The daily sentinel., 1907-02-01
STAYING THE DEATH HAND.

in the Denver Post, which Is syndicat-
ed matter, being published simultane-
ously in n number of cities, devoted to
an attempt TO make il appear that
there never were any atrocities COM
mitted i'm the Congo and that all the
measures for punishment meted out
to the natives, are simply like the cor
rections of n ISlnd-hearted father to
his child.
The articles are by Prof, Frederick
Starr, professor of anthropOlogy, in
the University of Chicago. Prof.
Starr's articles seem to have been Sc
lccted for publication just at time
when there is tremendous agitation
In this country, over the inhuman and
barbarous conduct of the authorities
OF King Leopold, the nemesis Of the
great Congo region.
The last article we particularly de-
sire TO refer to. A unmber of articles
have appeared, all leading up to the
one published yesterday, which dealt
with the punishment of the natives
Prof. Starr, so far as we could CLEAN
from his deductions of the treatment
of the natives, must take the general
American public as very gulliblc
people. He is paternal, depracatoIy
and apologetic I'm his article.
He speaks of three methods of pun
ishment-the chain gang, the fiogging
and holding the native women as host
I H,.e
families bring to the state that for
which they are held, the commercial
products of the country.
The instrument of whipping is the
"chicotte." Ii rs made of from one
TO six strands of hippopotamus hide,
twisted together, which are laid ON
the bare backs of the natives for triv-
ial offenses, yet Prf. Starr, if we can
correctly interpret his language, and
we believe we can, after witnessing
many punishmcnts can see nothing
particularly brutal in thus whipping
the natives.
Then in the same strain he des-
cribes mow men and women are
chained together and made to per-
form service for their white masters.
With even greater complaisancc he
describes the capture of women and
how they are held, for their friends TO
redeem them by bringing in to the
state vast quantities of produce of the
country.
We have read several articles from
the pen of Prof. Starr. At first we
were at loss to understand their ma
ture, yet we hardly think we are any
more densc than the average man, hut
we think we see through them now.
II would doubtless he terrific here
sy upon the part of layman TO pre-
sumo to criticisc Prof. Starr. This
we do not do, but we do believe that
the articles are inspired for deep
purpose and that one has only to read
between the lines TO fully understand
their purport and the reason they are
written.
IL stands the butcher of the Congo.
Leopold to placate public opinion
right now and Leopold does not use
ordinary men and measures to do
things, when he starts out to do any
thing. IL would be catacIasm in the
life of Leopold and the government of
the Congo, to have the United States
attempt to interfere now. Therefore
with his interests aliinstaoninuup
with his secret agents In this country
and with wealth untold, he endeavors
TO mold public opinion through the
press and by securing men famous in
letters like Prof, Starr.
The articles by Prof Starr do not
have the true ring by any manner of
means. They may read entirely diff
fcrent TO other people, but we unhesi-
tatingly say that they read In the man
ner to us which we have described.
1t is to be hoped that they will not
stay the hand of this great free gov
ernmcnt in its desire TO uplift and in
terfere TO abolish the inhuman and
awful slaughter taking place every
day in that darkest country, under
the patronage and Mt the command
of n supposedly Christian Monarch.