The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-12-28
CALLED TO THE ATTENTION OF
SECRETARY ROOT BY PROM.
INENT NEW WORKERS.
DESIRE ABUSES CORRECTED
WANT MORAL SUPPORT OF UNIT.
ED STATES GOVERNMENT
USED TO THAT END.

New York, Dec. ga letter signed
by j. Pierpont Morgan, DR.. Lyman Alb
bolt and other prominent citizens of
New York has been addressed to Sec
rotary of State Root directing his at
tention to conditions in the Congo
Free State, where, n is asserted,
fragrant inhumanity exists" and urg-
ing him on behalf of the American
people to use the moral support" of
the United States government to cor
rect the abuses the Congo natives are
alleged to be suffering from. The
communication follows:
"Over year has passed since the
report of the commissioners chosen by
the chief executive and virtual owner
of the Congo to investigate conditions
in that state was published. In spite
of their natural desire to give all pos.
sible credit to their sovereign, the
commissioners felt constrained to re.
port the existence of measures and
practices of fragrant inhumanity
Among these are the following:
1.-THE eXaction of labor tax so op-
pressive that many natives on whom
it falls have little if any freedom.
Appropriation of land to such an
extent that the natives are practically
prisoners within their own territory.
1.-THE employment under authority
of the government as sentries OF cruel
british blacks, chosen from hostile
tribes who murder, pillage and rape
the people for whose protection the
government is avowedly established
THE abuse of the natives by white
representatives of officially recognized
companies.
"The binding of little children to
years of labor at uncertain wages by
contracts they do not understand and
even more, serious maltreatment of
children supposedly under the imme-
date care of the government.
Natives Fear the Courts. .a
Great injustice in the administra.
ton of the courts, so that the natives
dread the name. OF Bona, the place
where the judicial system is central.
lied
The sending out of punitive expedi.
lions, not for the purpose of establish
ing peace and order, but to terrify the
natives into paying a tax which, as adj
ministered, even the commissioners re.
gard as inhuman.
ut is to be remembered that these
are not charges brought against the
Congo government, but findings of the
commission which was appointed by
the chief executive of the government
to investic tie and report on the facts
Acting upon these findings a second
commission, also appointed by the
king, has recommended measures of
reform. No steps have been taken 70
adopt ther There is no evidence
that the Congo government is under
taking seriously to remedy these evils.
The powers which created the Congo
government have clearly right to call
that government to account Inas-
much as the United States gave its
moral support to the establishment OF
the Congo government it is justified in
giving its moral support to any under
taking to secure conditions in the Con
go that will not disgrace civilization.
We wish to assure you that for any
measure you may adopt in order to
give the powers such moral support
of the United States, you will have
our earnest and urgent approval"