What then would have been the result if the country had been parcelled out among a number of private traders, who had simply pegged out claims?  Their object would have been to make a large fortune and return home as soon as possible.  After a few years, therefore, all the existing rubber trees and vines would have been bled to death, no new ones would have been planted, and the native would certainly have been over-worked and ill-treated.  The country would then have been deserted and left to return to savagery.  The State itself on the other hand is working for the future.  Everything which can grow is planted, the natives are daily becoming more civilised, Posts are being built, roads and waterways opened up and the whole place rendered beautiful and attractive.

In the meantime, properly in the country is guarded, trade is perfectly free, and everyone, native and foreigner, is free to pursue his business in his own manner, subject only to such laws as are imposed in all civilised countries for the good of the community at large.

The Congo Free State has indeed, without breaking any Treaty, solved the problem which has baffled the combined wisdom of all the ancient great colonial Powers.  It exists on its own resources without poisoning the natives with alcohol; it extracts much wealth from the soil without fear of ever exhausting it; it opens up great tracts of land without running heavily into debt, and—­noblest of all—­it daily converts naked cannibal savages into self-respecting responsible people.

FOOTNOTES: 

[4] See New Africa by Senator E. Descamps, p. 73 et seq.

[5] In Canada, Australia and the North West.