Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-08
THE CONGO ATROCITIES.

NE Affairs OF the Congo Free Stale.
The most notable feature OF 1t Is per-
haps, an article n which Il Is main
tanned that me torture Of natives and
other unspeakable abuses continue UNI
hbaied. notwithstanding the promises Of
reform that have been made hy those
responsible for tho government Of that
unfortunate part Of the world
The atrocities referred to are almost
too horrible for description A Canadian
missionary, Mr. c., l.. Raikes, when he
returned from the Congo made this
statement: III / were TO tell Of half
tho nendsh sights ! have witnessed
there. no one would believe me. . .
Tho torturcs Of the inQuisltion sound
like child play IN comparison Mr..
Raikcs further stated that. slaves can
be bought az Luebo al $40 a head, and
q, this price one can purchase a whole
army. After the inhabitants have been
disposed Of the town Is burned, the
hands Of those killed being taken back
20 the chief rubber collector al Mareno,
10 show that the work has been proper
" done"
AR. Whtcsidc an English missions
ary on his return from the Upper Con-
ro. gave similar reports lie said In
part while / was holding a service
IN the town at which some Of the arm-
% sentinels were present. some OF the
people called out save us from rub
ber and az the conclusion. when the
sentrles had gone. they pleaded with us
not 20 leave them. They also begged
us 10 70 into the forest with them. and
there they would show ms some Of the
brutaites 20 which they were subject
Cd by disluterring tho bodies Of their
people who had been murdered by the
sentrles" MI Whiicside said that this
place was burned to the ground, prob
ably as a punishment OF the natives
who had appealed 10 him for aid
against their oppressors
The people are driven into the forests
20 collect rubber and they are COM
PEELED TO work for twenty-four con-
tinuous days. a. the end OF that period
they are permitted four days rest, and
then they are again driven on for an
other twenty-four days OF slavery. II
they fan 10 collect the quantity Of rub
Der they are expected TO bring IN. they
arc tortured and even killed Mr..
Whltcslde relates that one Of the meth
DDS Of punishment is Tor the sentries to
lie the natives TO a stake and put them
10 death by means Of lighted gum plac-
ed on their heads. Sometimes they are
numerically beaten and then taken to
the top OF high platform, where they
are tied down, with the sun shining full
IN their faces. and In that position they
are left until relatives bring the nee
essary amount Of rubber for their re-
demDtion.
King Leopold. u seems. has assumed
personally the responsibility FOR the
terrible crimes committed IN that
state. Ills position is that this vast
country. comprising 100000 square
miles. s. bis personal property The
powers. he admits. surrounded the new
state with their good VII. hut none OF
them he asserts. possesses any right Of
Intervention. The acc OF Berlin ht
further says, adopted few general
principles relating 10 the basin % ~,
Congo. But these principles apply 10
equal manner 10 an the states haying
possessions On the conventional basin
Even Belgium. according 10 The king
possesses no rights IN the Congo apart
from those which will come to her iron
him personally This IS a most e1iraor
binary doctrine IL 10 were true IN,
King ought 20 bc held personally re-
sponslble for the atrocities committed
as II De were a pirate or an outlaw
because Of the infinite harm done .,
The cause of civilization through such
unspeakabe acts Of harbtrlty.
but the powers are certainly inter
csted, TO very large extent. in the al
fairs complained o. Tho Congo Ere
State is their creation. Il resulted from
the opening Of Central Africa through
the explorations o. Henry N. Stanley
An association was formed under th
Leadership Of King Leopold ot Belgium
for further exploration and occupation
of the country 10 was that association
that received recognition by ,he power
through professions oi philanthropy
and desire to promote uuresuctr
commerce for all nations Tile U.ite
states government uas among ih
FIRST 60 accord tle recognition ashs
Tor. This was the 2-nl OF April 1854
a Few months later au ut0natioua
conference OF fourteen powers con
vencd 90 Berlin ior consideration o
problems n the congo territory Tn
association received recognition b.
Great Britain, liaIy Austria-Hmglr
and other powers. and it is evident tna
the King of Bagln became only th
representative OK these powers an
80 responsible TO them Tor the cauyln
out Of ne conditions upon which racog
milton uas received. Those con
diuons being go fogrntly VIOLATED
another international congress voul
seem 70 be- in order Tor the purpos
~ placing ne supervision o. The Cons
affairs in other aud moro truuworth
hands a precedent ior such gather
iag Is presontel Boo the iutsrnatloni
conference that convened at Brusscll
November o. 1852 Cor iho purpose ,
devlslug measures Dor che upprsslo
Of ihe slave trade
The conditions preienied in the Con