The Washington herald., 1906-12-10
LEOPOLD IS SCATHED
Rev. Johnson Holds King
ReSpOnSiblefOr Murder.
CALLS HIM HUMAN MONSTER
Admits, However. He Has Never Wis
tied Congo State-EIarOn MOncheur,
Believe story - Consul General
WhiteIey Utterly Refutes Charges.

DIR. Herbert Johnson yesterday brand
ed King Leopold Of Belgium, and sover-
eign of the Congo Free state. a human
monster" and directly accused him Of
the most unspeakable atrocities and muir
ders, committed not only with his knowl-
edge. but by his command, in the re-
gions of the vast stretch of country placed
under his protection and guidance with
the consent Of all the powers.
Rev Mr.. Johnson was formerly a Bos-
ton clergyman. but is now travelling and
speaking in the interests of the Congo
Reform Association, It was at the yes
per service held in Andrew Rankin
Chapel, Howard University. yesterday
afternoon before an audience Of about
800 students of the institution and a
score Of white people that he made his
charges against Leopold
DR.. Johnson, in terms of seriousness.
called upon each of the audience to send
a letter to Secretary Root and request
him TO use the influence of the United
States and his own influence with other
countries to bring about cessation Of
conditions as they now exist in the Congo
Free State.
Has Never Visited Country.
The speaker admitted that he had based
his opinions and arguments leading to his
conviction as 10 the state of affairs in
the Congo on the testimony of others;
that he himself had never visited the
scene Of the atrocities as described by
him.
some people thought was crazy" said
the speaker. when I first started out on
this crusade. My stories Of what actually
happened in the Congo sounded so in
credible as to stagger the Imagination, and
they were almost past belief" DR.. john
son exhibited heavy leather strip whip,
which he said had been used. not only on
the backs of men, but women and chill
dren. by the Kings soldiers.
What has been the attitude of Leopold
toward the eviidoers," asked the speaker.
HAS he ever brought them to the bar of
justce2 1 can only say that HaEstTOm.
the Kings COmmandant in The Free State.
who had charge of the Kings interests
there. has been promoted since the report
which charged him with the most revolt
ing crimes was made by commits
sion appointed by King Leopold to inves-
tgate matters.
Edicts Not Compulsory.
Since the carrying out of the Kings
edict is Ii the hands of men who have
committed murders in the past. and since
the edict is not compulsory, but left to
their own discretion, we cannot expect
any good results therefrom.
we would surely become interested in
the treatment those unfortunate people
are subjected TO and protest against it if
they were friends or relatives of ours, or
even If we had money invested in the
land Shame on YOU and me and all
Americans for standing by idly, Shame
on you and me and all Americans for not
trying TO help, for not even protesting
aEainSJ the greatest wrongs that history
ever knew.
The only man who was ever punished
il connection with Congo affairs was the
missionary. Stannard who had the cour-
age TO speak out against the King who
had the courage 10 tell the truth about
the Congo
Prohibits Discussion of Action.
since S-annard spoke. Leopold has
passed an edict which makes it crime
punishable with five years Imprisonment
for any person to discuss in an umfavor-
able light matters pertaining to his Afrt-
can possessions The effect of this law
viii be that we won't hear any more cries
of wrongs committed in that dark region;
the voice Of the missionary viii be hush
ed forever unless we do something TO do
away with that injustice.
james GustavUs Whiteley. Of Balti-
more, viii tell the press of the schools.
churches. hospitals and other beneficial
institutions erected in the Congo by King
Leopold, and the great benefit he has
thereby bestowed on humanity in the
name Of Christianity. I say these stories /
are golden dreams Of delusion."