"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer. while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled." (2)
Leopold II himself never step foot in the Congo during the entire time he ruled over it.
If the rubber quota was not met, then the consequence was death. The Force Publique, who was Leopold's personal police force set in the Congo, was required to collect a right hand per successful kill. hands could've been collected by FP officers, or by the villagers themselves. Since bullets couldn't be wasted, hands were sometimes chopped off while the victim was still alive. Often times, when villages were expected to pay the different with hands, they'd attack other villages to gather hands.
At least 500 Chinese labourers were imported to work on railways in the Congo, but a majority of them either left or died.
