The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-30

echo the simple question of the Ethi
opians. Secure behind the mountain
fortresses with population of be-
tween three million and four million
people the Abyssinians of to-day,
even divided as they are into small
semi-independent States, are not un-
equal to glorious struggle for their
ancient birthright of independence,
especially under leader of such
genius as Menelik. The conquering
races are, however, closing in all
around ancient Ethiopia and the
struggle between civilization and
semi civilization will probably end
here as elsewhere in the triumph of
the more enlightened. But the spec
tacle of these descendants of ancient
peoples and civilization falling before
the greed of dominion of the Euro
pean powers is one that is not alto
gether creditable to our modern civ
ilization. For it must not be forgot
ten that first Turkey, then England,
and now England and Italy have
each in turn taken the offensive and
been clearly in the fault as regards
Abyssinia. The question how far it
may be consistent with the principles
of higher civilization to enforce it.
self upon lower does not seem to
have troubled its various would be
conquerors.
The elevated lands of Abyssinia
are well adapted to agriculture and
the fertility of the soil can be fully
availed of as there are generally two
crops. At Adowa, the scene of the
great battle, and in the immediate
neighborhood there are three crops
every year, this part of Abyssinia be-
ing as far removed, apparently, from
the primal curse upon the soil of the
earth as that of any other portion of
the globe. Millet, barley, wheat,
maize and teff and herbaceous ali
mentary plant resembling the banana
and serving for bread growluxuriant-
ly; coffee, spices and vines abound,
and tree which produces the balm
of Judea and myrrh are Indigenous
in this favored land. Matte Brun
says: "The whole of Abyssinia is
scented with the perfumes exhaled
from the roses, jessamines, lilies and
primroses, with which the fields are
covered"
The Abyssinians are Yeither Arabs
nor negroes and while their language
is mixed and the people also in part,
the opinion has long prevailed that
the differences at present noticed in
this bold, handsome race are due to
amalgamation with colony of Arabs
in the north with the original indigo
nous or primitive race by which the
country was settled. The recep-
ton of King Menelik upon
terms of equality with European
sovereigns since his great victory at
Adowa and his decoration with the
grand cross of the Russian Order of
St. George, which is only conferred
upon commanders who show signal
military abilities, indicates that the
original energy and ability of this
ancient people whose fame once was
world wide has not been lost. No
country of Africa to-day appeals so
powerfully to the imagination as this
ancient country of the Ethiopians.
The rumors that come from time to
time to Europe and America of the
priceless papers and manuscripts; the
ark of the covenant and the seven
branch candlestick of Solomon's tenn
pie, said to have been guarded from
age to age with sleepless vigilance by
the monks on the holy island of Abys-
sinia surrounded by the inland sea of
Shoa seem to partake too much of the
fairy character of Astolpho's exploits
in this ancient land as narrated in the
Orlando Furioso, but may be taken as
an indication of the curiosity with
which this ancient land has been re-
garded from the time of Homer to
King Menelik.
CHICAGO. May 20.