Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-12-25
Interesting letter FROM
THE CONGO.

The following is an extract Of a letter
from the Congo Free State, written by
DIR. w. M. Morrison, of Rockbridge
county, Va, who is now missionary
of the American Presbyterian Congo
Mission of Central Africa:
"The Kassi Company has been doing
badly recently. They are crushing the
Bakuba, a tribe of that territory, and
many of the Lulua villages are COM
planning also of the pressure on account
of the rubber.
| "Mr. shepherd and the English Con-
sui made trip into the Bakuba coun-
try and they report things in a deplor-
able state. have complained to the
Director of the Company Kassi, or the
Kassi Company, bat he denies every
thing and says we are only doing this
for spite. In the meantime the rubber
is rolling out of the country. The State
does nothing, of course, for the State
and the Kassi Company are one. Two
Stat' men are here now, a judge and
M. de Grumme. Some one has writ
ten home telling of NJ. de Grumme's
visit mere, that is at Luebo, in Febru-
ary, and of his selling slaves on the
beach, etc. The judge has come here
to investigate M. de Grumme is here
now catching people and sending them
back to Malanche, unless they can
prove their redemption. In fact, some
have to go that are not slaves at all.
They are working the 'cheferie' sys-
tenn on them. Some men are claimed
who slept three nights in Malanche. l
have, seven months ago, asked for the
chefferie system to be established here
just to protect the people, but nothing
has ever been done. The Kassi Com
pany is trying to fight the matter in
Europe, and in defense of themselves,
and to show that we are liars, they
quote letters received from our mission
aries, some written as far back as 1904
when there was no special oppression.
Now these letters are being published
all over the world and when we make
any protest these letter are produced.
The very fact that all of these letter |
have been so carefully preserved show
sinister purpose. Now that they
have gotten these testimonials of good |
81 araatar from, d;Horo,,t ,,,o,,,bor, ~
The Mission, they are proceeding to use
hem in defense eff themselves while the
1oor people are groaning under the
burden. The situation in the Bakuba
country is distressing. Not field of
'orn being planted; they must buy
from the Bakete; many
people are dying from exposure and
hunger The past year has witnessed
he system Of oppression put into full
peration. They seem to know that
'erhaps the days of the present regime
re mum bered, and are squeezing out
IL they can. Tons and tons of rubber
re leaving here. Now news comes
hat Belgium has taken over the Con-
o. Will matters improve? confess
am not very enthusiastic.
(Later, Oct. 13th.) "The investiga-
on of the judge amounted to nothing.
lie would not investigate the Compa-
y Kassi, only came to find out where
lie English Consul had gotten his in
and to try to catch him and
5 in some of our words. The Director
the Company Kassi and NJ. de
rumme are in the Bakuba country 1
Ow; of course they are finding moth
lg, for word had purposely been sent
head clearing out guns, etc. They are
j mad with US, but what are we to
D? The Bakuba are in a deplorable
ndition-threatened with famine
0 fields made aud not allowed to make :
n.y."
The quotations from letters, referred
above as coming from the mission
,ies, were detached from the context, :
I'D thereby used to make false i'm
ression as to the real statements of
lie letters. The letters were not quot
in toto as they should have been
J. MCC. =.
Staunton, Va, Dec. Is, '0S.