New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-20

mitted. Seldom has so Important an e"'e'p'''e
had so mean an ending. -,
italy stands before the world to-day humiii
atcd and dlsgraced She has been beaten III d
venture of her own seeking by petty nation
If unwashed savages, who are conspicuous
chiefly because they cherish as precious siIt
n rbvs,caI inhrmity which the rest OF the world
regards as a misfortune and a cause OF shame.
Her dream of colonial greatness is dissolved.
Perhaps she may still hold Erythrea She can
scarcely hope to do anything with Somaliland,
and there Is no reason to suppose her desire TOT
Trpoli will ever be gratifed. SO her green dis
appears from the map of Africa, excepting
little patch on the Red Sea coast, which may
be suffered to remain for time as buffer be-
tween the territories Of France and Great Brit
ain What the effect will be upon her European
standing remains to be seen. She Is still In the
Triple Alliance, Of course. But Germany, who
has always used her solely for German ends. Win
cynical selflshness. is not likely to regard as
essential to the peace of Europe the continued
friendship of Power that could not hold her
own against the King Of Shoa. The voice OF
the Quirna is likely to play minor part hence
forth in the high councils Of Europe.
In the mean time, If Great Britain is also
has vet to be informed of the fact. No doubt
Great Britain WAS willing and glad so to time
her movement toward Khartoum as to seem to
cooperate with Italy. and thus to give the lat
ter some little moral aid But they were sadly
ill-advsed who thought that was the chief Brit
ish end and aim. John Bull does not do things
In that way. He fights, first OF all, for his own
hand. 1t did not require extraordinary pre-
science at Downing Street to see that Italy
would be driven out OF Abyssinia, and to see
that that Power which was nearest at hand
at the time would have the best chance OF step
ping In in her place. A particularly opportune
time this Is for British force to be moving
on Dongoa with Berber just around the big
bend OF the river and Khartoum and Kassala
and Senaar within striking distance. British
troops have marched to Magdala before this.
and they NAV do 80 again. The AnglO-ltalian
treaty of five years ago would scarcely stand In
their way.
II may. at any rate, be reckOned as sure that
Abyssinia's doom Is sealed She has repulsed
italy but she cannot repilse all who crowd TO
be Italy's successors. II Great Britain does not
take advantage OF the present opportunity, Nus
sia will probably not hesitate to do so. Already
she has n practical alliance with Abyssini;, ana
has proposed prOtectorate. We may expect
that proposal to be presently renewed with
added ardor Nor would France be ar all back
ward in charging the borders of the Obock
"hInterland." until they reached the Nile. In
Just and wicked 1t may be; but the weaker Pow
ers must give way to the stronger. siam learned
that lesson not long ago. and Abyssinia will
soon learn It. Perhaps It will afford her some
consolation to remember that before she herself
fell she inflicted upon Italy the most deadly
blow that nation had received In quarter-cen-
fury OF national life.