The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-07-05
THE TROUBLE IN ASIANrIiI;.
TaNos are at tho Bottom Of Groat
Brftain's Difficulties,

Britain's Difficulties.
New York Sun.
The little war which Great Britain
has on it's hands in West Africa i,
likely, according to tho latest dis,
patches from tho gold coast to give
SOmc trouble before 1t is over. The
Immediate cause OF the difficulty with
the natives Is incidental TO the transi-
tion through which they arc passing
from condition in which taxes were
paid and trade was carried on in kind
and with cGwries to that OF money
using community. The taxes, since
the British administration has taken
charge over the country, have been rig.
ur0usly CXactod in money, especially
the obnoxious hut-mouey, which has
been the cause OF nearly all tho risings
against British authority in Africa.
The present NShanteG trouble has It's
origin in this cause, though the golden
stool plays Il part in the matter. The
Ashnntcc contention appears TO be
that taxes are only lcviablc by an occu-
pant OF the Golden Stool, but this is
only another way OF saying that they
refuse to recognize the authority OF
the British governor to demand or re-
ccivo taxes. The plea OF the absence
OF the Golden Stool is simply Il subtcr-
fugc. The real point is that besides
being partly unable and partly unwill-
ing to pay the taxes imposed by the
British authorities the AshantcCs arc
| still loyal to the old native dynasty,
cruel though its exercise OF power
was: and they may have thought, after
hearing Of the british defeats in South
| Africa, that an opportunity presented
Itself Tor throwing OIL the British rule.
They have also not forgotten the
causes that led 10 the great var OF
lSII-'l, and its results. Tho trouble
then arose out OF the transfer by the
| Dutch Of their rights 10 Elminu and
the surrounding territory, which they
held under lease from the king OF
| Ashantcc, dating back to the last cen
| tury, to the British in exchange for
settlement of Achccn in Sumatrs, held
by the British under similar conditions
from the sultan Of that country. I'm
der the treaty OF lease the Dutch were
pledged, If ever they gave up the
Elmina settlement on the gold coast to
hand it back to the king OF Ashantee,
nut those VINO made the transfer to
England In 1872 were either ignorant
OF the existence OF this stipulation or
dlsrcgar:cd it, and when the king pro.
tested against the breach Of the agree
ment he WAS referred TO the British
government. Receiving no satisfnc.
Lion from it he took the matter into
his own hands, and with an army csti-
mated at 80, 600 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 control. 1t |
WAS not, however, untn lS9G tHat the |
British government finally accomplish |
cd it's purpose OF abUllshing the semi |
independence OF the country and turn
ing it into q crown colony. King |
prcmpeh, the last Of the Asnantce |
kings, is now g British political pris- |
oncr, but the emblem Of sovereignty, |
The Golden Stool, has not passed to his |
British successor, which gives the as
tutc leader OF the present revolt
against British rule tho Justification |
for disputing the legality OF its acts.
Some Of the Ashantces are armed |
with modern rifles, and they arc said |
TO have several machine guns. Their |
want OF training, however, renders |
these last OF doubtful value in their |
hands, and the French government
through whose territory arms and am
munit:on were being smuggled into
NShantcr, has DrOhiDiLCu the trade in
arms on their coast during the cOntin.
uancC Of the troubles. The relieving
force, which has been sent up from the
coast Il raise the siege OF * kumaaai, has
by las, reports met with check
which viii! encourage those tribes that
have hitherto held alOof TO Join in
against the British. 1t is, however,
only a question Of time how soon the
rising will be put down, though the
rainy season, when military operations
will be exceedingly ditlicuIt, is at hand.
sufficient force OF HaussAs, the best
material for soldiers in Wost Africa
with q stilfening Of blue jackets, and
the West Indian troops VIII no doubt
soon be on the ground and marching
to the relief OF the bescgcd governor
and garrison. The great difficulty at
present Is the transport Of supplies.
but this is being overcome by the en-
plOymcnt OF women carriers. Mean
while, orders have gone out from Eng
land to hurry ON the prolOnEation Of
the railway that now runs from Sc
k0ndi on the coast to the gold mines at
Is arkwA to kumnasi, Is total distance
Of III miles, and the sum OF 81, 900
ucr mile has been provided To cover
the cost OF It's construction.