New-York tribune., 1906-12-19
FOR CONGO ACTION.
DR.. Lyman abbott and Robert C.
Ogden Join in Appeal.

The Peoples Institute. which meets in Cooper
Union resolved itself last night into meet
| ing in behalf Of the Congo Free State and after
listening to several thrilling speeches and several
letters passed resolutions by rising vote calling
on President Roosevelt to interfere President
Mckinley did in Cuba
DR.. Charles Sprague Smith, who usually pre-
sides at the meetings of the institute. gave way
for the night to the Rev. DR.. John p. Peters.
Mark Twain expected to be ct the meeting
but through an oversight he had not been invited
The Rev. DIR. Lyman Abbott and Robert c. Ogden
sent letters of regret
DR.. Abbotts letter follows:
Another engagement makes It impossible for me
night TO join with them in protest against the
Congo atrocities The conditions that nave been
they have appeared to be incredible. They are
by e y c of Of b congo
ernnlent, whose report certainly cannot be disre-
m The o sse @
first an awakened public opinion through some Of
world. 1t is sincerely to be hoped that our own
It is certain that if su an m EXPRESSION fs is made by
the United States. which has some degree of moral
termed the Congo Free State, it will not be wholly
without effect
Mr. Ogden wrote as follows;
The alleged barbarities In the Congo Free State
Thoroughly out of harmony with the Christian
civilization OF the present age as to cast doubt
10 have entirely confirmed the statements
that State under the authority Of King Leopold Of
Belglum II would therefore seem that the entire
the agreement between his government and the
authorities of other civilized nations demands the
maintenance of the material and moral wellbeing
of the native people, the time has arrived when the
manity against the prevailing policy ana that
American diplomacy should find some means, in
suffering Africans may be relieved, the victims Of
past barbarity SO far as possible indemnfed and
1t would seem to be entirely plain that our gov
ernnent has responsibility this matter and that
public opinion, without distinction of creed or
Except that sane and reasonable. action will
marx the proceedings or your meeting, oeslre
thus TO express my sympathy with the cause.
Besides Dr. Peters and DR.. Smith, the speakers
the Rev. H. Grattan Guinness and the Rev.
Everett d. Burr. DR.. Guinness has been in charge
he said last night, of general missionary work for
the last twenty-five years. General Ballngton
Booth of the Volunteers of America was present,
but did not speak
Il see that Mark Twain has talked about the
atrocities I'm the Congo Free State" said DR..
Guinness 1T is because know about the state
of affairs out there that 1 here tonight.
can only hint to you-because there Is a mixed
audience hereof what I have seen and come In
contact with. If l TO tell you the whole
dreadful story you would not believe me- and yet
I would be telling only part of the truth. l have
been instrumental in sending to that benighted
region more than one hundred and fifty mission
aries
Speaking of the cruelties inflicted on the natives
DR.. Guinness said: Il woman hogged to
death because her husband had not brought In
rubber enough to satisfy the agent of King
Leopolds rubber company
DR. Burr recited In detail the reason why the
United States was justified in interfering In the
matter. He quoted at great length the proceed
ings of the International Conference at Brussels
in 1SS9-90 The United States he said. by partici-
pating in the Brussels well as the Berlin con-
ference of 1884 So had bound itself to protect or
certainly intercede for this benighted country