The Washington herald., 1907-07-22
Observation-Disclosures
Ruler of AbySSinia Both
Wise and Powerful.
EMISSARY TO WASHINGTON
Mai. John N. Carson Exercised Tact
and Diplomacy iR His Treatment
OF Hail AbduIIah All Sadick Pasha.
Significance of Visit Now Apparent.
ItaIy's Prosecutions Menaced.

! II will be recalled that in the fall Of
/ 1905 Hail Abdullah All Sadick Pasha, Of
Abyssinia, visited the United States as a
personal representative Of Emperor Meme
lik. Hail came here without any official
status. and solely with a view to inter
esting American manufacturers and cap
| italists in his country.
He bore a personal letter from Menelik
to the President and also some presents
Of ivory and a valuable rug made from
lions skins. 1t was declared by some
newspapers that Hail didn't represent
Menelik and that he had no credentials
from the Emperor. In consequence Of
! these misleading publications he was
somewhat annoyed and prejudiced, and
the success Of his mission interfered with.
Halt did not claim that he was here in
an official character, but that the object
of his visit was solely commercial He
was accredited to Maj. Carson, OF the
Bureau of Manufactures, who realized
the Importance of Halls mission, and by
whom he was presented TO the President
as a distinguished individual from Abys-
sinia. The President received the black
prince cordially and directed that every
courtesy should be extended to him by
officials of the government while in Wash
ington.
The Hornen IN. y Daily Times, in its
issue Of the 18th inst, printed the follow
ing interesting editorial article entitled
King Solomons' Descendant:
Why Italy Fears Menelik.
''The dispatch announcing the invasion
Of the Italian Somaliland adjoining Abys-
sinia by 10000 men belonging TO King
Meneliks army recalls the terrible defeat
the Italians suffered at the hands of the
Negus on March l, 1896. Should Meme
Xix have any designs on Italy's posses
slons It is doubtful whether Victor En-
manuel could offer much resistance.
1.-THE mere mention of Menelik's name
in Italy sends a shudder through those
who recall how Italy's handsomely uni
formed officers, fully 10000 in number.
were moved down by the rapld-firing
guns OF the self-styled 'ConQuering Lion
of Judah
Although not much on looks. Meme
Xix is indeed a wise ruler and as enter
prising as any monarch in Europe. con-
sidering the resources at his disposal
His wisdom may be hereditary, for he
claims to be a descendant Of good King
Solomon, and every now and then he
performs some act that shows he is
something Of a w!seacre himself Since
his ascent Of the throne in 1889, the
Negus has tried to represent the spirit
OF progress.
Used Rapid-hring Guns.
Realizing that his country, which Is the
only one fit for the residence Of a white
man IN tropical Africa, occupies a COM
handing point with relation TO surround
ing territories under European flags.
Menelik started out to get a line on
what the world was doing. Believing that
old-fashioned spears were more pictur-
esque than useful. he listened TO the ad-
vice of the chief Of STAFF Serkis Ter
Zian, an Armenian, who had been driven
TO Abyssinia as the result Of the oppres-
sion In his country, and put in a good
supply Of rapid-aring guns.
"As far back as 1889 the Italian govern
ment claimed a proteetorate over Abys-
sinla on the ground that this was granted
them by a clause in the treaty Of UchaH
which read differently in the Italian and
the Amharic versions. Menelik didn't
bother so much about the grammatical
construction Of the two languages as to
see that his savage warriors learned all
about the Tapid-fring guns Serkis Ter
Zian was bringing into the country.
In 1893 Menelik found himself ready,
and publicly denounced the treaty. In
1895 he renewed hostilities, and II the
members of the Italian government
thought they had an easy mark. Menelik
soon disillusioned them. In truly Ma
pole0nic fashion the Negus rode in front
of his little army and said TO his black
warriors Shoot at the men with the gold
braid And the men behind the rapid
firing guns carried out the orders with
a savage JOY and remarkable dexterity
that completely paralyzed Victor En-
manueis troops
Sent Envoy to Roosevelt.
Then 'Negus Negusti.' or King Of
Kings as Menelik is called, secured by
treaty from Great Britain in 1895, 5000
square miles of British Somallland and
set out TO make things hum IN Abyssinia
In the summer Of 1905 he decided to enter
into closer business relations with Uncle
Sam. He accordingly sent to this country
one of his sO-called 'overseers Of mer-
chants TO call on President Roosevelt and
extend to him the glad hand. And Incl
dentally oversee the presentation of some
fine ivory teeth and a few African lions
skins.
Unfortunately the translation Of the
credentials that this emissary, who was
called 'Hadji Abdullah Ali Sadick Pasha,'
did not arrive as soon as did Hadji. OF
all the linguists in Washington there
wasn't one who could read Menelik's let
ter TO Mr.. Roosevelt. Some New York
newspaper correspondent then fixed up a
story that maybe Menelik's emissary
was after all hoax and brought a lemon
to the President besides the lion skins.
Impressed Mai. Carson.
Fortunately for Hadji. Maj John N.
Carson, the chief of the Bureau of Man
ufactures. TO which Menelik's emissary
was directed TO secure pointers on trade,
was well impressed with the black prince. |
He lost no time in declaring he believed
that MeneliZ really sanf him a G vvas soo.r /