THE TRUTH
ABOUT THE CONGO
[Illustration: CHIEF NDOMBE WITH FAMILY GROUP, IN HIS TOWN]
THE TRUTH
ABOUT THE CONGO
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
ARTICLES
BY
FREDERICK STARR
[Illustration]
CHICAGO
FORBES & COMPANY
1907
COPYRIGHT 1907
BY
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
TO
MANUEL GONZALES,
MY COMPANION AND PHOTOGRAPHER
UPON MY CONGO EXPEDITION
AND TO
OUR BLACK BOYS, MANOELI AND TUMBA
PREFACE
WHEN I returned to America, I had decided to express no opinion upon
the public and political questions of the Congo Free State. Having found
conditions there quite different from what I had expected, it was
impossible for me to state my actual impressions without danger of
antagonizing or offending some whom I valued as friends. Hence, on
landing at New York, I refused to say anything upon those matters to
several reporters who interviewed me. A little later, the _Chicago
Tribune_ asked me to write upon these subjects, urging the importance of
the whole matter to our nation, and leaving me entire freedom in
viewpoint and mode of treatment. In response to its request, I prepared
a series of articles, which appeared in successive issues from January
20 to February 3, 1907.
The articles were received with general interest, and many asked that
they should be reprinted in book form. I felt that they were of
momentary interest only, and as I have much other Congo matter for books
and pamphlets—more directly in the line of my professional work—I was
inclined not to reprint them. But I soon found myself the subject of
bitter attack. Malicious and untrue statements were made regarding me
and my motives. I have concluded, therefore, that it is best that my
articles should be accessible to all who are interested. What I wrote, I
am ready to defend. I am not ready to be judged from misquotations, or
condemned for what I never wrote. Hence this book.
I am not personally responsible for the title—_The Truth about the
Congo_. Although I believe all my statements are true, I should not have
selected that title for my articles. No man can say all that is true on
any subject, and I do not arrogate to myself a monopoly in
truth-telling, either about the Congo or any other topic. But after my
announcement under that heading, I decided to let it stand. I preferred
some less assertive title, but I am content. So I use the same title for
this book. The headlines of the articles, however, I have suppressed.
They were not of my preparation and did not adequately suggest the
matter or the treatment. The articles are reprinted with no changes
except corrections in spelling, punctuation, or mistaken words.
No man more desires the happiness and progress of the Congo natives than
do I. I know them pretty well. I am their friend; they are my friends. I
shall be glad if what I here present makes them and their cause better
known to thoughtful and sympathetic men and women, Mere emotion, however
violent, will not help them. Stubborn refusal to recognize and encourage
reforms, which have been seriously undertaken for their betterment, will
only harm them.