Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25

ADySSlnla ana the Eastern SOuQan IS
naturally regarded a serious menace to
the peace of Europe, inasmuch every
one Of the great powers Is interested di-
rectly or indirectly.
Or the African powers, the Mahdi and his
dervishes represent the fiercest revival in
the Arab breast of Moslem fanaticism,
while Menelik and his vassal lords and
chieftainS represent a people, who having
espoused Judaism in the time of King
Solomon, were converted to Christianity
some 1900 years ago.
Not a Hack Race.
The experience Of the Italians during the
past few years with the Abyssinians has
shown beyond doubt that these mountain
GERS of 1.-The Switzerland of Africa" are de-
cidedly superior race 10 the other peoples
of the Dark Continent with whom the Euro
peans have come in contact in their colo
nization and partition schemes. To a great
extent this superiority is the result of their
origin and pedigree. Although the modern
representatives of the Philippians of myth
and history, they are in reality not Ethio-
plans at ALL They are not black, but are of
Caucasian descent as pure as the Anglo
Saxon or the Celt.
Language and physiology stamp them as
members of the Semitic race, and conse-
quently, as kindred peoples to the Baby
lonians the Assyrians, the Arabs, the Sy-
r1ans. the Jews, and other history making
nations Of antiquity To call them Ethio-
plans in the sense of blacks is a singular
that, being the only African people except
the egyptians known at an early date to
the Greek-Latin literature, the term "Ethio-
| plan gradually was used to designate all
AFRICANS. and Is now the national name for
that very people who, almost alone on the
entire continent of Africa, % not belong to
the negro race.
The Mahdi, called by the Arabs 1.-The
Well Directed Ore" Is the Mohammedan
| restorer of all things. Though not mem
TONED IN the Koran he Is said to have been
promised by Mohammed to complete his
work in filling the world full of right
eousness as it is of iniquity. Mohammed,
son Of All, bore urwillingly the name Of
Mahdi, and dying in peace. he was expect
ed to return. In the twelfth century arose
another Mahdi by name Mohammed Ibn
Eumert, whose disciple ami successor Abb
dulnilnlin overran Morocco and surplantsd
the Aimoravide dynasty there and after-
ward IN Spain.
The year 1866 produced In Turkey its
Jewish messiah. Sabba.tia Zevi and In con-
sequence its Kurdish Mahdi for the sup
preston of this DeiiaI or false nroobet
Both fell into the suitan's hands. In I7T9
another Mahdi arose in Egypt against the
french, and fell in battle. In Dongola to-
ward lS43 was born Mohan.med Ahmed.
VINO, when he reached the prophetie ga Of
forty years. claimed to be the Nah,it Grad
TALLY at the Mahdfs caH-the Moslem
equivalent for a revolutionary spirit-tbe
EASTERN Soudan stirred itself against Egyp-
tian misrule.
In 1888 he sized Ell Obeyed, the chief civ
OF kordofan. and made it his capital. and
on the 9TH Of November of that wear the
Egyptian army, commanded by Hicks Pa
sha' was annihilateJ. In 1885 Khartoun
was taken by treachery and Cen Go-do,
"hom England had sent to pacify the Son.
ian' was killed. The Mahdi died at Orn-
aurnan June %, 1855, and was succeeti4d
IN power by khalifa Abdullahi who it is
plai no
rights of the Mahdi. Although he ia now
the real ruler of Dongola the country con-
S Wahi; 10 De known as the land of the
-Hdhals and the military forces are us,1-
any referred to in the press dispatchas 90
the Mahdi and his dervishes"
ne neuh OF races in South Africa began
apout -'H years ago. when the NetherIa orIs
| then at the height of their prosneritv w.
hnSland's rivals for share of the mari
1ihie supremacy of the world. The Dutch
| nag was then planted on four oon+inants
| III Java at the Cape of Good Hope at Dem
erara' and on Manhattan Island At three
Oh these points it was fatei to WELD "a Tho
banner OF Great Britain. In Africa, how
ever 1t was different. The original SGT
utFS known as Beers were not 50 easiI,
snpJuGated When unable to hold their
original settlements because of British en-
cfoachmcnts. they emigratei into the vse.
| .Inno"n region to the northward and set
tlea IN Natal and Orange river state as an
Ia,'eirt people: The British assert Il
I Gr aF,easn!y over Natal and annexed the
oranse state. Many Beers ontinued fur
Ter on oeycnd the Wall river and SET IN
81, winch Is now better known az the
7 san IA than by It's official name of the
| SCUM AFRICAN Republic. The country nras
t1liu and unproductive and Infested viii
numerous hostile natives SO thar the Cot
n,t's lad difficulty in maintaining a civ
lhzed government CIV
| The Zulu CAMPAIGN.
III lo'' the Beers were threatened with
ai,iih'iatloh by the formidable tribe of
;-l
me situation, declared the country. az mart
| OF the British dominions This action vas
| based on dubious agreement Win tta ~
most helpless Beer parliament. The Frc
hsH army then began Il campaign ayains.
me LuluS, and finally conquered tho,
| a s many hafd-fought battles. The coun-
ny was improved and commerce was in
foduced and the discovery of soIT fol
| lowed soon after. The Beers were restiye
I however under British rule, and after
| three years of discomfort broke cut into
| open rebellion. A the first signs of
| trouble a small detachment of British sn1
dlers was sent to Pretoria the capitaI
lhey were ambushed by Beers and nora
| than half of their number was kiIlad S,,b
| Sequently Gen. Colley, who hurried TO ths
| scene from Natal with nearly 500 men was
utterly routed at Majuba Hill The great-
est CONSERVATION prevailed among tho
/ British authorities and reinforcements
were secured from India and elsewhere.
twenty thousand troops were ready to
| ~ ~ ~ the lldHSNadl, when Ar, Glad
stone, then premier of England. changed
me entire aspect Of the case by deciding
lhat the Boers We're entitled to their indie
penoehce, and that there was no occasion
tor the use of force. So, the easy con
dition OF acknowledging English suzerainty
over Its foreign affairs the South African
Republic was given another lease of life.
Its hfteenth birthday was celebrated On
| the 9th of February last. and how MANY
more years of independence it will Know
| unle alone can tell. Some political wise
acres predict, however that despite
statesmen like Paul Kruger and soldiers
[ IKE Piet Joubert. the Englsh-speaking
| race will dominate the Dutch in Africa, as
! 1t did long ago in America The country
| is now practically in the control of the
| English, who greatly outnumber the Dutcn
| even in the centers of the TransvaaI To
I continue to deny the hated "UftIanders,"
| as the emigrants are called, civil and DO
| htical rights it is asserted, will be only to
! court other outbreaks like the recent raid
| Of DR.. Jameson, which might, however
prove more successful than that disastrous
| affair.
| Rising of the MatabeIes.