END OF THE ASHANTEE WAR.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 277, 26 June 1874, Page 3

END OF THE ASHANTEE WAR.

Sir Garnet Wolseley's motive for, halting on his return march from Coomassie to the coast is at least satisfactorily explained. It was not to be supposed that he had relied simply on the King's assurances, and it might have appeared that, after the destruction of his capital, the King had nothing to lose, and therefore had nothing to gain by a treaty. A few days before the date of his last despatches Sir Garnet Wolseley knew nothing of Captain Glover's advance, which has turned a military success into a complete political success. The other officers who had been employed to raise native levies utterly failed in their attempts to induce any part of their force to enter the Ashantee country. Captain Butler and Captain Dalrymple finally abyndoned their enterprise, although, according to Sir Garnet Wolseley's generous acknowledgment, they had in the meantime effected, through the uneasiness caused to the enemy, a useful diversion in favor of the main body. Captain Glover had on the 30th of January advanced with a force of auxiliary troops to a point only twenty miles distant from Coomassie; but although he must have been almost near enough to hear Sir Garnet Wolseley's guns, he had neither effected a junction with the English army, nor.even succeeded in conveying intelligence of his movements to the Commander-in-Chief. During the following days Captain Glover continued his advance, and despatched Captain Sartorius to the camp of the Commander-in-Chief. "Finding themselves threatened in the North after the destruction of their capital, the Ashantees appear to. have been struck with panic. The overtures for a treaty which induced • Sir Garnet Wolseley to halt at .the Andansi hills were the genuine result of terror. ,

Optimists have' naturally remarked that the destruction of Coomassie will produce a more lasting effect on the public opinion of Western Africa' than any treaty which could have been recorded on parchment; but Sir Garnet Wolseley apparently held a different opinion when be hoped to induce, the King to make peace-in persm." There are not sufficient materials forjudging whether the result of the expedition will be the destruction of the Ashantee power. The coast tribes have afforded clear indications • of their profound respect for an enemy who evidently possesses great compacity for warlike organization. Little or nothing is known of the Mahometans or Pagans of the interior, who may either be encouraged by the proof that Coomassie is not absolutely unapproachable, or impressed with the inability of the European invaders to retain their conquest for three or four days. The Ashantee kingdom, like every other power, depends for existence, not on the judgment of neighbors, but on, its own intrinsic force. Recent experience has shown that the King can muster a large force, and that his troops can fight with much obstinacy. Without arms of precision, guns and rockets, and English skill and discipline, no invader could have made his way to Coomassie. It is not even certain that the defenders of the country will acknowledge their defeat, the legends which will preserve for indigenous use the history of the war will be in the first instance shaped by the Ashantees themselves, and the lion will probably invert the fable by representing himself as victorious against , the man. There is perhaps some ground for anticipating the overthrow of the kingdom by internal disorder. Yet it seems that the commands of the King are implicitly obeyed ; nor is it known that any discontent is caused by a system of Government which scarcely ''approves itself- to a civilised judgment. The withdrawal of some of the chiefs in the neighborhood of the Erahe from, the Ashantee territory may perhaps deprive the King: of the services of some of his feudal dependents ; but it also implies that the integrity of his dominions will not be impaired. There can be little doubt that for some time to come he will be incapable of aggression. The future fortunes of the Ashantee monarchy, whether it prospers or collapses, will be regarded in England with profound indifference as long;as there is no renewal of the war.— : ' Spectator.'