Evening star., 1911-08-20


strifes between orieanist and Bourgogpe
parties. lie may see In them the assas-
sination at the bridge at Montereau or
the trial of Count d 'Armagnac. The sig
nificance of the expression 'Armaguacs
at Bourguipnons'' is stili a synony m to-
day OF irreconcilable hatred"
Menelik's punishment OF enemies was
sometimes terrible. IL Is true he had to
deal with some very Wild and infiexible
characters among the Abyssinian chiefs.
Death was often the doom of an enemy
captured in battle. IL is reported that
when Tecla. Haimanot. King of Yodjam.
was captured and brought before him
he appeared. as was the custom, with a
large stone upon his shoulder in token
OF submission. Three times Tecla threw
himself upon the ground. but Menelik
looked on vacantly. The courtiers.
thinking to find favor I'm the eyes Of
Menelik cried: Put him In chains: kill
him: give him up to the army"
Menelik arose finally. and. descending
the steps of the throne. raised up tho
unhappy prisoner king snd embracing
him said:
You are free: throw away that stone
vile fatterers who would excite me
against you"
On the occasion OF another severe at
tack of paralysis Ras Tessama Was
named regent and the fol-
Terrible lowing proclamation ISSUED.
''The victorious lion OF
Judah. etc. / have Instituted
Ras Bitoddede Tessama tutor of my herr
and grandson, Yasu. son of wazairo
Choa Rogga and Ras Michael. Should
any one dare cause trouble. malcdi, tions
upon him and may black dog be born
to him as a SON.
This time there u0S no unCprf ainfv N
the kings designation OF his heir, who
was Prince Yasu and no other. But
the Empress Taitu and her adhe-ents
were wroth.
In the commencement OF 1910 Ta.tu
attempted to impose her authority by
the rebellion of her army, which was
defeated in the battle at Koran. A few
months later the restless and ambitious
Taitu. supported by her brother Ras
Ollie. and others, renewed their IN
trigues. Tigre was stirred to revolt. The
Abata was in disgrace and the auth or
ity Of Regent Tessama eiuced almost
entirely.
At this moment the Choan chiefs in
terfered and, followed by their soldiers
marched to the habitation of Abuna
Mateos. their patriarch. ave wish
they said. Ito be relie.cI from our
oath OF fidelity to the empress. That
woman conspires against the country"
The patriarch caused the ansneis t. ba
brought. and when the chiefs were sworn
thereon that no blood should be shed
they were relieved from Their cath OF
allegiance to the empress.
The patriarch endedyored to see tie
empress but she refused 10 receive him
and caused her female attendants Ia IN
suit him. The patriarcn wrcte Ia iaitu
that 1t was necessary to the peace of the
country that she should abandon all al
thorty and retire. Taitu. after display
OF ill-temper. signed the act of abdica-
ton.
But Taitu had not yet surrendered.
When the Abuna returned to the Choan
chiefs and related what had passed they
decided to break Taitus power for trou-
BILE by confiscation of her property and
fortune. Taitu FASTENED to Menelik. The
scene that followed was dramatic I'm the
extreme. The foiled and enraged queens
first thought was to threaten the
wretched Meneuk with desertion. She
from whose hands he would only accept
food would abandon him to the care OF
servants, and hence the dreaded poison
was near.
Menelik. trembling, half-risen from his
bed, made frantic gesticulations, suppii-
cations and vain but horrible efforts to
articulate. Then. furious at the thought
of his situation, he became frantic. He
sent for his chiefs. and they, In the pres
ence of this horrible shadow of their
king, prostrated and humiliated them
selves. and went away uncertain as TO
their duty.
But there were brave men who UNDER
stood full well what this apparent VIC
tory OF the empress meant
Taitu for Prince Yasu. for
rh....s Abyssinia. These braves
S9Snou' collected their armed
men as If for battle, $1,000 in all They
marched first to the palace, where they
asked for Prince Yasu. Then they escort
ed their young emperor to the residence
of the minister of war. Ras Apte Gorguis,
suffering from a severe attack of rheu-
matism. The principal chiefs were bid
den to enter, with Prince Yasu at the
head, and seated themselves according
to rank. The scene that followed is
worthy of the brush Of an artist, the pen
of a historian.
Apte Gorguis opens this spontaneous
meeting of the nations council by an APP
the royal infant. The danger of the
country divided against itself Invoked
the fidelity of all. Pointing to the i'm
FAINT prince, the stern old warrior cried:
"Yasu is our master!'
A chief arose and, advancing, asked:
What If tomorrow Menelik, cured and
charged with imperial insignias. should
appear as before in the streets of Adds
Ababa?"
A silence fell upon all at that question.
empress? Tessama is mute. The child
prince is pale and remains quiet. his face
more sad than usual. Apte Gorguis ap-
pears to mediate profoundly. his cloak
drawn tightly against his closed lips.
Suddenly he rises, and, extending his
arm upward cries:
II implore the great God that IL such
a day should come. that He will accord
me the grace to flee from out this city"
And with q voice trembling with emo
ton, but terrible, he added. lifting his
hands: "I know the duty of these hands.
and for the salvation of the country they
should seize a gun and fire upon the old
emperor! / disavow Menelik. Ethiopians,
men Of Choa, do you desire civil war.
bloodshed, Ethiopia delivered over to the
foreigner? Do you wish to be slaves, or
do you wish to be free men? There.
given by God. given by Menelfk himself.
There Is your emperor. Yasu!''
And suiting the action to the word. he
pushed the boy Yasu to the front. The
effect was indescrfbable. AS one mighty
voice those stern warriors rang out their
acceptation, and rushing toward fasu.
they seized his toga, kissed II. prostrated
themselves before him. vowing to sac1-
fee their lives in his defense.
1t was thus that Yasu was made EN-
peror and Abyssinia saved from anarchy
by the patriotism and energy of Apte
Gorguis, The king is deadi Long live
the king. CHI. CHAILLE-LONG.