The image above shows Congolese Chiefs with White Officers. The Congolese chiefs are showing the Officers their required quotas; the mutilated hands of their dead victims. This photograph was featured in Edmund Morel's 1905, King Leopold's Rule in Africa.
Henry Morton Stanley
“The best punishment is that of irons…because without wounding, disfiguring, or torturing the body, it inflicts shame and discomfort.” – said by Henry Stanley (Hochschild 1998, 67) This quote proves how heartless and cruel Henry Stanley was to the Congolese people. He wants them to suffer and brutally die from excruciating pain to make the other Congolese feel uncomfortable, and he wants them to understand the power he has over them.
Henry Stanley was one of King Leopold II’s agents during the conquest of The Congo Free State. He was personally recruited by King Leopold after he heard how adventurous Stanley was when he found the missing David Livingstone. King Leopold also learned that Stanley's power-hungry nature led him to previously force his way into Africa. |
Stanley was not interested in Leopold's offer at first, but he gave in because of Leopold's greedy, persistent ways. King Leopold II recruiting Henry Stanley ended up being very important for Belgium, as Stanley's forcefulness led to him taking Congo and claiming it for King Leopold II.Stanley did anything he could to rise to power in Congo. Stanley took advantage of African chiefs by making them sign treaties that they could not read. He also used unnecessary manslaughter to prove his high ranked position and acted very brutal towards the innocent Congolese people; in fact, he is one of the most brutal men towards them.
On his exploration of the Congo, he says, “‘I skirmish in their [the native’s] streets and drive them pell-mell into the woods…and level their ivory temples; with frantic haste I fire the huts, and end the scene by towing the canoes into mid-stream and sending them adrift.’” (Smith 2000, 105) This quote above proves that Henry Stanley enjoys seeing the Congolese confused and helpless. He thrives on their confusion. This also proves that he is just a terrible figure because demolishes the Congolese’s sacred temples; they were made out of ivory which is very expensive. He then uses the ivory for King Leopold’s benefit. Despite being horrific towards the Congolese, Henry Stanley set up trading stations along the Congo River for King Leopold II, which helped them gain economically.
On his exploration of the Congo, he says, “‘I skirmish in their [the native’s] streets and drive them pell-mell into the woods…and level their ivory temples; with frantic haste I fire the huts, and end the scene by towing the canoes into mid-stream and sending them adrift.’” (Smith 2000, 105) This quote above proves that Henry Stanley enjoys seeing the Congolese confused and helpless. He thrives on their confusion. This also proves that he is just a terrible figure because demolishes the Congolese’s sacred temples; they were made out of ivory which is very expensive. He then uses the ivory for King Leopold’s benefit. Despite being horrific towards the Congolese, Henry Stanley set up trading stations along the Congo River for King Leopold II, which helped them gain economically.
Stanley was not alone
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Unfortunately, there were much more people who worked under Stanley and harmed the Congolese. They belonged to a group called "Le Force Publique" |