The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-01-18
WRONGS BURDEN
Stil Rests With Crushing Weight
Upon Congo People
PLEA FOR DEFINITE STEPS
Foreign Missions Board ASKS
President and Senate and kIng
OF Eng and to Do Something to
Anne. iorate Terrib e conditions

oil Eng anu 10 Do oohhC"S -
Anne. iorate Terrib Conditions
Philadelphia, Jan. 14.--At meeting
of the conference of the Foreign MIS-
sions Board of the United States ana
Canada, held in this city, 1t was ullahl-
mously agreed to forward to President
Roosevelt the United States SENATE
and King Edward an appeal on Dehali
of the stricken people of the congo
State. The appeal follows:
THE conference of the foreign HIS
sions boards of the United States ana
the Dominion of Canada would most
respectfully and earnestly bring to you
an appeal on behalf of the stricken peo-
pie of the Congo State. We do this IN
tie name of 40 missionary organlza-
tons whose work is prosecuted in all
sections of the world, and we are per-
suaSed that the petition interprets
faithfully the sentiment OF their con-
situency of upwards of 2O,OOO'OO0
Christian men and women. Weare not
forgetful that recognition has been
given by both governments TO interha-
tional duty in relation to this unhappy
people, but the heavy burden-of wrong
continues to rest with crushing weight
upon the Congo people and we recog'
nlze that the first definite step toward
inst international action has not yet
been taken.
1--WE speak with deep conviction con-
corning this issue, because we are init
mately associated with many residents
of the Congo State by whom the condi-
tons to which we refer have been dis
closed. We are constrained to accept
their testimony; we know that the earth
does not hold men Of more sensitive
honor or more self-sacrificing devotion.
But you will not need to be reminded
that other testimony than ours mas been
given to the character and the CREDIBLE
ity of these witnesses. A commission
selected by King Leopold himself mas
said of them and Of their fellow mis-
slonaries in the Congo State that they
constitute for the native the sole repre-
sentative of equity and justice. Or
their testimony, dreadful as it has been,
the commission has declared that they
found it to be supported by multitude
of witnesses and established by mass
of evidence and official reports
1.-The request which we, like the
great company of petitioners OF both
governments outside our constituency
are urging, is obviously fair TO all inter-
ests. since it asks only for such i'm
martial action as shall give authorita-
five revelation of actual facts and in
sure correction of such wrongs as shall
he disclosed We submit that the
simple issue thus presented involves
a primary test of national and interna-
tional honor, and that longer withhold
ing the manifestation of this measure
of international concern for these wards
of nations would leave upon all powers
responsible for it lasting reproach.
1--WE would earnestly urge that no
device of the ruler of the Congo State
shall be allowed to cloud the issue of
international responsibility for imMe-
date ascertainment of conditions ard
correction of wrongs. The issue, as you
are well aware, is not Of motive, but Of
fact, and the duty of guardianship
binding the powers to protection of the
people of the territory of the Congo
basin is Independent of political rela-
tons.
"Moreover, we would respectfully
urge our conviction that if the king is
trustee he cannot transfer his trust, ex-
cent by international sanction. If the
converting of an International confer
ence was important in the opening of
the Congo territory it would seem that
a conference for review of the issue in
all its phases is Indispensable for wise
and just dealing now.
"Ip the name of humanity, of interna-
tional Justice, of regard for the primal
rights of man. we would ask that you
will use the full power reposed in gov
ernments by the supreme ruler in the
interest of an immediate discharge by
the nations of their responsibility of
guardianship over the remnant of the
humble people who, a generation ago,
without choice of their own, were
brought out of their isolation into rela-
lions with the world of man and
states"