The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-07-20
|sToRY OF CONGO FREE STATE
New York Lawyer Writes Important
Work on Belgian Colonization


In a book handsomely illustrated
Henry Wellington Wack, member of
the New York bar and fellow of the
Royal Geographical society tells "The
Story of the Congo Free State" 1t
is a work on the social, political and
economic aspects of the Belgian sys-
tenn OF government in Central Africa.
The book has peculiar timeliness
in view of the dispute which has
arisen in the last few years regarding
the humanity of the methods used
by King Leopold of Belgium to ex-
tend his empire. To Americans who
may have followed the controversy
the work will be revelation, because
it shows that on tho whole the Bel
gian scheme of colonization is per-
haps the most successful that has yet
been tried in Central Africa.
The charge against the Belgians
has been that they treat the natives
with great cruelty, committing afro
cities of a bloody and APPALLING char
acter. This charge has been repeated
many times in the last decade, prin-
cipally in English newspapers and
periodicals, and Mr.. Wack, who had
been a student of Central African af-
fairs, decided to investigate. He went
to Belgium, called on King Leopold,
and was granted permission to avail
himself of all documents relating to
the Congo Free State. The king said
that he had no doubt that the Ameri-
cans when informed of the truth con-
corning the Congo, would appreciate, as
he did, that the Congolese civilization
movement is the greatest colOnizing
success in the history of the world.
When Mr.. Wack left Belgium he
took away with him box containing
memoranda. He wrote the story with
out any suggestions from or confer
ences with officials m Belgium. His
conclusions are, therefore, Of an un-
prejudiced character. His work does
not conceal the fact that in the earl
Ter stages of colonization there were
many atrocities. For the most part,
however, these were not committed by
the Belgians. Officials in outlying
districts were guilty of these afro
cities. Being more or less removed
from the supervision of the higher
authorities, each official followed his
natural inclination in dealing with the
natives. A large proportion of these
officials were Italians, many of whom
have been arrested and punished for
their crimes
Mr.. Wack's investigation disclosed
the fact that the charges against the
Belgians were made TO further the sell
fish aims of small clique of Liver
pool merchants. As the Belgian sys-
tenn developed and its sway became
more potent the abuses which had ex-
listed at an earlier date were swept
away. At the present time, accord
| ing to Mr. Wack, and to many visi-
tors who have travelled through the
Congo and other portions of Africa
and who are quoted by Mr.. Wack
the Belgian system is superior to the
| English system of colonization. The
main point Of superiority lies in the
fact that the Belgians teach the ma
tives to work, whereas the English
as general rule, either wholly neglect
to do this or fail to instruct the ma
tives how to work in a systematic
way.
The publishers of this work are the
we'll known firm of G.. P. Putnam's
| Sons of New York and London.