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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 11, 1916)
The Monitor A National Wt „*/aper Devoted to the Interests of the Colored / ^.cricans of Nebraska and the Northwest THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor $1.50 a Year. 5c a Copy Omaha, Nebraska, Nov. 11, 1916 Vol. II. No. 20 (Whole No. 72) A New Queen Sits On the Throne of Ethiopia F. Cunliffe-Owen Writes in The Sun Concerning Her Accession and Tells Why the Western Powers Are Worried Over the Event. Ethiopia, that is to say, Abyssinia, has a new ruler in the person of Em press Zeoditu, who has supported the young Emperor Jeassu on the throne once occupied by her ancestress, the Biblical Queen of Sheba, for it is from that lady’s infatuation for Solomon, King of Israel, that Zeoditu claims lineal descent, and the principal Abys sinian order of knighthood founded by her father, the late Emperor Menelek, bears the name of the Seal of Solo mon. Empress Zeoditu’s accession to the crown cannot but excite a certain amount of uneasiness among the European Powers and even here in the United States, which has succeed ed in establishing some commercial re lations with Abyssinia. For whereas the deposed Negus Jeasu, although a confirmed drunkard, is keenly inter ested in everything foreign, is eager to introduce every sort of foreign re form and innovation, and longs to visit Western nations, Empress Zeoditu, now 40 years of age and twice mar ried, shared all the anti-foreign preju dices of her aunt, the late Empress Taitu to whom she was devoted, and represents today everything that is most reactionary in Ethiopia. It is too early to predict whether the policy of Abyssinia under the new reign will be to close up that country to foreigners and to transform it once more into a sort of hermit empire and Forbidden Land, such as was Japan until the advent there of Commodore Perry in 1854, and such as was Thibet up to the time of the expedition under Sir Francis Younghusband to the sacred and mysterious city of Lhassa; or whether it will be one of aggres sion against the neighboring French and Italian Red Sea colonies of Jibutil and Erythrea, as well as against the Anglo-Egyptian possessions in the Sudan, just beyond the borders of Ethiopia. But whatever course the new Empress may decide upon, the feeling of relative security enjoyed by these European neighbors of Abys sinia for a number of years past is now at an end, and they will find it necessary to adopt more or less elab orate measures for the protection of their colonial possessions in that part of the world. Abyssinians Pleased. Emperor Jeassu’s deposition and the elevation of Empress Zeoditu to the throne in his stead are regarded by the Abyssinian people of every class in the light of the reparation of a great wrong. The selection by the late Emperor Menelek of his grand son Jeassu as his successor was ex tremely unpopular, for it constituted a violation of the most solemn pledges made by the late Negus at the time of the death of the Emperor Theodore, near half a century ago. On that occasion both Johonnes, King of Tigre, and Menelek, King of Shoa, were candidates for the imperial throne of Ethiopia. After much ma neuvering an agreement was con cluded between the two, according to the terms of which Menelek gave way to Johannes on the understanding that the latter would proclaim him as his successor. At the same time it was agreed that Zeoditu, the daughter of Menelek by his first wife, should marry Prince Aria, the son of Emper or Johannes, also known as the Negus John, and that on Menelek’s death he should bequeath the imperial throne to his own daughter and to her hus band, Prince Aria, son of Negus John. This convention was ratified by all the great Ras, or military chieftains, and by rulers of the vassal States of Abyssinia, as well as by the Abuna, or Primate, and the principal ecclesi astical dignitaries of Abyssinia on the Gospels and it received the approba tion of the entire Abyssinian people. On the death of Johannes, who fell fighting bravely in the battle of Metemma against the Sudan dervishes in March, 1889, Menelek succeeded, as arranged, to the imperial throne, pro claiming his daughter Zeoditu and her husband, Prince Aria, the son of Ne gus John as his successors. Cause of Jaessu’s Downfall. The cable despatches announcing the deposition of Emperor Jaessu and the elevation of Princess Zeoditu to the throne in his stead are very brief, and