The Aberdeen weekly., 1911-03-17
Smart Yankees and Leopold

tation- He was minister to Belgturs
at the time of our Civil war. and foi
many years after. He was a very ac
tive. enterprising man, and had some
of the characteristic traits of the real
Yankee. If l remember correctly. he
came from Connecticut
Well, it was Henry l.. Sanford
your minister to Belgium said the
prince. who first persuaded King Leo
pold to attempt to exploit the riches OF
the Congo region in Africa The king
had learned to have great confidence
in Mr.. Sanford. and. i have been told
was an admirer of his earnest. pro
gressive business methods Perhaps
you have been told that King Leopold
is thought by business men to have
very great business ability
1T was. of course, greatly interest
ed" Mr.. Depew continued. 'fn this
revelation of the relation Henry L.
Stanford had towards the attempt OF
King Leopold TO promote or exploit
the vast riches. and especially the rub
Der industry of the Congo region.
suppose the prince observed my inter.
est, for he went on:
Il have been told that Leopold be
came SO enthusiastic over tina posi-
bilities of obtaining great wealth
from the exploration of the Csngo re
gion that he sank every penns of hiA
personal fortune IL 4he attenfat. II
have also been told that Mr.. Sanford
who did not risk a great deal. after
wards lost his fortune in a great land
development speculation in Florida
Whether the latter be true or not, I
DO not know. but have no reason
to doubt the statement made to me
that it was a typical American promo
ter. Mr.. Sanford. who persuaded King
Leopold first to venture into the Congo
region.
But that is not all. Leopold, hav
ing sunk practically all OF his personal
fortune in the Congo, was advised and
| even persuaded by another American
promoter to attempt a second explois
tation of the riches OF the Congo; l do
not recall the promoters name but
do remember well an incident connect
ed with this exploitation. which, as
you know, has resulted in making the
king a very rich man.
After this American promoter had
explained his plan for the second at.
tempt in the Congo region. and after
he had greatly excited Leopold by his
statement of the enormous wealth that
was in the Congo-especially in rub
ber-Leopold said:
'''"It will be necessary for us tc
raise a large amount of money IL we
are to undertake this work haven't
| the money, and we haven't the money
in Belgium. but knew where the
| The people OF France have great &C.
cumulations OF savings. and the way
| to tempt them to invest their savings
| in any company Is one which ! know
well.
1--we must have certificates OF
stock. or bonds. elaborately engraved
with fine. seductive pictures upon
them; and these must be brilliantly
! colored " we do this. then the French
people. when they see the certificates.
! will be strongly attracted to them.
Nothing tempts them like a beauti.
| fully engraved and highly colored Ger.
tificate 1 will see that this is done"
And King Leopold saw that thia
was DONE added the prince. with a
| twinkle in his eyes. and by means
OF those highly ornamental and seduc.
tive certificates much the greater part
! OF the money he needed for the exploi-
tation of the Congo was speedily OBJ
tanned in France"
| Copyright. 1910. by f. J. Edwards AL
Rights Reserved)