The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-05 00:00:00

AI3D-EL-KADER.

The Constilutionnel makes the history of Abd-el-
Kader the subject of a very long article, in which it
says :

Abi-el-Kader, in the wiar which he waged against
France, had the merit of introducing a new law of na-
tions hitherto unknown in these countries. The Mus-
sulman, though charitable and hospitable during peace,
is pitiless during war. From the time of the Turks, no
prisoners were ever taken in the struggles of the Osman-
lis against the Arabs. Abd-el-Kader, imitating our ex-
ample, adopted another practice. Ho ono day gave un-
conditional liberty to 80 French prisoners, in return for
which we released several thousand Arabs. We wish we
could add that he always remained firm to these maxims.
Would to God he had closed his ears to the sanguinary
advice which was given to him at a moment of forgetful-
ness and despair. But let us draw a veil on the disae.
trous scenes of the Moulouia, which we know have left a
bitter souvenir in the heart of the Emir. The organis-
ing spirit of Ablel-Kader is not only manifested in the
administration of the tribes, but in the creation of his
regular baltalions , of his disciplined cavalry, of his ar-
senals, cannon-foundries, and powder manufactories, and
of all the means of defence which be brought into use to
stop the conquest of the French. We must only speak
with esteem of these attempts of a heroic enemy, who,
admitting the superiority of our civilisation, endeavoured
to acquire its secrets. What matters it if the event dis-
appointed his previsions, and if he could not, as he bad
announced, make his horse drink at the fountain of the
Great Mosque of Algiers, if his efforts have only tended
to complete the work of our domination. It is not a
trifling glory for him to have struggled against warriors
such as Marshal Bugeaud and the young generals formed
by the war in Africa ; the power of the conqueror is
certainly a title of honour for the conquered. Too
much praise cannot be given to tho obstinate courage of
Abd-el-Kader in that memorable struggle. Some traits
taken promiscuously will better show his character than
long recitals, After the capture of the Smala he was
told that his wife and those of his lchalifas had fallen
into the bands of the French. The blow was a terrible
one. Abd-el-Kader, apparently, at least, was unmoved.
Praise be to God 1' he cried, these people cause mo
much uneasiness, embarrass all my movements, and turn
me from the right path. I shall be more free for the
future to harass the infidels.' Understanding. besides,
like a skilful politician, what influence might be exercised
on his fortune by an event which destroyed his prestig',
and e hicti had robbed him of his family end of his ser-
vants, he wrote on the following day to one of his khalifas,
The French have made a razzia on my Smala during
my absence. We have lost some women, but we are not
ssrry for it, as we are less encumbered for war. The
wives of Ben-Allel have been taken, but the next day he
married the dauehter of Berkani; we, therefore, think
no more of it.' His correspondence with his lieutenants,
who became more and more discouraged, show him to
be always indefatigable and ardent in the struggle; ap-
pealing by turns to ssntiments of religion and to inspira-
tions of patriotism, concealing his defeats, and, like a
lion, evading by stratagem and turnings the pursuit of
the huntsman. Abd-el-Kader never displayed more re-
sources of mind than in his days of adversity. His
emissaries never ceased going through the country,
creating diversions and re-lighting the torch of war.
Twice compelled to take refuge in Morocc ), he at length
succeeded in embroiling us with the Emperor Abderrah-
man—a difference which was put an end to by the bat-
tle of Islay. He afterwards attempted to dethrone the
Emperor himself in order to renew the struggle with
the Moorish forces. Failing, however, in his attempts,
he again sought an asylum in our territory, and soon
after delivered himself up into our hand, declaring that
his role was finished, and that he had no other ambition
than to live free and unknown in a Mussulman country.
Never could a greater homage be paid to the generosity
of our country. He would have been pitilessly put to
death by A bderrahman; with us ho found an honour-
able captivity, and now he has had full and entire liberty
given him; ho is treated by us not as an old enemy, but
as a friend."