The Washington times., 1904-06-05


nameless atrocities committed upon the
natives Of the Congo Free State, over
which Leopold. King Of the Belgians'
wields un6isputed and practically des-
pctic sway whatever may be said or
thought of the truth OF the charges Of
cruelty and oppression. the attitude Of
PelSium I'm this strangely constituted
gavernmcnt-the product of an alleged
benevolent regard for the welfare Of the
natives ana the progress of civilization
is certainly anomalous and probably
without the sustaining force Of Legal
risht.
When the Congo Free State came into
being in lSS5. as the result Of the con-
ference Of world powers held at Berlin,
il was he-alded as a triumph Of benef-
cence. and it was supposed and freely
promised ;nat the arid civilization %
o sout bern Africa. tended and nurtured by
the sollcitude Of the powers. WOULD
boon and blossom as the rose. Never
has the white mans burden been taken
up with such entire enthusiasm; never,
il may be added. has II been borne with
more Of profit 10 the shrewd philanthro-
pist The white man in the Congo Free
State may be bearing the white man >
burdcn-indeeG. we have his untarnlshcd
word that he is-but the lucxless wight
OF darker hue is bearing the white man
and the burden also. Nobody seems to
entertain much doubt about that.
The cruelties said to have been prac-
ticed by the representatives Of the Bel
gian government and their native allies
make I'D. though. another story. If 1t
be true, bar0arism had something 10
learn OF modern civilization, even along
-. -, axraTial
Brutality, slavery in its worse aspects
rnuti!ation, the murder Of the innocent
the destruction Of whole villages-these
are some CT the charges that are pre-
ferred and that have been substantiated
bv the direct testimony. purporting 10
reflect truthfuliy the impressions OF per-
sonai experience, Of many Observers
Responsibility Indicated.
The charges are circumstantial; names
dates. and places are given; responsible
fly is at least indicated The govern
Inents Of Great Britain and the United
States have been earnestly besought 10
investigate the situation through the
agency of some impartial tribunal Bel
GUM has professed herself entirely Will
ing that such an investigation shoulo DC
made. hut nothing has yet been done.
ton OF the alleged atrocities was made
a. ,bts country by the conference Of mis-
sionarv societies which assembled In
washington last April. In lengthy
document presented TO the Senate ana
referred TO the Committee on Foreign
Relations the charges are set forth at
length and specific Instances OF cruelty
ond onpression are cited TO sustain them
That this country is entitled 10 know
the truth concerning the adminis1ra-
zion of affairs In the Congo free stat
is declared 70 result from the part II
took in the launching Of that country
r,oor the sea of nations, and It's oIt-re-
,,eatad professions that SITS parucipa-
to-, in the ceremony was not formal
or perfunctory merely. but In line Win
and expressive Of its sympathy Win the
'.restleee. ardent sentiment which seeks
10 extend civilizing' influences among the
dark races and to brighten up with the
fovy OF civilization the dark places OF
sai-browed Africa"
The quotation is from an address de-
livered by the late Sir Henry NJ. Stan
lev. II Is characteristic Of the glowing
hopes Of the men and women who pre-
sided over the birth Of this new state
and IN violent contrast with the com
rnentaries Of those who are now engaged
in disinterested work among its great
and helpless population.
The government known as the indie
pendent State of the Congo was unique
in It's origin. II came into being by an
act Of an assembly representing all the
nations Of the Western World In the
original movement looking toward the
creation Of this government. Leopold
King Of the BelgIans, bore a leading
part. and Il was he who invited the con-
ference TO assemble at Berlin I'm 1888
A company OF geographers. travellers
and philanthropists. representing num-
beI OF European countries, had been
called together by him in September
1870
BY this conference an organization
known as the international African
Association was constituted. A few
years later a society was organized for
a purpose described by one Of fits mem
bers as that OF studying what might
be made Of the Congo River and its
basin" This society. including at first
representatives Of several European
countries Of prominence IN the CONNER
cial and monetary world, soon came al
most exclusively under Belgian control.
Having the same officers with the origi-
raj international association, II soop
practically superseded that organization,
and. though in no true sense interna-
tionaI. IL renamed itself the Information
al Association Of the Congo.
After some years spent I'm visits Of ex-
plora tion to the Congo State the asso-
citation reported that IL had entered into
treaty relations with more than $50
chiefs Of the Congo territory. and sought
recognition as a qUasi-political power
Other plans found favor with certain
European powers. A treaty was tenta-
lively concluded between England and
- Portugal. involving large recognition OF
The rights Of the latter country I'm west
q, ern Africa. Representatives OF the in
a err -ional association appealed strong
ri 20 our own Government in the inter
No. OF opposition 20 this treaty. and TO
D.. other form Of agreement unsatis-
No tory 20 the association. AS a result
70 ~ this appeal. after favorable recon-
,,o+ idation By President Arthur, the
:, Jn'ted States Government on April p,
1885, granted recognition 70 the assOcia-
ton in the following terms