The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-10
MENELIK, "CONQUERING LION.
AND MERCHANT PRINCE

things would be certain to tickle the
fancy Of d dusky king
Menelik looked at them for a mo-
ment with disgust and rage. hen he
thrust them aside.
D you think he asked. that l
am a child or n savage, that 1 should
delight in toys"
The Russian and English emlssaries
showed a truer insight into his char
acter. They brought him Mauser prs-
tO.s. revOlyers Of the latest and best
rifles they could buy. He was de
lighted.
These are gifts worthy 10 be re-
ceived by a warrior and a king" he
declared.
The influence of the Russians AID
English over Menelik dates from that
lucky incident. but the French have
always been badly represented at his
cOurt. After Kitchener's victory at
Omdurman. the French at Adds AIDE
ba assured Menelik that the English
had been beaten. with the loss OF 10
600 men. When he heard the truth la
ter. that Kitchener had crushed the
Dervishes with the loss of only 323 OF
his soldiers. he exclaimed in disgust,
What liars they are Since then
he has never believed a word tne
French ENJOYS have told him. and he
always speaks of them with contempt.
MeneIik is a truthful. straightfJr-
ward. daring monarch. and he likes
men OF his own type. His fine quail
ties We're shown in the dispute which
precipitated his wal with Italy and N
the war itself.
Count AntonelIi, an Italian envoy,
wanted him to sign Il treaty giving
Italy a prOtectOrate over his country.
For hours the sat in conference
with MeneIik. proposing clause after
clause of that treaty, only to have
each one rejected IN turn. At last. in
despair. he said, VIII you propose
something them
Queen TaitI. Menelik's cOnsort. who
had sat silently by his side during
the negotiations, replied:
Yes. there is only one treaty which
the Emperor Of Ethiopia will make.
and it needs only one clause. He viii
bind himself to the king of Italy new
ct to give one inch of his territory
To any foreign nation, and never ~
grant a protectorate to Italy. or any
other European nation"
That means war" said the Italian.
4 know it." replied Menelik bur
tn" queen has spoken her mind. 80
back to our king and tell HIM | am
ready for the worst he can do
The story of the war that followed
IS well known. All the world is aware
that MeneIik proved himself n CaTa-
BILE general and a born leader Of men.
but few people know of the humanity
which he displayed at the great battle
Of AdUa. in which the Italians were
utterly routed. With immense labor,
he organized rough field hospitals and
surgical help for the wounded of both
sides. He went personally into the
thick Of the battle and brought IN
many wounded men under fire. The
- - t--1-
great numbers. had no cause to com-
plain of their treatment. He eve gave
them pocket money to spend while
they were on parole in his capital.
That war established MeneIik's
right to be regarded as a civilized
monarch. at all events for the pur-
poses Of warfare. and in recognition
OF his humanity Abysslnia was adj
mitted as a party to the Geneva con-
VentiOn. with the cordial consent of
Italy. Since then, Abyssinian troops
have fought side by side with British
soldiers against Il common fOe-the
Mao Mullah-and the British officers
have had nothing but praise for Their
courage and discipline.
Meneliks character commands al
miration, and nearly all the Europeans
who have visited him speak of nini
with enthusiastic praise. Even the
European merchants. who have gone
to his country to invest their money
Il have been put out of business by
his practical monopoly. are con-
strained to admit that personally re
IS an extremely decent fellow. Among
his own people he is as popular as
any king could be. He rules them as
a despot. but he is the most benevo-
lent Of despOts.
Years g there vas a long and ter
ribIe famine in Abyssinia. A pest
killed off the cattle. on which the
Abyssinians mainly depend for food,
as they are the greatest meat eaters
on earth. For three years. while the
famine lasted. Menelik would eat no
meat.
Why should I enjoy plenty" ne
said. while my people are s~tarving?'
He formed large camps Of his sol
dierS in the districts worst afflicted By
the famine. and made the soldiers til
the soil To provide food for the starv-
ing people. At first the soldiers
SCOrned the work. but the Emperor
went around to the camps and sowed
and pIoughed with his own hands,
until he taught them the nobility OF
the task.
In the days of his youth. Menalib
was Il great fighter. He Won his king
dom by the sword. and his title Of
'C~unQUering Lion" is no idle boast
| Since he became NeguS NagaSti he has
| put down many formidable risings OF
the part of the Rases. or fedora.
chiefs. and has defeated. besides his
Italians. the Egyptians and the Cal.
las the Nahdists the Mad MulIah. and
many other formidable foes.
As the result of a stormy career, he
his welded a set of quarrelSOme tribe
into 4 strong. united nation. Now. he
wishes nothing better than to rule ir
peace and set his peoples feet in h
path OF progress.
NeueIIk IS a wonderfully active man
lie ue:er seems TO tire OF hard work
No detail OF administration is TOO
small for his attention if he thinks i
VIII tend 10 the benefit of his people
He rises at 3 every morning. an,
goes 1T once to service in his ma gel
for he is a devout Christian. He be.
longs 10 the Abyssinian branch of iii,
Coltic church. and is we'll informed OF
theological subjects. Nevertheless. nt
VIII not submit to priestly domination
and he has materially Curbed the pow.
CT Of the priests. to the great adVant
2 Of his country. If a sermon Is to;
long for his fancy he tells the preach