Evening star., 1905-10-14
BIC SCANDAL BREWING
Over Cruel Treatment of Ma
tiVes in the French Congo.
STORY OF DE BRAZZA
MADE A PEACEFUL PATH INTO
THE DARK CONTINENT.
His Tardy Recognition - Revolving
Atrocities Practiced by Later Gov
eminent Officials.

Special Correspondence of The Star
PARIS, October l. 1905.
France is the verge of great negro
scandal She is also the point of giving
national funeral to Savorgnan de
BrazZa, and over its preparations the ghost
of de Brazza hovers. accusing. And there
by hangs a long tale of loving kindness and
ruthless cruelty to helpless black men.
This black story overshadows the other
story. in itself pleasing and refreshing of
de Brazza's final triumph late in the
autumn of his blameless life.
Twenty years ago France and the world
rang with the great explorers name. His
gentle victory over the powerful Anglo
Belgian expedition of Stanley had caused
universal establishment. Stanley, travelling
with the pomp and riches of an army met
"a barefoot chap in tatters."
This water is Stanley Pool" he told
him. Here the Congo takes its departure
from the ocean
II know" replied the barefoot chap IT
have taken possession of the right bank
and the land route to the ocean in the
name of France"
He had walked into the center of the
dark continent almost without followers,
stores or weapons carrying a simple
bamboo cane in his hand. BY persuasion
only he had won firm support of cannibal
hlllSS ike hdkOhO, VINO SlOulIy 1eIuSeQ TO
make new terms with the Anglo Belgian
eI. edition. He returned TO Paris in a blaze
of glory, bringing France her present
Congo possessions Parliament voted him
ample funds and when he went back TO
Africa it was with the title and powers
of cOmmissary general of the republic of
Gaboon.
Ten years passed THE French Living
stone instead of robbing the blacks, spent
money on them. In savage villages they
called him father and the impression of
his sgnet ring was more powerful than an
army. His own personal fortune of half
a million francs was even swallowed up in
the improvements.
The Military Marchand Mission.
Then came the military Marchand mis-
sion to throw its heavy expenses in the
balance. One by one de Brazza had to
give us great hopes. Finished, the project
of a penetrating railway. Lost, the hope
of a French chartered" and a loan. The
Belgians built a railroad. The correspond
ence of de BrazZa with the French govern
ment became bitter. He protested against
the embarrassment of his budget and the
killing OF his projects. In a word, he be-
came annoying. Therefore one evening in
1897 he received a simple letter relieving
him OF his functions.
Ten more years passed-'n silence On
several occasions the powerful Temps news
paper wished 10 draw attention to his
case, but de Brazza always begged them
to keep silence. Finally, when Minister
Waldeck-Rousseau went to inaugurate the
statue of the oriental explorer, Francis
GARNER, the Temps broke silence, remark
ing that II it be good to glorify the dead
II is better to be just TO the living
WaldeCk-Rousseau was troubled. He pro-
posed and had Immediately voted a
national pension" and before the senate
there was read a notable report which de
RraZza regarded as a complete reparation.
As to the pension. II approximated the an
nual interest of his private fortune which
de BraZza had expended on the Congo
and on his death 1t to become payable
to his widow and children.
Probably the vindication of De Brazza
would have rested here had not all France
been recently thrilled by black and bloody