The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-18
OUR, DUTY in THE coheo
TO the Editor Of The journal,

-. i & 4 s /.
without question Secretary Root is
technically correct IN saying that as 1--WE
have no jurisdiction"y ia Africa, we can
not interfere In the affairs Of the Congo
Free State altho. as it Is alleged, we are
in quite large measure responsible for
placing the control Of that country In the
hands Of Leopold H., king Of the Bel
gians. We cannot undo the mischief to
which we are in a moral sense a, party,
II T. have read Mr.. Roots conclusions
rightly. We have no more right to inter-
vene than we would now inAthe affairs
of England or Germany, If some years
ago we had simply been called upon to-
arbitrate and decide the question as ITO
which one Of two or more claimants to
the throne, was the rightfuI heirs Having
decided such "a question, we could not:
NEEDLE with the government If the one
we had chosen proved to be a very Nero
in his rule over his people.
It might be cited that as we inter
vened In the case Of Cuba, going at last
sc far as to engage In war with Spain
to free the oppressed people, we would
have a similar right to bring Leopold to
terms. The cases are not at all parallel.
In our home case we were on American
ground, and really had quasi jurisdiction.
Technically, however we exceeded our
power-nay, our rights-~when we landed
troops on Spanish soil. We would not
have permitted any nation from across
the Atlantic to land an army there to
| subjugate Spain and relieve the Cuban
people. To have permitted that would
have been destructive Of the Monroe
| doctrine; in the interests OLA suffering
tpeople appealing to us to aid them in
securing freedom; after repeated appeals
/ to Spain to- grant her subjects in the
island larger measure Of liberty and
1relief from the tyranny of rapacious Of
ficials who plundered TO enrich them
selves: and having been treated by Spain
with contumely and scorn. we. waged war
against her, vanquished her on sea and
land and handed over Cuba to her right
full owners. The long time Of forbea.-
ance on. our part; the long period ~
bitter oppression of this people; the gal
/, liant but unavailtng struggle of that
brave band OF patriots the unparalleled
i atrocities Inflicted upon them by thei,
rulers, are all arguments justifying what
we did t. ,expel fhe .tYrant from Cuba
and establish a free government,
i Relief, must come too Congo by a con,
4 vention, of the nations OF. Europe if Leo.
pold does not alter his, regime If the
4 nations over there will not take the
initiatory steps, the United States is il
: honor bound to- bring about this con
= vention by every honora bic method pos
sible. It IS proper for sus to- persistent!
;" urge the nationsaito take. action b It. il
proper for us-and our duty-to begin
urging without UNNECESSARY delay. no
wholly because of the part we took il
providing q ruler for the Congo Ere
State, but in the@interest- of liberty an
righteousness Not because we are shu
; out from the benehtss OF trade with tina
= state, for that IS "a small matter and i
> this case unworthy Of thought, but be
' cause of the cries. Of d suffering peopl
, who. appeal Ito the Christian world 10
f help toM extrfcate them from the ruth
f less grasp ofsas tyra nty~Whe,zsc
: ing the atrocious inhumanities of hi
s hirelings," is looming the inhabitants t
utter destructiona5i5s ~ .r>s1f : e. :-... '
E That the United States can use goo
offices to bring about this conventio
e must be the. consensus of opinion. Ths
: we ought to act at once Is also til
v general belief. We believe that the voic
t Of this nation, heard III the councils
d the. powers ri Europe, Would Invite tt
n desired, concert. ,Thes powers would hay
to speak once only to settle the matte
= for Leopold could not resist He wou
: hear to them, He would not listen to ar
+. direct appeal from the United States ="
vi q Minneapolis. L. N Countryman.