The Washington times., 1904-06-05

claims to the evils from which the land
is suffering IS easily traced The pro-
ducts OF the country must be collected
by the natives, and all true motive for
industry having been destroyed. no re-
sor. remains but that Of compulsiOn A
body Of armei men IS required for en-
forcement Of t.Ne Kings Will. This body
must be secured through raids upon
The native trib IS, and the more savage
tribes are chosen by preference. The
caItIves are taken far from their
hcmes, and after a time OF restraint
are commissioned for the appointed
service. This force publique" in 1896
was force OF $500 men; six years
later it had more than doubled IN
numbers. In addition to this native
force, the mcnopoijst companies are al
lowed TO raise auxiliary forces, and
savage tribes are made the allies Of
the state for prosecution Of the same
ends This force as a whole is now
believed to comprise a body Of 10000
men.
The character OF the work OF these
men is indicated IN the words Of NJ.
Edouard Packard, a member Of the Bel
eian senate: Their ferOcity equals that
of a pack Of hounds hunting their quar-
~ Uurestrained by natural senti-
meuts of compassion, held severely re-
sponsible for securing at any cost the
appointed tributes from the people. Of
hcered by men melted 20 their task by
promise Of "bounties proportionate to
the results obtained these barbaric
hordes are let loose upon the people.
Their representative IN the villages Is
the sentry" whose work Is TO secure
the appointed levy Of rubber or other
products, and who is practically without
restraint upon his savage propensties.
He is described by one visitor TO the
country as a daredevil aboriginal arm
ed with a rife. his power limited only
by such repression as the government
chooses to use" II was Of these men
Mr.. Glave wrote:
The black soldiers are bent on fight
ing and raiding; they want no peaceful
settlement They have good rifles and
ammunition, realize their superiority
over the natives with their bows and ar
rows, and they want 10 shoot and kill
and rob whether the victim
be man. woman. or child. and no matter
how defenseless."
Agents Are Helpless.
It should be borne in mind that the
subordinate agents Of government, II
continuing in its service, are made prac-
tically helpless. Receiving instruction
10 furnish a given number Of soldiers
and a certain amount of rubber. with
the understanding that they must en-
ploy whatever means are necessary,
they know Of no methods adequate for
the end except those involving appeal
70 fear. Mr.. Glave says that most white
officers are averse to the india rubber
regime Of the state, but the laws com
mand it. II would be unjust not to rec
ognize that the conditions prevailing
have aroused distress IN men connected
with the government yet it is TO be
feared that II Is only a few of these
who have the interest OF the people at
heart, and these are poWerless TO stem
the tide Of oppression. The punishment
Of subordinates, whether soldiers or
white officers, even II honestly attempt
ed would not reach the evil. The fault
is not their primarily. II belongs TO
the system and 20 the authority respon-
sible for the establishment and enforce
ment Of that system. Proofs OF indi-
vidual guilt become Of secondary cOnse-
quence as compared with the question
as to the essential character and the
certain results Of the system which the
government of the state has ordained.
Concession Of right implicitly involves
s.s-fc - ~ ~