The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-01-08
EMPEROR MENELIK
LEARNS OF AMERICA
Abyssinian Monarch Likes This
Country, Judging by Its
Photographs.
HE WEPT OVER LINCOLN
Said He Couldn't Free Slaves All at
Once, but Is Doing 1t Gradually
Great Possibilities for
Commerce.

London special: William N. Ellis
has arrived in London from Abyssinla
and will sail for the United States in
ten days. Upon his arrival there he
will proceed direct to Washington n
deliver to the department of state a
letter from Emperor Menelik welcom-
ing the Americans to Abyssinia in
peace, without fear" Mr.. Ellis said
that Robert P. Skinner. the American
consul general at Marseilles, who Is
now on his return from Abyssinia,
would report the negotiation of a treaty
with Menelik will not be an easy mat
tel.
The emperor is anxious to establish
business relations with the United
States. Menelik extended a cordial
welcome to Mr.. Ellis upon his arrival
at Adds Abbaba. the Abyssinian capl-
tai. He allotted a palace for him as
his residence, and during his stay Mr..
Ellis was granted twenty audiences.
He found Menelik alert, intelligent and
conversant with European affairs.
Ignorant of America.
Menelik's knowledge Of America,
however, is deficient. He was much
interested in Mr.. Ellis narrative con
corning American affairs, especially
the development of the colored race
from slaves to the status of the whites.
Upon hearing Of Lincoln's liberation OF
'IiAS lCLN W SoA ~ AAASo 1iAo " ~ oA4o
he insisted that the story be told him
IA second time, exclaimlng: What a
great mani"
Menelik explained that he is abolish
ing slavery gradually. He said:
II cannot do as Lincoln did. 1t would
upset things too much. But I have de-
creed that while those present slaves
shall remain such their children shall
be free. Thus slavery will disappear"
What above all impressed Menelik
favorably, said Mr.. Ellis, was the atti-
tude of the Americans. They do not
seek territory in Abyssinia. On this
subject the emperor said:
Other nations come to Africa like
sons to their fathers, saying, Father,
are you going to make a will and leave
US something's" He added that Amer
lea alone was without land in Africa
and wanted none. She only wanted
liberty for trade.
Menelik and his chiefs were keenly
interested in photographs Of Roosevelt
and views of New York and Washing
ton. These pictures they retained as
priced treasures, though it is not to be
supposed that photographs are any
thing new in Abyssinia.
Mr.. Ellis is emphatic in declaring
that there Is nothing to suggest bar
barism at Menelik's court. The emper-
or wears European clothes and a felt
hat of American shape. The empress
and court women are dressed after
Paris models. The palace is a comfort
nble building Of Swiss architecture. It
has baths and other modern con-
veniences, and furniture Of the Louis
XVI. period predominant.
Mr.. Ellis a impressed by the COM
mercial possibilities. The country, he
says, is admirably suited to cotton
growing. Minerals, including gold and
aoo1 a NO a I,1r NJ q nte Tho SonrSitc pro -
tically being untouched.
There are some 120 articles that could
be exported from the United States to
Ahyssinia, but cotton would be the
staple. Between $4,000, 900 and 81, O0O, 900
worth of American cotton was import
ed in 1902 from France and England.
There is no reason why this amount
should not be quadrupled in three years
under the management of enterprising
Americans. The A~byssinians are will
ing to adopt western materials and
dress if they can be obtained.