Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-17


conditions: though the document Is
of very limited dimensions, 1t affords
a striking confirmation of all that the
Congo Reformers' have alleged. IL
will no longer be possible to deny the
existence of legalized hostage taking;
of mutilation by black soldiery; OF the
ruin of villages and wholesale muir
ders, the only object of which was, and
is still. the extorting of large auanti-
ties of rubber Rubber liz, of course,
the main cause of the slave trade In
the Congo. This commodity must be
delivered In ever increasing quanti-
ties, otherwise there is trouble from
Brussels
When the men at Brussels send no.
tice OF dissatisfaction, the white agents
down in the Congo must put their
deputies to greater work to get results
And to get rubber output satisfac-
tory to the powers that be. the natives
have to be tcrrorized. There are three
ways In which this is done; by fog
ging native that fails to bring In
the required amount; by capturing and
keeping hostages; by raiding a village
and making use of arms provided by
the white man, the torture accompany
ing supplied by the savage.
The London Graphic, which We have
already quoted, does not, as rule, go
in for sensational illustrations; but
the atrocities now going on In the
s.fe s.l,n ar4o so.
general IL is deemed necessary cru
SADIE be started that the whole civilized
world learn what the defenseless ma
tives are suffering, that the whole civ
ilized world make a protest the Bad
Old Man" shall have to heed.
In the accompanying Illustration we
are shown scene 1t has been proven
beyond doubt is of common occur
renee. The white man has come to
get his toll of rubber. The natives
come forward with their several bas-
kets, and each basket is carefully
three-quarters pounds, the man is
lucky, and he is given some trite--
perhaps a bit of salt, belt, yard of
calico. The unfortunate whose rubber
shows underweight is laid hold on.
When all the rubber has been weighed,
forward. One by one they are logged
and admonished to do better when
they bring the next fortnight's toll.
Mutilation is means employed fire.
Quently, as is attested by the number
of wretched beings that go about with
two hands cut OF, the two feet. When
the commission Of inquiry was on the
Congo there was brought forward by
relatives of the victims sorrowful
array of cruelty mutilated persons.
Here is one case presented to the COM
mission: BOAT, wife of Lomboto, Of
Ekerongo, was punished by the sentry
Ikloondo In this way: Her foot was
cut on and she was further beaten
with gun on her side, which caused
an enormous tumor." These details
are revolving. but the time has come
for them to be considered. time the
public realize the full enormity OF the
crimes committed In the name OF
commerce. Let US recall the location
of this state under the sovereignty OF
Leopold. 1t lies little south Of Gen.
trail Africa. all but the narrowest strip
is interior; its boundary on the north
is French Congo and the Egyptian
Soudan; on the east lie British East
Africa, German East Africa and
Northern Rhodesia. on the south,
Northern Rhodesia and Portuguese
West Africa; on the west, Portuguese
West Africa, the Atlantic and French
Congo.
In the summer of 1903 Mr.. Roger
Easement, British consul. made in
vestigation of conditions In the Upper
Congo, and result of his investiga-
lions was sent Lord Lansdowne, the
report perhaps the most damning In
dictment ever made against the adj
ministration of civilized govern
ment." Lord Lansdowne urged an in
ternational inquiry. Leopold appoint
ed commission of his own. The
commission, contrary to expectation,
carried on most careful investigation,
and has given report OF a most peculiar
administration"
CHRISTOPHER WEBSTER.