The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-02-07

This resume was accepted by many of the leading
American newspapers as genuine and widely and
favorably commented on, although few were some
what suspicious. 1t is clearly demonstrated that
this West African Missionary Society was a bogus
affair, gotten up solely for purpose of misleading
the public before the real report issued. More
over, the American people have been further mslead
by alleged abstracts of the report of the commission
OF inquiry which being sent broadcast over the
country at the present time by persons persons
who are under the pay. OF the king. Let all who
wish to know whether the awful charges against
hing Leopold are sustained read report itself
1t may be said in general that the kings own com
MISSION which was appointed the purpose of pro-
curing Tor him bucket of whitewash, have brought
back instead rope with which to hang hlml
The report absolutely declares that Rink Leopold
claims practical ownership the country of nearly
100000 square miles, which he accepted from the
worlds greatest powers for the material and moral
regeneration OF the natices. L quote from the
port: AS the greater portion OF the land In the
Congo is not under cultivation, this Interpretation
comedies to the State right OF absolute and excu-
sive ownership virtually the whole land with
this consequence, that it dispose--itself ana
solely-of all the products of solI prosecute as a
poacher anyone who takes from that land the least
of its fruits, a receiver of stolen goods anyone
who receives such fruit" The report asserts that
he is exploiting certain portions of this country
through certain societies which have interest Ill
the childish people, whose were solely sought
by the powers that originated the Congo Free State;
commercial, pursue lucre and not humanity and civ
lllzation The report clearly and unequivo-
cally that the natives the victims of slavery
hopeless and atrocous has been recorded in
history. OF course, the word slavery is avoided
but it is Immediately suggested by the facts which
the report forth. The natives spend about $50
days out of every year in the gathering of rubber
for which labor ICY are paid practically nothing,
since the king claims the rubber his own and s.e
labor of the people "taxes"
Ihn lIxr oE.a
terrible system of force to drive the unwilling natives
to their almost unremunerated toll. Rifles placed
in hands of cannbal ''sentrles, who are turned
loose upon the defenseless people to terrorze them
into the gathering rubber. They brought before
the commission multitude of native witnesses
revealed a large number of crimes and excuses al
legged to have been committed by the sentinels. Ac-
cording to the witnesses, these auXares, especially
those stationed in the villages abuse the authority
conferred upon them, themselves into des-
pots, claiming the and the food, not only for
themselves, but for the body of parasites and
lures without any calling whIch love of rapine
to become associated with them, and with
whom they surround themselves with a vertable
bodyguard they Kill without pity all those who at
tempt to resist Cner exactions and whims The
mission obviously unable in all to verify
the exactioners of the allegations made before It, the
the facts were often several years old
However, the truth of the charges borne out by
of evidence in official reports"
Under this regime OF King Leopold whole districts
have already been depopulated 1t IS estimated that
the past fifteen years the system has destroyed
many 100000 100000 of people The
United States Government is responsible than
any other nation. We first recognized the Inter
national Association of the Congo" Because of this
recognition other nations followed and finally
Berlin and Brussels conferences held. By these
two conventions the Congo free State confined
to the stewardship of King Leopold. He thus
secured in the political rights, which have enabled him
to make the helpless nation the victims of his lust
for gold.
What Mr. johnson said was corrobarated by Mrs