The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-07-04
THE TROUBLE in ASHANTEE.
Taxes arc at the Bottom OF Great
Britain's Difficulties,

Britain's Difficulties,
New York Sun.
The little war which Great Britain
has on its hands in West Africa is
likely, according TO the latest dis.
| patches from the gold coast, to give
some trouble before 1t is over. The
immediate cause OF the difficulty with
the natives is incidental to the transi-
| tlon through which they are passing
| from cOntitiOn in which taxes were
paid and trade Was carried on in kind
| and with cOwrics to that OF a money
using community. The taxes, since
the British administration has taken
charge over the country, have been rig
orously eXacted IN money, especially
the obnoxious hut.mouey, which has
been the cause OF nearly all the risings
against British authority in Africa.
The present Ashantee trouble has its
origin In this cause, though the golden
stool plays part in the matter. The
Ashantee contention appears to be
that taxes are only lcviable by an occu-
pant OF the Golden Stool, but this is
only another way Of saying that thew
refuse To recognize the authority OF
the British governor to demand or re-
celve taxes. The plea OF the abserce
of the Golden Stool is simply a subter-
'eSS' 'S 'Oet toiho 10 OIab DCSIucS
being partly unable and partly unwill-
ing to pay the taxes imposed by the
British authorities the Ashantees are
still loyal to the old native dynasty,
cruel though It's exercise OF power
was; and they may have thought, after
hearing OF the British defeats in South
Africa, that an opportunity presented
itself for throwing of the British rule.
They have also not forgotten the
causes that led to the great var OF
lSI3-Il, and its results. The trouble
then arose out OF the transfcr by tho
Dutch OF their rights 10 Elmina and
the surrounding territory, which they
held under u lease from the king OF
Ashantee, dating back to the last cen
Jury, to the British in exchange for
settlement Of Acheen IN Sumatra, held
by the British under similar conditions
from the sultan OF that country. I'm
der the treaty OF lease tho Dutch were
pledged, II ever they gave up the
E,mlna settlement on the gold coast to
hand it back to the king OF Ashantee,
nut those woo made the transfer to
EngiAnd in 1872 were either ignorant
OF the existence OF this stipulation or
di9rogar5ed it, and when the king pro-
tested against the breach Of the agree
ment he was referred to the British |
government. Receiving no satisfuu-
tion from it be took the matter into
his own hands, AMI with an army csti.
mated at GO,OOO men marched into the
disputed territory to maintain his |
right OF access to the sea. But small |
pox and the British Snider rifle, aided |
by the detection OF some OF the tributa-
ry and allied tribes, ended his power
OF resistance and treaty Of peace was |
signed in 1874 which brought the coun- |
try virtually under British coutrol. 1t |
was not however, until 1896 that the |
British government finally accomplish
ed its purpose OF abOlishng the semi |
independence OF the country and turn |
ing 1T into crown colony. King |
Prempeh, the last of the Asnantee !
kings, is now q British political pris-
oner, but tho emblem Of sovereignty,
the Golden Stool, has not passed to his |
British successor, which gives the as
tnte leader OF the present revolt
against British rule the justification |
for dispu'ing the legality of its acts.
Some ol the Ashantces are armed
with modern rifles, and they are said
to have several machine guns. Their
want OF training, however, renders
these last OF doubtful value in their
hands, and the French government
whose territory arms and am.
munit!On were being smugglcd into
AS shantee, has prohibited the trade in .
arms on their coast during the contin.
uGncc of the troubles. Tue relieving
force, which has been sent up from the |
coast to raise the siege OF kumassi, has
by last reports met with q check,
which viii! encourage those tribes that
have hitherto held aloof to join in
against the British. 1t is, however,
only question OF time how soon the
rising will be put down, though the
rainy season, when military operations
will be exceedingly difficult, is at hand.
a sufficient fCrce OF Haussas, he best
material for soldiers in West Africa,
with stilfening OF blue Jackets, and
the West Indian troops Will no doubt
soon be on the ground and marching
to the relief Of the besiegcd governor ,
and garrison. The great difficulty at
present is the transport Of supplies.
but this 10 being overcome by the en-
ployment OF women carriers. Mean
while, orders have gone out from Eng
land to hurry on the prOlongation OF
the railway that now runs from Se- |
kondi on the coast to the gold mines at |
Karkwa to kumassi, q total distance
of lll miles, and the sum Of 81, 900 |
per mile has been provided to cover
the cost OF It's construction.