Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-10-07
ACCUSED or CRUELTY


As may have been noticed In The de
patches. NJ Morel. editor .of me West
African Mail and secretary Of the Com
20 Reform association, Is IN this couu-
try for the purpose Of asking the
American government TO use rs good
oncas for the lmelloratlon Of the con-
dltlon Of the African natives Of the
Congo Free State.
This state was founded by King Leo
rold OF Belgium, as a result of stan
ley's explorations I'm the interior Of
Africa, and It was recognized by the
powers as am independent state ~
1885. The vast territory was Icft uu-
der Belgian sovereignty because II was
hoped that By this means II would re-
main neutral ground with am open
door NJ Morel now charses that
Belgium has violated every pledge
made az the Berlin conference OF lsSb
BE says the klng promised that the
natives numbering al that time nearly
20 OOO 600 and their trade should enjoy
complete freedom I'm the Congo Basin
These pledges have been violated The
trade Of the world rs barred, while the
unfortunate natives have been reduced
20 70 condition Of abject slavery klng
Leopold and his friends take all the
profits Natives, he continued, must
work like cattle under the lash Of their
divers, Those who fail or falter are
FIRST beaten and then either mutllated
on butchercd
Tho following is from an interview
with the African editor
what Leopold has done Is to arro-
gate 10 himself as his personal property
million miles Of Africa "a land that
was assigned TO him for paternal pro-
lection An this land he says, By HE
actions. Is mine personally, and since
IL is mine | do not need to pay Tor the
produce Of H. Now. since the natives
viii not voluntarily submit TO such u
theory, since they arc not willing 10 do
something and give something for moth
Ing. Leopold IS Obliged, I'm carrying out
hls policy of slavery and cXtortIon, 70
organize q whole army ~ natives Off
ctrcd by Europeans The land rs ln-
tested with tens Of thousands of native
soldiers. who are quartercd ON the vile
ages with power Of life and death in
their HANDS, and under orders 10 compel
the natives 10 produce every week q
certain quantity ~ natural products
of palm Oh. palm kernels or India RUB
Der These soldiers are me absolute
rulers, the despots OF the people, and If
the people fan to produce regularly
what is required Of them. they goad
them ON with uncomfortable acts ~
barbarily and mutiation The method
Of the soldiers Is simply teWorlzation
I'm It's most outrageous form
In proof Of those assertions some
photographs were exhibited, In which
men and women with mutllated limbs
were shown evidences Of unmcntlon-
able barbarty As a result Of this
despotlsm. depopulatlon OF the land has
followed Along a stretch OF 900 to 500
miles OF the upper Congo the popua-
ton has been reduced by more than
$4,000 IN the last ten years, Whole VIII
lagos are wiped out OF existence, not
only by actual Wholesale slaughter but
by the terrible oppression, The country
is In a constant state Of Nariarc-a
state Of impotent rebellion
Such are the charges Of NJ, MoreL
King Leopold, we understand, has sent
lecturer over here, TO refute, ON the
public PLATFORM the allegations made
against him, and the American peo-
pei VIII reserve an opinion until both
sides are heard
A delegation from Armenia IA also
here, to ask for interference Of some
kind IN behalf Of the people that is be-
ing dcclmated by the Turks Il may
be- said that this country has no busl.
ness to NEEDLE with the affairs Of Afri-
ca, or Turkey. and this IS true But n
! the powers whose business II is 10 sec
to Il that Belgans and Turks do not
outrage civilization fail to do so either
through indifference or inability, II
may become the duty Of other powers
to exercise their influence for the sup
preston Of crimes. II murder is about
to be committed IN a house, 1t may be-
come the duty Of the neighbors to IN
terfere, although ordinarily undue in
terference IN the affairs Of neIghhors
would be resented, IN fact Il would
be the duty 10 step IN and prevent the
crime, II possible, and failure to do so
would be criminal The case between
nations is similar II tho slgnatory
powers fail 10 protect the Armeuians
and the Africans against their assas-
sins. as they are pledged to do other
powers with influence must use this
In the interest or civilization, or accept
the responsibility as partlceps criminls,
]