The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-02-21
! REVIEW I.
OF Current Events
The United States ON Record
Anent the Congo Atroci-
ties---Lincoln Dinners of
Great Interest "
The United States on Record,

~ oIolC, especially us con-
doned by King l. eopold of Belgium,
when 1t can be proven that such afro.
cities have been committed, or, at the
present time, are being committed.
Ih1s provision was added because
Leopold and his minister at Washing
ton insist that the Congo Free States,
instead of being the scene of death
and destruction, is but little lower
than the heavens, Others. Of course.
know better, but there are certain dip
lomatic bounds over which one govern
ment dare not go, lest another be Of
Tended. The New York Evening Post
last Saturday, commenting upon the
pas sage Of the resolution, remarked
that 1t Is rather tncongruous for this
government to be planning to !ebuke
another government for crimes, when
1t stands idly by while men and wo.
men are burned and lynched. Yet. the
Post hastens to say, it was better to
have gone on record in this way, for It
will teach the world that the. United
States believes in the highest stand
ards although now. and then it may
fall short Of them. -,.. - --... ~ -,
The Belgium Minister Speaks.
1T Is interesting to read what Baron
Moncieur, the Belgium Minister at
Washington, has to say about condi-
t1ons> In the Congo Free State, with
the memory Of thousands OF natives
brutally put to death because they are
black, and brave, rising before him.
Last Saturday the Baron said: -
do not feel at liberty to comment
OH American legislation. Moreover,
the resolution does not seem specially
to AFFECT Belgian interests or the Con-
go Free State, but seeks to ameliorate
the condition of the inhabitants of the
Congo basin, which Includes posses--
/ IONS Of England, France, Germany
and Portugal as we'll as the Congo
State.
mo one has done more than King
Leopold to ciyilize and uplift the in
habitants OF Central Africa and 40
one will sympatie more fully with
every effort undertaken, with proper
regard for treaty stipulations and SOW
ere1gn rights, to improve, civilie and
Christianize the Negro.
81 observe that the resolution stipu-
lates that no step shall be taken uniess
the charges as to the conditions in the
Congo basin be proved to be true AS
far as the Congo Free State is con-
cerned, it is evident that there has
been systematic propaganda Of mis-
representation. The reports Of i'm
partial travellers and scientists, such
as those of Prof. Starr of the Univer-
sity of Chicago, recently published in
the daily papers, show that the stu.
alton in the Congo Free State is en-.
tirely different from the false picture
given Of it by certain Interested par
ties who wish to deprive King Leopold
of his African territory and the Bel
gian people Of their inheritance. No
doubt these impartial opinions will In
due time be confirmed through the off,
cial channel Of the American consular
officers"
Impartial Records
The Baron wakes eloquent over the
impartial records Of wnat King Leo
pold has accomplished in Belgium
West Africa. There are other "impar.
ttal records" that are impartial, and
their impartiality speaks like trumpet
tones against the shameless inYamy of
the Belgium government practised
upon the helpless, but rallying natives
or Africa, who have been literally dis
memtered for sport; their ears used
as shot-holes and their ribs for drum
sticks. Henry o|evinson, the most die
tinguiSh writer and traveller Of the
London Press, long ago journeyed to
West Africa and recorded against
Leopold what Is the most beastly and
shocking conduct civilization knows
any thing about In O first-handed way.
1T stands to reason that there must
have been going on in Belgium Africa
for some time against every rule of
civilized organism, else the cry against
Leopold would not have been so long
and loud.
N,,f F<>,. Ii.
pecially against modern Croesus;
governments don't get excited when
another government exercises over
foreign territory anything like q, re-
spectacle reign-do men beg resolu-
tions against the United States for
subjugating' the Philippines? The
difference in Belgium's occupation and
subjection Of portion Of Africa and
the occupancy and subsection Of the
Philippines by the United States is
both in kind and degree, and yet
with q very great deal Of reason be-
hind them men rise up and inquire.
Why do we stay beyond the seas
against the protest Of thoae with whom
Leopold about as long Us it could
knowing that a just God looked down
upon them. The wonder iS, not that
the United States Senate agreed to
join with the nations Of the earth In
protesting against further slaughter
In Belgium's black capital and round
about, but that - did not weep a
fountain Of tears for it's shameful ne
gleCt Of tho:e of their own country,
Who have been beaten and manned
and hanged and burned BECAUSE the
sun kissed them fret.
Lincoln Dinners.
Truly Lincoln Is Americas Charac-
ter. His birthday has become the Ma
tional Day. Washington is still
lovely figure, and his cherry tree fB
yff fn, h. II Il 4