New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-20
INGENIOUS PUNISHMENT.

The arrest OF the wife OF a defaulter is a par
ucularly ingenious method OF forcing him 10
discharge the obligations which the state I'm
poses. Putting aside considerations Of natural
affection. other reasons insure that the husband
VIII make any sacrifice 10 obtain his wifes re-
lease In addition 10 domestic duties. African
women do most of the work in cOrnheIds and
gardens. leaving their husbands free to hunt
fish. labor at some primitive craft or in Congo
territory. collect forest produce for the state.
mo CohgoleSe native, therefore. whose wife Is
on the chain," is practically threatened with
STARVATION. and readily accepts imprisonment
III preference 10 liberty under such conditions
Mere imprisonment is not, however very eff
caCiOuS as a punishment. To an african, Il Gov
RES no stigma 1t does not affect the self-respeCt
VI the prisoner or the esteem of his fellows. The
prisoner is. OF course put TO some form OF labor
put unless that labor entails greater applicG-
ti"l or energy than would be the collection of
the states impost II is no more disagreeabIe
than is liberty with the obligation of WORKING
Tor the state. II follows that such Dunisbr,eDf
TO he effectualS must he intensified by some Form
OF harsh treatment, such as overcrowding ex-
posture. starvation or cruelty.
Imprisonment of defauIterS moreover entails
a direct loss Of revenue 70 The state for Oh
vlously. prisoners cannot be sent into the forest
70 collect rubber. 1t is more profitable to punish
them In some way that will not affect their Ub
eftS To employ corporal punishment Is the
most obvious solution of this problem Within
IedsohabIe ana carefully restricted limits cor
pOral punishment is 1uStiflabe but unless rigOr-
OuslS Tes'rlcted is Fatally easy OF abuse. The
SSohSolese ofhcial who sentences man to be
1osged is practically absolute for he he bevorI
the reach OF public opinion, and his superiOrs If
appealed to by the poor wretch who has been
nogSed' VIII almost inevitably side with their
colleague. 1t Is, moreover. extremely unIiIxeI,
mat any native who has suffered Injustice viii
appeal. for to do this he would have to under
take Journey ON foot of possibly some hundreds
OF miles; and IN order to leave his district he
must first obtain the permission OF the OFFICIAL
whom he accuses.
Inc degrading work OF wringing an exorbi-
taht tax from a defenceless people develops all
the worst side OF an officials nature. Having
NO sympathy with them. he dlstrusts and de-
spses tnem and knowing their tendency to lie
VIII seldom listen TO any plea or defence Fall
ure to fulfil the fOrtnlghtly task ne CONSTITUTES
as an act OF resistance. Repeated failure exas-
perates him. for much OF his salary depends ON
tne amount OF produce which passes through
ms hands. Evaporation uncontrolled quickly
turns 10 rury, and he learns to find a brutal
pleasure IN exercising his tyrannical power
II the official who orders the lOgginop shows
ittie mercy still less will be exercised by the
flltiVe VINO administers It, The men who do
police work for the Congo Free State are for the
most part recruited from the most savage and
warlike tribes, and in all cases are EMPLOYED Far
from their homes among natives for whom thew
nave no tribal sympathy. In such a one the
savage instinct is gratifed by the task OF fog
ging Fellow creature. whose shriels only in
tensiry the zest with which he plies his blows
Tne Congo state regulations limit The amount
or Iashes which may legally be inflicted on a
oslauiter The restriction would have more
eject u the Official had not . direct psrsonsl