The Minneapolis journal., 1904-10-19
Congo Case.

trade IN Africa. = InaC Cefr1Dle CraIIIC
was stamped out by the Congo govern
ment in cooperation with the European
states holding colonies in the dark
continent. .u.
Considering the benevolent part
which the Congo Free States played IN
ridding the land of the Arab slave
trade, it is exceedingly disappointing
to learn thru authoritative sources that
the Belgians, charged with the admin
istration of that government, have been
guilty of cruelties to the natives only
a little less revolving than those of the
slave raider, and with this humiliating
difference, that they have been inflicted
under the aegis Of professedly civil
lied government. --.
When Stanley emerged from the
iungles of equatorial Africa in 1877 he
was filled with the possibilities Of the
vast. territory drained by the Congo
and it's affluents.s No European state
seemed able, or disposed, to extend it's
sovereignty over this region, filled
with savage and warning tribes. King
Leopold II. Of Belgium, who had pre-
viously become interested in the sup
preston Of the slave trade in Africa,
was of the temper to enter into the
dreams of the explorer inasmuch as
the establishment of a state on the
Congo would contribute to the early
destruction of the terrible traffic in
blacks. ..4 r~{~. &.ss...... ..-.
Ina private capacity Leopold became
president Of the International African
association which sent Stanley back to
the Congo to further explore. that
mighty river and lay the foundations
of state by treaties with the chiefs
of Independent tribes. In five years
the work had SO far progressed that
five hundred treaties had been made
with native chiefs, in which they ac-
knowledged the suzerainty of the as
sociation, which as yet had no interna-
tional recognition; forty stations had
been opened and five steamers placed
in commission on the Congo above the
cataract. s - -,
To give the association an interna-
tional standing and representation at
the Berlin conference, Leopold as
sumed the sovereignty Of "the Inde-
pendent State of the Congo' in 1884.
Our government was the first to recog-
nize the new government. Mr.. Kasson,
in announcing the action of our gov
ernment to the Berlin conference said:
cit was the earnest desire of the gov.
ernment of the United States that these
discoveries should be utilized for the
civilization of the native races and for
oloI ~ 81 4ro 10
So the Congo Free State, the result
z not sofSbloody conquest, but Of peaceful.
treaties with the natives, was projectee
primarily as a civilizing agency in the
heart of the Dark Continent.
j With such a peaceful and philan
thropic beginning it is distinctly dis
appointing to learn that the condition
: of the native is now such as to arouse
the indignation of all civilized nations
> These distressing conditions have
! arisen from two or three causes. II
: 1885 it was decreed that all vacan
lands belonged to the public domain
Natives were allowed to hold only sucl
land as they actually cultivated or oc
cupied. The vacant lands belonging t.
the state, the forest products coul
- not be gathered and disposed Of by tn
natives to any one save the govern
a. ment. The savages Of the jungle, who's
sole industry had been the collection
and barter Of ivory and rubber, wer
It cut off from the profit Of their forme
l. employment and made to feel the &C
v vantages (9) of civilization by tn
s. payment Of tribute in kind to tn
le state for the benefits of government
u This tribute was levied collectively o
a. tribe or village.
9, It is the collection Of this tribut
s. that has been attended with the abus
is Of the natives that has aroused tn
m world. II The police employed to enforc
lie the collection of this tribute is recruite
is from the native tribes. But with shrew
IS knowledge of the hostility Of one trit
n for another, which formerly gave ris
r. to almost continuous barbarous war an
OF cannibalism, the government uses tt
soldiers recruited from one tribe
Is, collect the tribute due from anothe
ne bringing into play all the ancestral b
ed tired which a civilized governme1
ct should have endeavored, by every meal
ks The negro, never fond Of work ar
n deprived of the incentive Of gain fro
he profitable trading in ivory or rubbe
Mt has often failed. to report to the cover
he ment his full tale of brick. To nal
all terrible examples Of such .delinquen
nd the native police have been allowe
Mt even encouraged, to infict the mo
er- horrible punishments upon such trib
he and villages as have failed in the
7r- quota. % FL
'st The officials who have allowed su,
at. atrocities have, many Of them, be-
'er recruited from the scums Of Europe al
lg- further brutalized by association wi
on cannibal tribes. The very climate
I'm tropical Africa encourages these br
ye- tai officials to dissoluteness of Iii
th The difficulty Of getting suitable m
OF to undertake governmental positions
ed Africa must soften the blame viii
TX, rests upon the central government
es- Belgium for the atrocities Of it's 81
an wants. Our own government has d
lid been free from blame on account
an the acts Of some Of our Indian ager
in bygone years.
zen The discovery Of vast areas cover
Jed by the rubber plant in the Congo