The sun., 1903-10-18

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King Menelik Of Abyssinia Is the greatest
of royal traders. As a trust magnate no
can give American promoters cards and
spades.
Throughout Abyssinia he Is whole trust
in himself. He controls not one industry
or one line Of trade. but every industry and
every line Of trade.
He runs stores and factories, buys the
products Of the natives at his own price,
and sells his European imports to them for
whatever he chooses to ask.
Anybody can compete with the King,
if he cares to try. Menelik does not object.
He might send fle of soldiers and hale
his trade rivals of to Jail. II he chose; but
he prides himself on being civilized mon
arch. and he has better scheme than that.
He Is the Tariff Commission as we'll a.
the Lord High Everything Else in the coun-
try. 80 be can charge what customs dues
he likes on the goods that his rivals import
and exempt his own goods from similar
duties. II, tired Of importing, they try to
become exporters, he puts them out OF
business with export duties, until they are
glad enough to sell their stuff to him for
whatever he cares to pay.
Most Kings think trade derogatory to
their dignity. but Menelik holds different
Views. though he has pedigree as long
and a title as proud a. any Of them. He
claims nneal descent from King Solomon
and the Queen Of Sheba, and his royal title
10 'Conquering Lion Of the Tribe Of Judah.
Menelik. appointed Of God. Negus OF Shoa
and Negus Nagasti king Of Kingsl OF
Ethiopia"
But though Menelik has such giants
power in matters Of commerce, he does
not use 1t as a giant. When he buys goods
from his people or sells to them he fixes
fairly reasonable prices.
With all this Menelik cares nothing for
wealth. He lives as simply as he did in
his youth, when he owned nothing save his
horse and his spear.
After the Italian invasion of Ethiopia
you must. never call 1t Abyssinia in the
country, for the Abyssinians loathe the
name-most Of the natives suocumbed to a
severe attack Of "swelled head They had
crushed the Italians. and they thought they
could easily do the same to any other in
vades, white. black or brown, at any
time.
But Menelik knew something OF the power
of the white nations, and also of their lard
hunger.
AT any moment he reasoned, Il may
have to face a far more serious attack.
I must have money to arm my troops as
the white men are armed. must buy
cannons and hundreds Of thousands OF
rifles
There is only one way to get the money
I need. must take all the trade and COM
merce Of my country into my own hands
and make all the profit there is to be made.
1T will not be too much for my needs,
and It will be better for my country than
letting white men make II and take 1t away
to Europe with them
That is why Menelk Is really merchant
prince Tho plan has worked we'll His
people stand ready to-day to meet an in
yasion ten times more formidable than that
OF the Italians
Some foreign envoys have been unfort
unate in their dealings with Menelik. They
made the mistake Of regarding him as Al
ignorant savage.
It is the custom in Abyssinia for all foreign
missions to bring presents to the Negus
The French brought lot OF Partisan me-
chanical toys-sheep that squeaked, pigs
that ran about on their hind legs and dolls
that talked. They thought such things
would be certain to tickle the fancy OF a
dusky King
MeneIik looked at them for moment
with disgust and rage. then he thrust them
aside.
"Do you think" he asked, "that am a
child or savage, that l should delight in
toys?"
The Russian and English tmissaries
showed a truer insight into his character
They brought him Mauser pistols. revolvers
and the latest and best rifles they could
buy He was delighted.
"These are gifts worthy to be received
by a warrior and King" he declared.
The influence Of the Russians and English
over Menelils dates from that lucky inc d mt,
but the French have always been badly
represented at his court. After kitchener's s
victory at Omdurman. the French at Adds
Ab,ba assured Menelik that the English
had been beaten, with the loss Of 5000
men.
When he heard the truth later, that
Kitchener had crushed the dervishes with
the loss of only 1923 Of his soldiers, he ex-
claimed In disgust:
What liars they arc'"
Since then he has never believed a word
the French envoys have told him, and he
always speaks OF them with contempt.
Menelik is a truthful, straightforward
daring monarch. and he likes men of his
own type. His fine qualities were shown
in the dispute which precipitated his war
with Italy and in the war itself.
Count Antonelli, an Italian envoy. wanted
him to sign treaty giving Italy pro-
tectorate over his country. For hours the
Count sat in conference with Menelik, pro-
posing clause after clause of that treaty
only to have each one rejected in turn
At last, In despair, he said
will you propose something them"
Queen Taitu, Meneliks consort, who
had sat silently by his side during the nego-
tiations, replied:
"Yes, there Is only one treaty which the