New-York tribune., 1906-12-26
CONGO APPEAL TO ROOT.
We'll KmorOn Men Sign Petition for
Action on Reports.

Signed by DR.. Lyman Abbott and J. P Nor
gan. among others. letter was sent yesterday
10 Secretary Root OF the State Department call
ing his attention 20 conditions in the Congo Free
State and urging him on behalf OF the American
people to use the moral support OF the nation to
wipe out any abuses which may be found IN the
Congo Free State.
The letter was signed by the Rev. Dr. Lyman
Abbott. the Rev. DR.. Henry NIottet, the Rev DR..
WIlford I. Robbin& the Rev. DR.. George Will
lam Knox, the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Parkhurst
the Rev. DR.. John P. Peters, the Rev. Dr. William
p Richards. the Rev. DR.. Anson P. Atterbury,
the Rev. Percy s. Grant William Jay SchieffeIin.
Congressman William H Douglas, Charles A
Schieren, Spencer Trask, George Haven Put
nam, Everett P. Wheeler, Robert c. Ogden. J.
Pierpout Morgan. D. Willis James p Fulton
Cutting. J. Cleveland CaSy and ". J. Have-
meyer. The taxi 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 published. In
spite Of their natural desire TO give all possible
credit to their sovereign. the commissioners felt
constrained to report the existence OF measures
and practices OF dsgrsnt tnhumantty. Among
these measures and practices are the following:
ID The exaction OF a labor tax so oppressive
that many natives whom II falls have little
IL any freedom.
90 Appropriation Of land to such an extent
that the natives are practically prisoners within
their own territory.
90 The employment under the authority OF
the government sentries OF cruel, british
blacks. chosen from hostile tribes, who murder.
pillags and rape the people for whose protection
the government is evCwedly established.
"a The abuse Of the natives by white repre-
seutatives Of officially recognized companies.
(5) The binding Of little children to years
of labor at uncertain wages by contracts they
do not understand. and even more serious NAL
treatment OF children supposedly under the i'm
mediate care Of the government
90 Great injustice IN the administration
OF the courts. that the natives dread the
name OF Bona, the place where the judicial sys-
tenn iE centralized.
"a The sending out OF punitive expedi-
tions not for the purpose OF establishing peace
natives into paying a tax which, as admins
tered, even the commissioners regard as tnlu-
man
II is 10 be remembered that these are not
charges brought against the Congo government,
but findings Of the commission appointed by the
gate and report on the facts. Acting upon
these findings. a second commission. also sp-
pointed by the King has recommended measures
OF reform. No steps have been taken 10 adopt
them. There is no evidence that the Congo
government IS undertaking seriously TO remedy
these evils. The powers which created the
Congo government have clearly right TO call
that government TO account Ina srnuch as the
United States gave its moral support TO the
establishment OF the Congo government II Is
Justified in giving IT'S moral support 10 any un-
dertaking 10 secure conditions in the Congo that
sure YOU that for any measure you may adopt
IN order 70 give the powers such moral support
Of the United States, you VIII have our earnest
and urgert approval