The national Republican., 1867-12-18
THE ABYssINIAN QUESTION.

Many OF the people, but more especially the
newspapers OF the country, have affected to re-
gard Mr.. Chandlcr's proposition to concede bel
ligerent rights to Abyssinia as joke, and under
this impression the question has been suffered
to drop, and we may hear no more Of 1t during
the present session of Congress. In England
this question is one OF serious Importance, and
Parliament Is in earnest, when II votes to tax
the people TO meet the expense Of prosecuting a
war with this dominion, and the English people
are in earnest, also to carry the war into Africa
and punish the dusky King Theodore, for i'm
prisoning certain subjects OF Great Britain, but
more especially, as 1t is said for his audacity in
assuming to offer to marry the good English
Queen Victoria.
It has even been stated that his dusky Majesty
has sot on foot the conspiracy among the Fenians
to kidnap the Queen while she was visiting the
sanctuary to pay her accustomed and solemn re-
spects to the memory of the late Prince Albert.
The design was to capture her and convey her en-
board OF a ship prepared for the occasion, and to
sail at once for Abyssinia, where the ferocious
and savage Prince could deliberately prepare her
so that she should consent to a marriage with
himself. This plot was discovered, and the
Queen is now protected by regiment OF cavalry
whenever she visits the sanctuary.
We give this story for what 1t is worth. 1t
may be set down as nice bit OF scandal, or a
clever attempt at romancing.
While this Abyssinian question Is attracting
some attention both in this country and in Eu-
rope, 1t may not be amiss that we should call at
tention to the situation OF the country itself.
Abyssinia is an extensive country, containing
some 2l5,0oO geographical square miles, and IL
situated on the eastern coast of Africa. 1t con
tains population Of about 8, 10000, made up o
various tribes and nations, while the domnan
race is direct descent from the original Eth
he cd lar
country, though its forms Of religion are not Of
the highest or purest type. The spirit and form
of its religion, when considered in the light of
pure and enlightened Christianity, will be seer
to be very much demoralized. Still, II may be
called, in the general Specification of the term
Christian nation.
AT present 1t has great Importance in q
commercial, agricultural, or manufacturing point
of view but still, we think when the present
difficulty which exists between this country and
England is developed in all its antecedcni
causes relations and purposes there will be
found that same overreaching, all-grasping spirit
which has always characterized the English ma
tion in its dealings with people whom 1t first
determines to clrcumvent and destroy 1t will
be seen that the ulterior purposes of Great Brit
ain are to se!ze this kingdom, and then make Il
aprovince of the English nation. The British
lion, when he determines that further stretci
oi MS paw Is necessary, ever hnds an excuse be
hind which to hide his intentions. Somebod,
has Quarreled with him and trespassed upon tn,
privileges OF certain English citizens, and thil
somebody must be punished. They must also
give indemnity for the past and security fol
the future" and to secure this end England
stands ready to accept the territory of the con.
quered. In the end this will be seen to be the
upshot Of England's quarrel with Abyssinia, and
unless other nations interfere to prevent, Eng
land will seize and hold portion of King Theo
dore's dominion, and thus the King and his sue
cessors will become the dependents and the vas
sails ofGreat Britain.