Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-28
Constitution for Abyssinia
Believed to Mean Progress

The decision OF Ras Tafari. Emperor
OF Abyssinia and "Conquering Lion Of
Judah" to grant constitution to his
country though insisting on his own
right to the throne of the new limited
monarchy, awakens a variety of COM
rent in America. The head of the
African nation is credited with shrewd-
ness In winning the friendship Of his
people and in following the world trend
1t is also declared that there are pros
poets Of advancement that may be aided
under the new order.
He reserves only the right, in order
to prevent future disputes to secure
the crown to the present dynasty" says
the Buffalo Evening News. While this
has the appearance Of self-intereSt on
the monarch's part, the fact remains
that Emperor Halle SelaSsie, for the
moment at least, has stepped out Of
the character created for him at his
respondent coronation. What the eff
fects Of the new order will be on the
international relations Of Abyssinia re-
main to be seen. Great Britain. France
and Italy long have been knocking at
the doors there, seeking railroad. power
dam and other concessions. Under an
absolute government ancient Ethiopia
has been able to bargain in, sometimes
to resist, international offers. However,
aside from all this, the new dispensa-
ton in Abyssinia may be regarded as a
shrewd move by King in an age when
kings seldom rule much or long"
Such action, taken by this ruler who
has the power of life and death over
his subjects" according to the Rock
Island Argus, sis most unusual. 1t is,
however, highly commendable. The En-
peror himself has become possessed of
the modern plea of government and de-
sires to rule his people in conformity
to it. The new arrangement doubtless
means much to the future development
of Abyssinia, and puts that kingdom in
closer touch with other systems of con-
stitutional government" The Argus
finds significance in the fact that the
monarch promised that legislation for
the development Of the empire would
be inspired by scientific principles
X X
"ne retains the headship and appar-
emily the friendship of the nation"
thinks the Savannah Morning News, Of
ton: 1.-THE Emperor of .Abyssinia evil
IDENTIFY heard what happened in Spain.
He took the lesson to heart. He's an
absolute rnonarch-or was until re-
Gently; Of course, then, he is free to do
as he pleases. And he has pleased to
abolish his own job as an absolute mon
arch. He's not going to have any revo-
lutions in his land; he is not going to
encourage himself to abdicate. He
wants to keep his place and, for one of
his class. he does the original thing to
do it. He sets up constitution for
Abyssinia, with two houses of Parlia-
ment; he gives the people large say;
he renounces the absolute phases of his
own Office"
His country is beginning to appear
as the bright spot in the sea of African
darkness. stable, progressive nation"
declares the Schenectady Gazette, re-
calling the recent history of the country
with the statement: within a few
decades it has had to fight to preserve
its independence. Its warriors and
leaders gave such a good account of
themselves as to win the respect Of
the world. Doubtless this necessity of
facing an outside enemy helped to bring
about greater unity than had hereto
fore existed, with various provinces in
the hands of different races. Capable
leaders, sensing the need Of national