January 29, 1907.
WHAT has the Congo Free State done during its twenty-two
years—almost—of existence?
It has taken possession of a vast area of land, 800,000 square miles in
extent, and dominated it. It has most skillfully developed a mighty
waterway. We are already familiar with the simple and original method of
development which has been and is being pursued. We have already called
attention to the fact that, notwithstanding interruption to navigation
here and there in the Congo and its larger tributaries, there are long
stretches of navigable water above the obstacles. The plan of
utilization and development has been to occupy directly the natural
stretches of navigable water and to get around the cataracts by the
shortest railroad lines possible. This has been done already at two
points, and will be done at others in the near future. It is the most
economical manner of developing a way of penetration into the great area
to be developed and exploited.
It has continuously carried on geographical explorations by which the
world’s knowledge of African geography has been profoundly increased. We
have already called attention to the fact that during the eight years
when the A. I. A. was in existence, Belgium equipped and maintained six
expeditions; during the same period France maintained but two, Germany
one, and England none. In other words, Belgium did more for geographic
science during that time than the other three great nations combined.
It has put an end to inter-tribal wars, to execution of slaves at
funerals and festal occasions, and to cannibalism in all those districts
to which its actual authority extends. It is understood, of course, that
twenty years is a short time for the penetration of the state’s
authority into remote parts of its territory. There are still
inter-tribal wars in remote parts of the Congo Free State; executions
and the eating of human flesh are no doubt still common in districts
which have but little felt the influence of the white ruler. With the
extension of the definite power of the state into these remoter
sections, these evils will disappear as they have disappeared in the
more accessible portions of the country.
It has developed a native army which is available in case of attack upon
the integrity of the state, and which serves as a policing party within
its territory. In the first days of the state’s history its soldiery was
drawn from the Zanzibar district, and to a less degree from the English
possessions along the western coast of Africa. It soon was realized that
from every point of view this condition was undesirable. Between the
foreign soldiery and the native people there were no bonds of common
interest. No national feeling or spirit could develop among them. From
the point of view of expense the foreign soldier was extremely costly.
For these different reasons the state early developed the idea of an
army made of Congo natives. To-day there are but few foreign soldiers in
the public force.
If there is ever to be a real nation in the Congo district there must
develop in some way a feeling of unity of blood and interests among the
people. In tribal life each tribe is absorbed in its own
interests—petty, of course—and looks upon all other tribes as enemies.
Many of the tribes were insignificant in number and in the area which
they occupied. Nothing but an outside influence can unite into one
useful whole such a multitude of petty, distrustful, hostile groups of
men. In the public force there are soldiers from almost every tribe
within the Congo. At the great training camps men are brought together
who speak different languages, have different customs, and come from
widely separated areas. Under the military discipline, these men are
brought into close and long continued relations. They must accommodate
themselves to one another. They must respect each other’s ways of
thought and doing. At the end of his term of service the soldier goes
out necessarily broadened in his ideas, necessarily less prejudiced and
more tolerant. The army is the most important influence toward arousing
national existence.
It has conducted many interesting experiments and researches along
scientific lines. While these had frequently practical ends, they were
in themselves worth doing, and their beneficent results are not confined
to the Congo. Thus, at Leopoldville there is a well-equipped
bacteriological institute for the study of tropical diseases. Naturally,
the most of its attention up to the present has been given to the
subject of sleeping-sickness.
The experiments upon the utilization of the African elephant and the
zebra have general interest; if they fail, the warning may be useful; if
they succeed, their results will be by no means confined to the Congo
Free State. At Eala is a botanical garden creditably devised and well
conducted. Six hundred species of plants are there in cultivation,
something more than half of them being foreign species. There
experiments are being made upon a broad scale to discover the uses of
native plants and the possibility of cultivating them to advantage.
Forty species of African plants yield rubber; those the product of which
is of a quality to warrant experimenting, are here being cultivated with
reference to ascertaining their value in plantations. Foreign rubber
producers, coffees from different portions of the globe, medicinal
plants, dye and other useful plants are being tested to find out how
they flourish in Congo.
Nor is the interest of the Congo Free State in scientific investigations
limited to its own enterprises. Some time ago a British commission,
consisting of three specialists in tropical medicines, visited the Congo
with the purpose of investigating the sleeping-sickness. Not only were
they given every facility for their investigation, but after they
returned to England the total expenses of their expedition were returned
with the compliments of the State government in recognition of the
general value and utility of their investigations. Individual
investigators and expeditions of a scientific character within the Congo
State always have found the government interested in furthering and
aiding their studies.
It has developed a significant and growing section of the world’s
commerce. When Stanley came down the Congo, the value of the exports
from that region was so small that it might be neglected. To-day the
Congo furnishes the world with ivory and supplies a most significant
portion of the rubber which is used. To-day Antwerp is the greatest
market for these two products. That Liverpool should lose in relative
importance in the matter of West African trade is no doubt hard for
Englishmen. But the world gains by having several great trading centers
in place of one.
It has checked the extension of the Arab influence with all its horrors.
To one who reads Stanley’s description this means much. With this
checking, the foreign slave trade ceased. Do not misunderstand me. There
was much admirable in the Arab culture. There is no question that the
practical men, whose views we always keep in mind, and to whom we make
our argument, would approve the substitution of it or the barbarism that
existed before. But it is certain that it stood in the way of European
influence; that it came into conflict with European ideas, and if it
were desirable that these should ultimately prevail, the Arab life and
culture must disappear.
We might, of course, continue and extend our list of the achievements of
the Congo Free State. We have said enough, however, to show that it has
done much toward carrying out its promise to civilize and modify the
native population in the direction of our own ideals. Even the bitter
enemies of the Free State government will admit all this, and more. But
they claim that all the credit of it disappears in view of the
atrocities, the cruelties, and horrors connected with its own
administration.
Atrocities no doubt exist; they have existed; they will exist. They are
ever present in cases where a population of natives is exploited by an
active and aggressive “higher race.” The process of elevating natives,
of making them over in new pattern, is never a happy one for the native.
The wrenching of old ties, the destruction of old ideals, the replacing
of an ancient life by one different in every detail, is a painful thing.
I deplore atrocities, but I have often thought that, if I were a member
of a race that was being improved by outside influences, I would rather
they should kill me outright with bullet or with knife than subject me
to the suffering of years in molding me to new ideas. In other words, I
sometimes feel that flagrant outrage is less painful to the victim than
well-meant direction, teaching, and elevation to their object.
Let us turn, however, to the whole subject of atrocities.