The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-07-11
THUIsspAY,t gULY. II. 1so7.

Congo Reform Movement. On, De-
cernber 10th thefNew York american
and syndicated papers began the pub
lication OF actual documentary cyl
dence' which Showed that Leopold
has been maintaining In The United
States a secret and highly-paid lob
by, the different members of which .
have haN the respective functions3ot
influencing the general public,
through the publication Of appar-
emily impartial books and ARTICLES,
Of moulding the opinion of literary
and educational groups, by means iof
lectures and .well-planned conyerSa-
tions, and or exerting pressure in =
Washington. The Anal bject of the
LOBBY, was to prevent any official az
PRESTON adverse, to- the Congo re-
gime. and when the chief lobbyist
reported to Leopold, at the close %of,
the flrst session of the outgoing Con-
~gress, that ON such adverse expres-
In Congo bonds was turned oyer TO
him. These regulations not only,
kept the word t'Congo" on evetyone's
tips for time, but they raised
storm Of public Indignation, WHICH
was satisfied only in g. small degree.
by thetperen1ptory dismissal OF an
implicated seAatortaH secretary, aud
the Introduction by SENATOR Eatter-
son Of a resolution calling Tor an
official Investigation, The press was
unanimous In regarding the expose
as showing up one Of the worst di-
plomattc scandals Of recent years.
Nevertheless no official Investigation
has been made, and Senator Pattar-
sons resolution still lies on the table
1T is difficult to believe, however,
that SNCh rnof1OHc will ho tolocotAd
and that the, American public Will
not insist that they be rooted out.
But, apart from any official effects,
the Congo lobby revelations have
worked immeasurables' injury to the
Leopoldtan regime by showing that
1T cannot be adequately. defended in
the open, without resource to secret
and Illicit methods, The news of
the expose swiftly spread Though
out Europe, where 1t has additional
interest as typifying q state OF AFFAIRS
which Is believed to exist In every
capital In Belgium 1T has created
tremendous stir, and it Is signif-
cant that the gravity Of the exposures
Belgium newspaper, "Le Patriotic"
!, The introduction Of Senator LODI
ge's resolution. the action Of our
government In communicating with
Great Britain, and the sensation
created by the discovery OF 'Leopold's
American lobby, all. seemed to prom
Use a speedy taking upI Of the Congo
case. AT. this point. however, the In
ternat1onal situation was complicat-
ed by developments in Belgium. -.
Question OF Belgium Annexation
The debate last spring in the Bel
glum House of Representatives., al
ready mentioned, had been adjourn
ed with an expectation that It would
be resumed again In the autumn, I'm
der the force Of pressure from the
party fighting for Congo reform. This
courtesy" are being discussed by. the
powers. the helpless Congo natives
are still having their life-b.ood
crushed out by Leopold's herclless
rubber machine. .. - .,s.-.
Will the United States Take the Lead
Under these circumstances what
attitude will the United States as
sumo? VIII the United States con-
ttnue In a purely passive attitude
holding herself ready to respond to
oeVrtures from Great Britain or any
other power, but meanwhile permit
ting without protest all delays, and
procrastinations and countenanclng
possible 1llusOry annexation of the
Congo to Belgium? Or will the Unit
red States, waving in the name of
wroflged humanity certain minor
technicalities~ Of international proceed
ure. advance to the lead and appeal
to the other powers to heal "the open
sore OF the world?" The senates res
olut4on, as adopted unanimously on
February 18th, Gonfers upon the
president authority to take decisive
action in the Congo case The Unit
ed States, moreover, would possess
this tremendous advantage In secur-
ing favorable response from the
other powers,-that having no Afri-
| can possessions she could not be sus-
pected of other than the purest hui
manitarian motives. There is every
reason for believing that/a word from
the United States at the present time
would be effective in securing inter
national action. Will that word be
spoken? The destiny of fifteen mil:
non Wronged and helpless human be-
ings Is at stake. :,