Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-11
Often
Dead

''MeneIik's death record"
Oeau. The countless obituary
notices in the press Of the world. highly
eulogistic, would prove valuable col
lection and secure. perhaps. for the coll
lector donor some valuable concession
from Menelk.
Notwithstanding his death reported
even by those who saw the old Negus
Menelk put away and the new emperor,
Ledj Eyassu. proclaimed Negus Negust.
or king OF kings" Menelik lives. and al
though still reported suffering from sew
eral paralytic strokes. may live for many
years.
A dispatch from Rome. dated Septem-
Der L. created surprise by the announce
ment that Menelik had suffered another
attack OF apoplexy, but that immediate
fatal termination OF his illness seemed
removed" On the 9Th instant dispatch
from Adds Ababa corroborated the at
tack and the apparent convalescence. The
indifference of news from Abyssinia l.
due to the fact that bad news as TO the
monarch's death is enveloped in mystery
for reasons of state.
IL Is 10 be borne i'm mind that govern
ment in AbyssIria is feudal in character
and analogous I'm many ways TO govern
ments of medieval Europe. There is a
nebulous sort OF state council. consisting
OF raises. or chiefs of provinces, which
constitutes the power behind the throne.
ard this was essentially true few years
past, when the succession was decided by
individual combat-''the best man wins
Now, however, the succession is arranged
by decree of the reigning monarch. but
Abyssina is still refractory 10 this new
order Of things, and this condition is a
matter of much solicitude on the part of
Great Britain. France. Italy and Ger
many, directly interested In the exploita-
ton Of Abyssinia politically and economi-
cally.
Menelik. King OF Choa. who was born
in 1872 succeeded to the throne as su-
preme ruler Of Abyssinia
MenellkS on the death of Johannes
Acoa..;on III. Emperor OF Ethiopia.
In 1859. Ii Is a matter OF
remark that the British government has
already conferred upon Negus Negust
while king of kings the orders of G. c.
B. and G. c. NJ. c.. marks OF affection
and esteem.
the King OF Choa. in 1855 was seized and
imprisoned at Gondar by King Theodoros
who finally obliged him to marry his
daughter BAHAMA Menelik escaped from
the tOilS OF MS lmperlouS fafhcr-fu-i "
In 1856. and reaching Choa he was well
coined and installed king. He then de-
clred war against Theodoros and, I'm
turn, against Johannes. whom he sue
ceeded as Menelik III, Emperor of Eth
opia.
There are some romantic stories told OF
Menelik. one Is that he is grandson of the
French poet Lamartine. The lamar
tines, il Is said. went 10 Abyssinia with
their eight-year-old daughter Julie In
10 cso rofo fnu hot Y,,li.
stolen and sold in a slave market In
Abyssinia and purchased by the King OF
Choa- Menelik is her son.
II Is necessary as connected with treaty
relations of tho country 10 note that IL
was Great Britain which led the Italians
into Massowah. IN violation of the rights
acquired BY purchase by Egypt. which
country paid the government of the SUBJ
lime porte the sum OF e16.O0 Did Great
Britain or Italy reimburse Ismail Pasha,
khedive the rapt? Never a plaster.
In 1870. ii is interesting to recall, Great
Britain seized Zeilah. in 1870 Berbera.
Bravo. Kismayu and the Egyptian eaua-
torial provinces of Uganda. I-nyoro. etc.
In 1879. i'm command OF an EGYPTIAN ex-
petition bound for the ports of Eismayu
and Mombas. my expedition-that IS Cor
dons expedition, for IL was his inspira-
tion-stopped in AT Berbera for neceS-
sares. Gen. Snyder of the British army,
commanding at Alden, sent an officer with
a detac hment to know OF the comma nding
officer by whose authority he was landing
troops at Berbera. go tell your chief,
by orders of the sovereign ~ the coun-
try and" 7 added laughingly. "by Gen
Gordon's orders. and il Gen. snyder
deems ii insufficient ask him what lie
proposes TO do about it,"
Gen. Baratieri. who commanded al Mas
souah, was forced into attacking the
Abyssinians by the too
italian ambitious and unscrup-
49,. ulous Crispi was defeated
0e1o1n' at Amba-Alaghi and
Adowa Menelik denounced the treaty Of
1889 and assured the recognition of the
independence of Abyssinia by the treaty
of October 26 1896.
December -, 1906. Great Britain. France
and Italy undertook by an agreement
of that day to recognize. respect and
maintain the integrity of Abyssinia; TO
act so that industrial concessions granted
in the interest of one nation should not
injure the other. to abstain from inter
vention in Abyssinian internal affairs; TO
concert together for the safeguarding OF
their respective interests in territories
bordering on Abyssnia: to make agree
ment concerning railway construction:
equal treatment in trade and transit for
their respective nationals.
The powers directly interested in rail-
way construction in Abyssnia have been
SO hopelessly divided that little prog
ress has been made toward the develop
ment and exploitation of that country.
The feudalistic character of the gov,
eminent is illustrated by the struggle for
supremacy, not SO much now, on the part
of the rasses. as for the aspirations OF
the present empress.
Menelik has undoubtedly shown much
capacity in overcoming the rivalries that
existed in Abyssinia. His own adj
ministraton was just, generous and con-
ciiiatory. and he endeavored 10 incul-
cate this spirit among The hitherto tur-
bulent raises. For centuries bitter
of Tigre in the north and those OF Choa
in the south Having overcome these
feuds In a measure. Menelik has eStab-
lished something like a stable union,
which has been cemented by a marriage
between Wazairo Choa Rogga. Menelik's
daughter by Banafo, and Ras Michael,
an important Tigran prince.
There has always been bitter feeling
in AbysSinia between the north and the
south. This rivalry Is climatic, rather
than racial. and is manifested in other
countries than Abyssinia. The marriage
prince was bold stroke of policy on the
part of Menelik. But If lacked the merit
of pleasing the Empress Taitu.
The Empress Taitu has many enthusi-
astic admirers IN the American press
who do not hesitate 70 speak OF her as
another Queen of sheba, or another
CLEOPATRA" Alas. whatever pretension
TO beauty and form Taitu may have
possessed has long ago disappeared in
the fat that envelops the now ponderous
empress.
Taitu is not beautiful. far from II.