perhaps in the course of a few weeks we shall receive the detail of this coup d’etat at Addis Abeba. But in view of what I know of conditions that have existed there until now, it may safely be taken for granted that the popular aversion to Emperor Jaes su, due to the Moslem birth of his father, Ras Mikhael, and attributable also to his exaggerated leanings to ward everything foreign and to the recknessness of his conduct and poli cies arising from the drunken habits, which, according to latest accounts, he has developed, has come to a head and culminated in a rising against him. Among other contributory causes of his downfall have undoubtedly been the way in which he has flouted and insulted the more conservative of the great nobles, chieftains and Ras, who may be said to hold positions in Abys sinia akin to the great feudal barons in England in the days of the Plantag enet kings; and the belief, widespread throughout the nation, that Menelek had rendered himself guilty of a wicked, wholly unlawful and even sacrilagious act in appointing his grandson Jaessu as his successor after swearing upon the Gospels and by everything that the Abyssians hold holy to vest the succession to his throne in his daughter, Princess Zeoditu, and her husband, Prince Aria, the son and heir of Negus John. Jaessu has ever since his succes sion been considered in the light of a usurper, and Zeoditu as the rightful heir to the imperial throne, not only as the daughter of her father’s eldest daughter—he had no son—but also as he heir to the rights of her first hus band, Prince Aria, son of Negus Jo hannes. Love Story of Empress Taitu. Taitu, like other members of the im perial dynasty, was able to boast of descent in a direct line from the Bibli cal Queen of Sheba and Solomon, the wisest King of the Jews. In common with all the princes and princesses of Abyssinia’s ancient dynasty, she was exiled by Emperor Theodore in the early part of the ’60’s and took (Continued on Page 11.) Mother Receives Award for Heroic Son Harrisburg, Pa., Nov. 10.—The mother of Julius T. Malone, Athens, Ga., was awarded a silver medal and $10.00 monthly for support during her life. Malone, a Colored man, aged 38, saved an indeterminate number of persons and died attempting to res cue others from burning at Los An geles, Cal., on November 18, 1912. Fire was discovered at night near the elevator shaft on the second floor of a six-story hotel building. The ele vator man after making a few res cues deserted his post. Malone, who was the hotel engineer, took his place and brought down one or more loads of guests. Again ascending he was forced to abandon the lift at an up per story. A few minutes later he tumbled down the stairs into the lobby with his clothing aflame. Hur ried to a hospital, Malone died from his burns. TERRELLS CELEBRATE SILVER ANNIVERSARY Washington, D. C.—Saturday eve ning, October 28, Judge and Mrs. Rob ert H. Terrell celebrated the twenty fifth anniversary of their marrige From 8 until 12 o’clock their hand some home on T street was crowded with hundreds of friends who came to offer felicitations. Gifts of silver were received from friends from all parts of the country. A FAITHFUL EMPLOYEE Philadelphia, Nov. 10.—Charles Dorsey recently completed 30 years continuous service as an employee of the Union League. Only one em ployee has been there longer than he. Mr. Dorsey was the recipient of many congratultions. Studying Industrial Conditions of Race Investigators Here to Gather Informa tion of Labor Demand and Supply. Found Useful in Regulating the Movement of Colored Workers About Country. William Jennifer and Charles E. Hall, Colored investigators of the di vision of information of the United States immigration service, were in Omaha Friday and .Saturday, inquir WILLIAM JENNIFER (Upper) CHARLES E. HALL (Lower) ing into the conditions of the Colored population of the city. The two Colored investigators ar rived in the city Friday morning and called upon Postmaster Fanning, who gave them all the assistance possible to enable them to accomplish their purpose in a short time and leave for other cities on their itinerary. “One of the bureaus of the United States department of labor is the di vision of information,” said Mr. Jenni fer “and our problem is to direct the seeker for opportunity to place where the opportunity exists and place him in a position to take advantage of it, to distribute the supply of wage earn ers so that there will be no congestion (Continued on Page 16.