It was my first intention to add a chapter on the results of the Congo
Free State’s régime. I refrain, however, from doing so, but desire to
touch upon the subject in a few short paragraphs. The charges brought
against the Congo Free State during recent years have, unfortunately for
the natives, been proved too true. More than that, they were worse than
could ever be published in the daily Press, for no self-respecting
editor could, or would, have printed in his paper the outrageous and
abominable details that were brought to light by those who were living
in the midst of them.
We hope, and we trust not in vain, that by the accession of King Albert
and his gracious consort, Queen Elizabeth, to the throne of Belgium a
better day is dawning for the poor, oppressed and downtrodden natives of
the Congo; and the news that has come to us from the reformed part of
the Congo indicates greatly improved conditions.
It is tacitly understood just now that we should give the Belgian State
an opportunity of carrying out its reforms; and although the agitation
is not being prosecuted with its former activity, that does not mean
that we are to relax our former vigilance, nor shall we do so until the
natives enjoy those rights which are their proper heritage in their own
country.
We missionaries are neither ashamed nor repentant, and never will be, of
the humanitarian part we played in bringing to light the enormities that
came to our notice. We had given up home, the comforts of civilization
and, rightly or wrongly, we had devoted our lives to the amelioration of
the natives, and we could not as men, as Englishmen, as Christian men,
stand by and see those natives, for whom we had given up all, slowly
oppressed to death for the sake of a clique of men in Europe who were in
a hurry to get rich.
I was among the first to raise my voice against the horrible conditions
that prevailed until recently in many parts of the Congo, and my mode of
procedure was this: I sent my letter of protest, first to the
“Commissaire” of my district; if no investigation into the charges was
made, then I forwarded a copy of the letter to the Governor-General at
Boma, and then, if after waiting the necessary length of time there was
neither inquiry nor redress, the letter, with all particulars, was
posted to Mr. Morel for publication in the English Press as the last
resort. The State itself forced us to appeal to the public.
The Commission of Inquiry selected by King Leopold himself exonerated us
from all blame and thanked us for the part we had taken in the
agitation, for on investigation we were able to prove to the very hilt
every charge we had brought against the administration of the now
defunct Congo Free State. It is too late in the day for travellers to
deny that atrocities were committed because natives do not talk to them
about such things. Let such travellers thoroughly learn the language of
the people and gain their confidence and then listen to their story.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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