The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-29

fun speed, and fears neither man nor
beast But there are two persons who
exert no small influence upon him. and
these are his clever wife. Ta-hai-itu, and
his cousin and the commander in chief
OF his armies. Ras 1Iakonnen. both OF
whom worked hard for the introduction
OF the latest modern methods into Alb
ysSinia-
Such Is ire country and ths people
which may precipitste all its power up
on British Seudan to crafty the am
bition OF Menelik and Ras Makonnen.
What cause have the A5ysSinians 10 hate
the English? This Is a matter OF his
tory. The first OF tbs three great kings
OF Abyssinia was Theodore III. who as
cended the throne in ISSS or consider
able intelligence, Theodore organized an
army OF 15aeo0 men, and when Plowden.
the English consul and his friend. was
killed by a rebel named CARED. Theo-
dore revenged his death by Staying some
two thousand followers OF this rebel.
This was in ISSa. and when. two years
later. another consul was sent by Eng
land. Theodore dismissed him with e.
ter TO the Queen This letter never an
swered. and in connection with the IN
welcome temperance % Cameron. the
consul. emblttered the Ethiopian mon
arch. He put Cameron and his suite in
prison, and when Mr. Hormuzd Ras-
sam came 10 demand his release he. too.
vas put in prison. Theodore then sent
10 Victoria for British machinery and
workmen. He treated his prisoners
L
them. until they were released by Brit
ish troops in 1858
Meantime, rebellions against Thso-
dore had broken out, and. although the
Queen thought to conciiiate the monarch
BY sending him some artisans and ma
chinery. she found II necessary 70 sup
port with troops her demand for the re-
lease OF her subjects. After severe
marches through the mountains theBrit-
ish troops. under Ssr Rober; Master. sur
rounded Theodore with the remnant OF
his army that was still faithful to him.
and the Ethiopian died BY his own hand
England was acknowledged supreme
by the son OF the dead king. AIsm-ayahu
who returned TO England with the Brit
ish troops. soon after the soldiers had
been withdrawn Prince Kasssi Or the
province OF Tigre. declared his indepen-
dence. defeated the chiefs about him
and in 1872 was crowned King OF Etho-
pia under the name OF Johannes. He
vas succeeded in 1889 - the present
King. Menelik II. Such = the story ~
British attempts against Abyssinia-
II is possible that II the English troops
haH u
broad domain would now be part q
the British possessions in Africa. but
il is enough TO know that q king OF
Ethiopia was brought to his death by
British arms to understand how Meme
Tx feels toward Great Britain.
Encouraged by Russia, it would take
very little 20 induce Meneiik 20 march
the short distance 70 Rhartoum and I'm
do at one stroke all OF tire work 50
brilliantly performed by Kitchener. The
struggle, under the existing circum-
stances. would be by no means easy FOR
England. and It Is more than probable
that the hardy. well trained troops OF
the Ethiopian monarch would sweep all
before them.
VIII Menelik try IT. Every traveller
who has visited him has been struck by
the tremendous ambition OF the man.
which he does not pretend % conceal.
He knows what is going or IN the world,
and II. after MS defeat = the Italians.
he has dreams % establishing a great
empire IN the centre Of Anca. Will he not
be merely Initiating the ambition %
European soverigns7 That he can sue
coed al first. while all Of Engiand's fore
es are engaged in South Africa. IS uu-
doubted and that he has such dreams s.
more than probable. while hs viii do -
Is largely rumored-perhaps has been
suggested to him by some OF Eugland's
numerous Continental eufnntcs