The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-29

testimony did the state more harm
than good. in other words, we Judge
from our reading Of the proceedings
that the State would have had a bet
ter chance ot conviction IL 1t had
not placed Orchard on the stand. The
introduction OF s,icll A fend put the
States attorneys on the defensive from
start to finish and gave Haywood's
attorney an opportunity which he
failed not TO utilize to display his
powers of invective Altogether, 1t
was one OF the most remarkable trials
OF history, and Will be remembered
among the celebrated cases OF our
criminal records There may have beef,
a miscarriage OF Justice III Hay"ood's
cast. but there are others yet to be
tried and 1t is to DO hoped that sooner
OF. later the man or men who were
responsible for the coWardly murder
of Governor steunenbtrE Will be con
victeu and punished as they deserve.
a----.--------------
t.EOpoLD's CONCESSIONS IN CONGo.
With the change OF hands II is to
be hoped that better government 10 In
store for the people OF the Congo Free
State According to recent agree.
n,ent Leopold Will soon yield his per-
scnnl sovereignty Of the extensive
province to the Belgian kingdom. AT
present the African state holds an
anomalous place, being merely a per.
;sonal dependency Of Leopolds and
having nothing to do With Belgium.
This condition has created obvious diff.
flculties in commercial relations. be.
cause 1t closed to foreign governments
the usual diplomatic channels OF inter-
course. For this reason America and
England have consistently favored the
eesslon of the province and the respon.
sibility for its administration to Bel
GUM.
Strong resentment has been aroused
In Europe and America BY the fright
full atrocities charged against Leopold
IN the conduct OF his affairs in tho
Congo Since first published BY MAj6t
1Lellldll, IepUllS VI lIluluaH ui1'
graceful cruelty have come. from many
other sources and With growing
strength. 1t is likely that Leopold's
weakened opposition to the annexa.
ton insisted on by the Belgian Par
lament is due to the vehemence OF
the attacks leveled at his African
administration and the increasing I'M
popularity ..nlong other powers OF
his position as private owner of the
province. For 1--WE months he has
Withstood the demand OF the Parlia-
lnent which assembled in December
last, firmly committed 20 the principle
CT annexation.
An agreement outlining terms of an
nexation was reached en- July 18TH
Between the Belgian and Congo gov
ernments. Fear OF foreign interven-
tion was no doubt a factor in Leo
polds concession.
How far this will actually cripple
his personal power over the Congo
Is hard to say. The terms Of the
treaty Of annexation will simply pro-
4 vide for the transfer to Belgium
4 of Leopold's sovereign rights and the
4 Congo assets end liabilities. Much vii
DEPEND on the form Of government,
installed in the African state. Speak
!. ing generally, the royalists among tht
Eelgians are In favor of autonomy
IN the colonial government, thereby
fleeing the adninistrat ton from re-
sponsibility to the Belgian Parlia.
; n1ent. II Leopold can secure this form
i Of government his loss BY the annexa-
ton apparently will be only in name.
This is the view OF the Liberals, who
Insist that the present abuses can only
be checked by making the Congo adj
| minstration directly answerable to
| the Parliament of Belgium. This con-
| ttnton seems sound. The annexation
! Will be useless unless 1t Is followed
| " direct supervision OF Congo affairs
| by the Belgian government
| a4@
! REVISE THE DINGLEY LAW.
n .xa