Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-16
SURPLUS OF ExAGGERArlo,
King is Wise and Human. D.,
Declares the prelat.,
PROMPT TO REDRESS THE ,er,,.
Defense Made From No r,rs,,
tive but Simply as a Matte, =,
Fair Play.

BALTIMORE, Md. D.oo-0,
nal Gibbons. replying to -. -Os'di'
made by Rev. H. Grattan Guipro,. 'auOa
don. England. yesterday tina, -. :, -'0'
Is the power that has prevented ,o,-. UNA
by England and the United s,,,.., 1''"a
to the suppression Of the alleged s
committed against the nat,,o, Nes
Congo Free State, made the fo,low,, 'D'
ment tonight:
L nave observed In the paper, ,,,.
emissary OF the Congo Reform al
has made a personal attack on mo g.
attitude in defending King Leonola.
administration against those uni,s,,s-,
attacks. and I feel very grateful ~ ..
reverend gentlemen who were good g.,
on that occasion to get up and defend
note however that even my defender,
excused me on the grounds OF my isnor,,,.
of the question. My position on the r,,,..
has always been very clean. | have ~,
urally means of keeping in Close ,o,.,
with the situation through our mIssion,,;..
who are on the spot.
Great Deal of Exaggeration.
There has been a great anour, y, 49,
aggeration in those stories OF ma,aam,n.
istration. The king is wise as we'll a.,
humane ruler. and We hear through mis-
sionary sources that whenever cases a,
cruelty have occurred-as such things will
occur under every human government
king has been prompt to redress sucb
abuses and to punish the offenders His "a
cent decree granting the natives additional
lands and ameliorating the condition O,
the native laborer are added evidence OF hs
desire to do everything possible for his ma.
tive subjects. / understand that these new
laws are now being put in operation as
rapidly as possible throughout the COMO
state.
II fear this agitation against King Leo.
pold'S administration Is animated partly BIZ
religious jealousy and partly by CONNER.
cial rivalry. 1t Is to be hoped that the IN
dividuals who are carrying II on will not
be successful in their efforts To induce the
great powers of the earth to interfere In
the affairs of small nation. The Belgian
nation Is small, but the Belgians are a
brave people, and, as indicated by the &C.
ton of their parliament yesterday, they
stand solidly by their king in supporting his
African regime. In our schoolboy days the
most odious and contemplate creature We
used to encounter was the bully Who
played the tyrant toward the weak But
still more intolerable is a bullying nation
that picks a quarrel with feeble nation
with the base intent of Selling her posses
sions. playing the role that King Ahab en-
acted toward Naboth.
Government Will Be Informed
with the attitude of the American gov
eminent do not concern myself. As said
before have means of information through
the missionaries in the field. aad / have no
doubt the American government will 10
fully informed of the situation through Ia
consul general out there. who. | am told
has only recently arrived at the Congo and
has not yet had time TO send In report
He will no doubt soon set at rest these
false accusations against King Leopold
administration, which has brought civliZd'
ton and Christianity to central Africa
Il may add that in defending the Belgian
administration of the Congo | have no per-
sonal or selfish motives to subserye, but an
actuated solely by a sense Of justice and
fair pay. My zeal is quickeHed by the very
consideration that the assault Is made upon
a weaker power. l would Willingly make
the same defense in behalf OF Holland
Sweden, Denmark or any Of the weaker
powers if circumstances demanded.