapers-English
American, and foreign-have reproduced
extracts from this work.
The public has been deeply stirred by
these reports, and considerable num-
Der of readers are under the unfortunate
impression that even if there are GER
tain exaggerations in these publications.
yet they must nevertheless be based
upon a certain amount of truth.
Under these circumstances it became
desirable and fitting to lay an exact
statement of facts before public opinion.
To this end Belgian citizen has col
lected in one volume the declarations Of
numerous witnesses-tr mission
aries. and public functionaries. All these
declarations bear witness to the work of
civilization undertaken in Africa by the
government OF the Congo, and are, at the
same time, a refutation of the accusa-
tions brought against the employees of
its administration.
Testimony of Unbiased Witnesses.
Having this work before US, we be-
lieve 1t would be interesting TO publish
certain, extracts therefrom, because the
citations are for the most part taken
from the testimony of persons who have
no connection with Belgium or the
Congo, and who. consequently, cannot
be suspected of partiality
Sir Harry Johnston, commissary gen
eral of his British majesty. for the pro
tectorate of Uganda. writes in the
Uganda Protectorate" (vol. /, p. 1881,
as follows:
Il am not prepared to defend the
Congo Free State from its British or
foreign critics. any more than l am
prepared to assert that the British ex-
ploration and administration of negro
Africa has never been accompanied by
regrettable incidents. I can only state
IN common fairness that that very
small portion Of the Congo Free State
which have seen since these countries
were administered by Belgian officials
possessed excellent buildings, well-made
roads. and was inhabited by cheerful
natives who repeatedly, and without So
hcitation on my part, compared the
good times they were now having to the
misery and terror which preceded them
when the Arabs and Manyema had es-
tablished themselves IN the country as
chiefs and slave-traders."
Sir Harry Johnston's Views.
In. the same volume (p. 1879 Sir Harry
Johnston declares that all the alleged
mutilations of men and women which ,
have been gratuitously ascribed to the
police or to the soidiery of the Congo
state. or even to England, are due IN
reality to former Arab slave traders and
TO bands of Manyema. He adds that IN
his travels he has found the natives
happy and prosperous under the excel
lent administration of the late Lieuten-
ant NJ Ezra and Karl Erikson, his as
sistant
The pygmies also testify to the kind
ness OF the whites in the country
The Rev DR.. Grenfell, missionary OF
the Baptist Missionary Society, says:
II am happy to believe that some of
the reports are qnite untrue Certainly
some of the last published revelations
reach me for the first time through |
the newspapers. l am convinced that IN
each CT the districts where our So
ciety (B, NJ. 81 is represented by a |
station, the rule OF the state is Infinite |
" more benefcent than any native |
regime 1 have known, and that life and |
property are more and increasingly Sc
cure"
q regret that missionaries give cur
reEey to erroneous opinions concerning |
the acts and policy of the state that |
protects US, and this at time when a
number of incidents seem to indicate.
On the part OF certain persons, a policy /
OF systematic opposition to the state"
The Rev. Dr.. Werner. missionary Of
the American Presbyterian Congo Mis-
SIGN, expresses himself as follows:
@The general administration. On the |
whole, l believe to be we'll mentioned, !
and as efficient as the means at the dis
posal OF the governmen Mt permit There
are. of course. isolated cases of bad
conduct and mistaken methods. for
which the subordinate officers are main
ly responsible. There is. however. a
progressive effort being made to OBJ
tain an efficient corps OF functionaries
which will greatly improve the entire
course of administration. For the most
part the reports regarding barbarities
are exaggerated.
G. Grey, an English civil engineer
in charge OF mission in Katsnga.
writes:
my experience of the last two years
has convinced me that in the district
OF Katanga. at any rate. the Belgian Of
hcials endeavor to treat the Central
African native with justice and len
iency. and In as great a degree as off,
Gals of any other nation look on him as
a human being, with a perfect right TO
sell his labor and his food on terms sat
isfactory to himself. When l first en-
tered the Congo, at the time that the
officials OF the special committee were