The record-union., 1896-03-06
ITALY, ABYsSINIA AND REVo'
LUTON.

BY what right is Italy asserting a
protectorate over and in possession
practicaIly-of Abyssinia? None what
ever 1t would have precisely as broad
a warrant for extending proteetorate
over the United States of America. The
Powers some years ago forced treaties
under which a large portion of the Al
rican continent was parceled out among
themselves Abyssinia and later Kas-
sala fell to the share of Italy. This was
in 1889. France protested against 1t
and to this day neither France nor Rus
sia have recognized the right OF the
Italians in Abyssinia.
After this distribution of spoil new
King of Abyssinia abrogated the treaty
with Italy, and declared his independ-
ence. and Italy has been spending near
ly seven millions of dollars annually
ever since endeayoring to make good
her robber title-it is nothing more than
that. In most great battles with the
Abyssinians she has been whipped, as
in this latest instance. The victories
she has gained have generally been sur
prises and by adroit advances without
very bloody fighting. The country oc-
cupied is not a fertile one. It produces
very little for export, and has few nat
uraI resources. But there are 5,0Oo,-
600 Abyssinians, and they love their
sterile country just as dearly as we do
ours. They are fighters of the very
heroic type, and merciless and cruel as
death itself. 1t is better to be dead
man than alive and fall into their hands
a prisoner after battle.
Really there can be expended no well
directed sympathy upon the Italians FOR
their nnishap. They have no special use
for Abyssinia. The Italian nation would
be Just as great with as without this
seized country. 1t was stolen outright
and that England and Germany agreed
to it and took part in the theft, going off
each with a larger share of the ill-got-
ten booty, only aggravates the steal.
IT has been said that Italy has as
much defense to her occupation OF ADJ
yssinia as we had for ousting the Indi-
ans from their possessions on this con-
tinent. But we do not think the cases
parallel. We purchased from the Indi-
ans largely, admitting that we would
have taken all the same If they had re-
fused to sell. We provided likewise
for the care of the Indian so far as he
would permit of it. The American In
dams did not have numbers sufficient
with which to occupy all the territory,
nor was ours mere conquest.
However that may be, the Italians
cannot close our mouths from criticism
by citing our own acts. The question
is. what right has italy in Abys-
sinia?" and the reply must be, and al
ways will be, mo just right whatever. p"
There is no defense to be made for the
protectorate that will command the
support Of human beings not in Euro
pean atmospheres. But Italy has ex-
tended her protectorate and fairly well
maintained it for seven years, all the
while, however, under protest on the
part of the leaders in Abyssinia, and
with Russia and France refusing to rec
ognize italian right in Ethiopia
But it is a curious fact that this con-
Quest of Abyssinia has not had the sup
port of all the Italian people A large
and respectable minority, anxious to
extricate the nation from its enormous
indebtedness, has uniformly opposed the
policy and kept the Government in hot
water with its sharp criticism. for this
protectorate has been a most extrava-
gantly costly business, and the treasury
being in a state of collapse, has made
the Government vulnerable to the as
saults of its opponents.
A third great disaster has befallen
Italian arms in Africa and the hour of
the opposition has come, while the rad
ical Republicans who would like to see
a democratic system set up at once
think their opportunity is at hand.
This Republican contingent is not a
small thing, it is, indeed, a large body
and most aggressive one. It has the
faith of the martyr in its cause, and it
does not fear the Government, since the
day of suppression in Italian territory
excepting Sicily always has passed
forever; besides the King is not of the
order of men who desires to prevent
free speech, and the establishment OF
any form of Government that the great
mass of people may soberly decide upon.
Indeed, there is said to be good reason
to suppose that Umbert0 fears that he
will be the last King of Italy. But this