The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-06
THE METHODS OF FLEOPOLD Horrible Conditions in
 Congo State. CANNABALISM PRACTICED Dr. Morrison IndictS the Bel
 gian Government. women and Children Are Killed and Eaten by Barbarous Native
 soldiers-slaves Sell for $10 Each.

Louisville, April 5.--Dr. W. M. Morrison, Southern Presbyterian minister to the Congo Free State, in speaking before the Presbyterian Ministers Association here, gave an impressive recital of the alleged barbarities practiced upon the natives of the Congo Free State by those holding the power, and of the obstacles thrown In the way of their correction by the author ities.
 T lived with these people for seven years. know what I am talking about" said pr. Morrison. Leopold has there native cannibal army of 20,000 men, off, cered by white Belgians and armed with repeating rifles. These men, representing the worst and most savage type of the natives, were first caught, then carried far away from their homes and forced into this military service
 There, in turn, this cannibal soldiery is used to compel the natives to bring In enormous tribute of ivory and India rub. ber. It is worth noting that the King of Belgium is today reputed to be the larg- est dealer in ivory and rubber in the world.
 Unspeakable Cruelties.
 As result of this forced labor and military service. great and unspeakable cruelties are practiced on the native peo-
 
 least 5000 fleeing into the forests to es- cape the cannibal soldiers of King Leo poid
 T have seen these soldiers securing through the forests and after catching a number of men whom the Government wanted as laborers. going with the cap tives tied together by ropes around their necks.
 Raids upon villages are being con stantly made. some of the people are killed and eaten. others are carried away into captivity and sold, others are forced into labor and military service. can buy all the slaves you want at Luebo at from slos fep SIS apiece s--~- ,-- ..5 When these raids are made the most awful cruelties are practiced. Innocent women and children are killed or captur- ed, hands are cut off to be taken back to the white Belgian officers to show that the work has been well done and great sections being depopulated. Hands Roasted Over Fires.
 One of these raids was made near one of our mission stations-one of our missionaries went to the scene and counted eighty-one hands cut of and dry. ing over a fire, to be taken back to the Belgian officer; forty-f1ve dead were counted lying nearby.
 "The Belgian Government makes the usual stereotyped denial of all these charges. I have seen personally the governor of the Congo State. He won't do anything.
 ''I have been in the palace of the king of the Belgiums and have seen the most prominent officials of the Congo govern ment. They won't do anything. The English Government is greatly interested in the situation. At the request of Lord Lansdowne I preferred a statement of such outrages as had come under my own observation.
 Consul Roger Easement, who as Eng fish and acting American representative to the Congo state, has just made tour of investigation, and his report, now in the hands of our government at Wash ington presented a most deplorable situa- tion of affairs. As a government we do owe something to the 20,OC0000 of black people of the Congo State. What are we going to do?"