Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-08-25
An African Revolt.

InCre is war III .Noftnern Africa, and tor
once during the last few years it is entirely
disconnected from French interests in Al
gicrs, and also from French intrigues with
neighboring States. he truth is, rebellion
has broken out in Morocco against the EN-
pcror, Muloy-Abderrbaman, who is now
cighty-two years of age. Still he resolved
to suppress the revolt, and took the field with
his son at the head Of very numerous forces
The rebels are the ScmmurS Ctribes of the
interior, and according to the latest account
they have debated The Imperial troops III a
battle. We learn from the Paris PoyS that
the Emyeror on the 2lst of Nav, set out
from Mackinez at the head of COCO men of
the black guards, 1000 men of the regular
infantry, and 5000 horscmen to attack the
Seumurs in their OWN territory, while his
SON. Sidi Mohammed, advanced with Is, ,0U0
men from nabat for the same purpose The
rebels hastily retreaied into the interior of
the country, leaving their tents and baggage
to the mercy of the invaders. The Empe-
ror, deceived by Arab guides whom he con-
sidered trustworthy, was suddenly, after
reaching the mountainous regions, surroun
ded by the Semmurs, and sustained disas-
trous defeat, etfecting his return to Fez only
by 4 series OF almost miraculous escapes. But
this is by no means the worst feature Of the
matter, for the revolt is fast extending to
neighboring tribes, and the Amazirgs, who
were conquered in 1925, after terrible and
bIoody war, have made common cause with
the Semmurc In word, the prestige of
Imperial power no longer exists. The En-
pcrOr is no longer regarded as iavincible.
Seperate Kingdoms are the objects Of the re-
bellion, and national Independence is the
watchword. Should the Empire of Morocco
be split into fragments, or even sundered into
two or three separate nations, there can be
no difficulty in predicting European interfe-
renee. at least SO far as respects Spain, and
probably France. Spain, indeed, with her
border African settlements, must ever keep a
watchful eye on her dueky neig ghbors, while
France might look politically towards enlar-
gipg her acquisitions IN westerly directions
especially inland, where all the tribes are semi
barbarous, No one will regret an exchange
from the very worst phase of Mahomedan
>vranny, with all its horrid accompanimeuts
of enslaved captivcs, piracy, polygamy and
capital punishmcnts, as they prevail in Mo
rocco, I1r such reforms as a revolution would
probably produce-whle, 2e.haps, it may not
be too much to hope, that political alterations
will lead to the introduction of Christianity.
The fate of Africa generally, seems to be
rom the Red Sea to the Atlantic, and from
the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good
Hope. The ever extending British colony
towards the North, the French region of Al
geria, the reforms in Egypt, tSc establish
ment of the Republic of Liberia on the west
ern coast by Americans, the British stations
at Cape Coast Castle, and other icrts aud
towns, together with the Spanish posse ssions
facing Gibraltar, may be regarded as so many
heralds of better condition of things IN
Africa-while the journeyings of Dir. Li-ing
stone into the interior of that sandy continent,
promise to reveal to the civilized world the
mysteries of tropical interior, which have
thus far been as sealed book to the more
cultivated portions of the human family.
And then-gradest reform of all-the slave
trade is warred against by the most infuen-
tial Christian Powers! 1t has justly become
infamous, and is fast passing away to obliv-
ion We repeat-there are hopes of more
cheerful hereafter for the land Of the colored
races Of men.