Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-12-12
SURPRISING
DEPRAYITY.
Shameful Treatment of
Africans by a christian
Nation.
PLEDGES ARE BROKEN,
4 King INUNDATED
His Kingdom is DeSpoiied
GRAVES OPENED AND ROBBED
DISGUSTING OUTRAGEs-THE CLIO
RY OF ENGLAND Is TARNISHED
NO REDRESS FOR THE
WRONGBD PEOPLE.

[The Lagos, Africa, Weekly Record
The Ashanti Expedition-or more
properly speaking, the March to Kuma
si-was a success from a military point
OF view. In so far as equipment, or
ganization and conduct were concern
ed, the expedition fulfilled the highest
expectations and reflected credit upon
the authorities who organized it and
the officers charged with its command
and conduct; and hence the latter.
have not undeservingly, received spe-
cial recognition for their services. The
white soldiers too, who were engaged
in the expedition, and were exposed to
the risk of climate highly inimical TO
Europ san life, fully deserved the star
awarded them for the jeopardy in
which both officers and men were put
in their perilous tramp to Kumasi, and
the recent presentation to them by the
Duke of Connaught of the badge in
recognitioa Of such service, was quite
a propos. But beyond the experiment
OF affording practical test for British
military organization, We fear the
Ashanti expedition has little else to
recommend it either as to its purpose
or results. But rather there seems
every reason for believing that If the
truth were known. it would conduce to
cast much dispar segment upon the
honour and integrity of the British
name. 1t is well Eknown that at the
time the expedition was being fit
ted out, the accredited messengers of
the King of Ashanti were in England
rendering to Her Majesty's Govern
ment the submission Of King Prempeh
and bis acquiescence with the views
and demands of the Government
THE KIEG's MEssENeERs.
Albeit the expedition was fitted out
and despatched the kings messengers
having been sent on in advance with
some officers. the object of the latter
being to ascertain whether the messen-
gers were properly empowered emissa-
ries of King Prempeh and had truly
represented his views and attitude to-
wards Her Msjesty's Government.
This programme was carried out COM
pletely and satisfactorily, and as a re-
suit King Prempeh despatched MEM
Der of his royal family to conclude ar
engagements with the British Officers
on the conditions fixed by Her Males
TVS Government, and in further COM
pliance with those conditions, sent two
persons of rank as hostages to be held
as security for the due performance by
him of the condition imposed on him.
The peaseable and acquiescent attitude
on the part of Prempeh were consider
ed inadequate for the purposes OF the
military aspirations OF the expedition
and consequently they were ignored
and the expedition marched into KID
mast Here Prempeh intimated bis
acceptance of the conditions imposed
on him and rendered his submission TO
Governor Maxwell in a way which left
no doubt as to his sincerity.
CIVILIZED PRACTICES DIsREGARDED.
Under the usual forms of procedure
with civilized people in such cases. the
act 60 submission on the part of Prem
peh would have been regarded as suffi-
cient to secure to himself and people
immunity from molestation and vio-
lence.. But unhappily in this case, no
regard whatever was hadsto suchIforms
and Prempeh discovered to his amaze
ment. and cost, that his submission
yield ed him no consideration at the
hands of the civilized and christian in
vaders of his country. There and then
on the spur of the moment, he was re-
quired to pay the cost OF the expedi-
zion and the unpaid balance of the war
indemnity levied on his predecessor
bv Sir Garnet Wolseley in 1874 On
King Prempeh intimating that it was
beyond his power to pay such q large
sum of money down at once and re-
questing that time should be allowed
him to do so, ne was answered by being
promptly put under arrest with a num-
Der of his family, including both males
and females.