What is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle referring to when he writes, "There have been massacres of populations like that of the South Americans by the Spaniards

icon
Related questions
Question
What is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle referring
to when he writes, "There have been
There are many of us in England who consider the crime which has been wrought in the Congo
lands by King Leopold of Belgium and his followers to be the greatest which has ever been known
massacres of populations like that of
the South Americans by the Spaniards
[.)"
in human annals. [..] There have been massacres of populations like that of the South Americans-by
the Spaniards [..]
I am convinced that the reason why public opinion has not been more sensitive upon the question
of the Congo Free State, is that the terrible story has not been brought thoroughly home to the
people[.]
Should he, after reading it, desire to help in the work of forcing this question to the front, he can do
so in several ways. He can join the Congo Reform Association (Granville House, Arundel Street, W.
C). He can write to his local member and aid in getting up local meetings to ventilate the question.
Finally, he can pass this book on and purchase other copies, for any profits will be used in setting
the facts before the French and German public [...]
Mr. Murphy [an American missionary] says: "The rubber question is accountable for most of the
horrors perpetrated in the Congo. It has reduced the people to a state of utter despair. Each town
in the district is forced to bring a certain quantity to the headquarters of the Commissary every
Sunday. It is collected by force; the soldiers drive the people into the bush; if they will not go they
are shot down, their left hands being cut off and taken as trophies to the Commissary. The soldiers
do not care whom they shoot down, and they most often shoot poor, helpless women and
harmless children. These hands – the hands of men, women and children – are placed in rows
before the Commissary, who counts them to see the soldiers have not wasted the cartridges. The
Commissary is paid a commission of about a penny per pound upon all the rubber he gets; it is,
therefore, to his interest to get as much as he can."
Transcribed Image Text:What is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle referring to when he writes, "There have been There are many of us in England who consider the crime which has been wrought in the Congo lands by King Leopold of Belgium and his followers to be the greatest which has ever been known massacres of populations like that of the South Americans by the Spaniards [.)" in human annals. [..] There have been massacres of populations like that of the South Americans-by the Spaniards [..] I am convinced that the reason why public opinion has not been more sensitive upon the question of the Congo Free State, is that the terrible story has not been brought thoroughly home to the people[.] Should he, after reading it, desire to help in the work of forcing this question to the front, he can do so in several ways. He can join the Congo Reform Association (Granville House, Arundel Street, W. C). He can write to his local member and aid in getting up local meetings to ventilate the question. Finally, he can pass this book on and purchase other copies, for any profits will be used in setting the facts before the French and German public [...] Mr. Murphy [an American missionary] says: "The rubber question is accountable for most of the horrors perpetrated in the Congo. It has reduced the people to a state of utter despair. Each town in the district is forced to bring a certain quantity to the headquarters of the Commissary every Sunday. It is collected by force; the soldiers drive the people into the bush; if they will not go they are shot down, their left hands being cut off and taken as trophies to the Commissary. The soldiers do not care whom they shoot down, and they most often shoot poor, helpless women and harmless children. These hands – the hands of men, women and children – are placed in rows before the Commissary, who counts them to see the soldiers have not wasted the cartridges. The Commissary is paid a commission of about a penny per pound upon all the rubber he gets; it is, therefore, to his interest to get as much as he can."
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer