National Republican., 1884-08-16
LIFE IN MOROCCO.
A Country About which the world

Knows Very Little-sIts Ruler and
Ita Pcopic--An Absolute Dcspotism.
TdngiT Letter from Ernst ron Hesso- Ipdrteg0.
OF all tho Mohammcdan states in
Africa and Asia there Is only one which
now remains inaccessible to European
culture and civilization. Turkey, Pales-
tine, Persia, Egypt Tripoli, Algiors, Tur-
kistan, India, and finally Tunis (ono of
the greatest strongholds Of Moham mmedan-
ism) have yielded TO the influence of
Christian nations. Morocco alone Of the
old Saracen countries remains as 1t was
centuries ago. With the single exception
of Algiers, these strongholds Of Islam,
were not taken by assault. In q quiot
and unpretending way Europeans entered
them, and il has been due to slow diplo-
matte action and commercial intercourse
that tho religious and political barriers
have been broken down. After having
once obtained admission to tho countries
Of tho Turkan and tho green flag, and
after possessing themselves Of the priv
ileges Of native.born Mohammedans, the
superior intelligence and trading capacity
of the Europeans soon made them mas
ters of tho commerce, the industry, and
finally of the governments of these
Tho rulers Of Morocco alono of all
these Mohammedan countries seemed to
understand that they and their govern
ment would soon have to share the fato OF
their neighbors If they gave Europeans
an opportunity to settle within their
states. Now that the wave OF conquest
has reached tho borders Of Morocco, ii
becomes q serious question whether
Morocco will be able to continue much
longer its policy Of isolation. doubt it
strongly. Formerly tho European states
had other Oriental countries in view, and
the most pronounced jealousy and selfish
ness prevented them from striking the
blow against the Moorish empire; but the
time has como when the overthrow of the
sultan of Morocco Is seriously cOntcm-
plated. The gain to tho conquering states
would be enormous; indeed, the conquest
is an unavoidable necessity, and in p0lit-
ical circles Of Europe the eventuality Of
war with Morocco is being earnestly dis
cussed.
Heretofore 1t has been traditional to
regard Morocco as future colony OF
Spain, and to consider the Iberian penin-
sula as destined by nature to tear down
the green flag Of the prophet from the
walls of Fec. Not only would this ap-
pear to be the historical duty of Spain, in
centuries ago, but it looks also like a
commercial necessity. Spain is the near
est neighbor of Morocco, only separated
from it by narrow channel, which can
be crossed in few hours. The few Eu-
ropeans living and trading in the citios
along the Moorish coast are Spaniards.
The jewish inhabitants in the interior
towns of Morocco are of Spanish descent,
and the only European language known
in Morocco is the Spanish Nevertheless
the sultan of Morocco has less to fear from
Spain than from his other powerful
neighbor, France.
tor in the political problem Of northern
Africa. She has conquered Syria and
Palestine, as well as Egypt, Tunis and
AlRiers. France has successfully under
taken the difficult task of civilizing the
two last named countries, and, the barbar-
Gus and fanatical population of Morocco
being close on their western frontier,
France has evidently better right to
interfere than any other nation. The
final conquest of Morocco and the estab-
lishment of great French colony over
the whole western part Of North Africa is
indeed q settled fact with European diplo-
matists.
The French do not possess tho reputa-
Algers they have achieved wonderful
results. To see Algiers fifty years ago.
you have only to visit Morocco. 1t is
the same as Algiers was then, only
poorer, moro wretched, and more fanati-
cal. DurInR my JrhvelB IN foreign con-
tinents and countries found signs OF
European influence everywhere, some
times minute and unimportant, but i
travelled IN Morocco for days without OBJ
| ...IN nf. ns
tion. Neither European customs and
manners nor any of our great modern in
ventions have ever been introduced into
Morocco. There is no telegraph, no news-
paper, no railroad, no bridge, no steam
engine, no road. A carriage has never
been seen In Morocco, and would proba-
bly, be looked at by the population as
something superhuman. People in other
Mohammedan countries have accepted
European articles of dress, furniture,
, chairs, mirrors, and pictures; but in the
whole vast empire of Morocco there will
be found neither, except in tho palace oi
Muley Hassan, the sultan, who receives
some articles of European make with
, every visit of q foreign ambassador. He
, gets fauteuils, curtains, mirrors, Candida
bras, and never makes use of them. They
are stored away within the imperial
. harem. Even tho emperor's throne
is still simple wooden platform
. without any ornamentation. The little
. gilt carriage which Queen Victoria pre-
sented to him has never been used, and
Is rotting in dark corner of the palace
The locks and tho keys in the houses are
, of the same gigantic size and grotesque
form as those Of medieval times. Ploughs
and other agricultural implements are
D similar to those known to us through the
t Bible. Nations thought to be of much in.
. ferior capacity, like those of South Africa
. dishes, looking glasses. beads, woven
, materials, and other goods from European
' traders, but oven the most popular of ouI
, products, spirits. is despised by the in.
habitants Of Morocco. With the exception
: Of the small ports on the seacoast there il
=. neither hotel nor regular conveyance
] to be found in the whole empire. The
traveller has to ride on horses, donkeys, ol
f camels. He has to swim the rivers, and
/. must sleep under his own tent. In short
l his mode of travel Is the same as in on
5 entirely uninhabited country.
) Absolutely barbaric in their habits, the
! five or six millions ofinhabitants--a cen.
0 sus was never taken-cannot be said
! however, to be entirely deprived of 8
certain kind of civilization. But thii
!. civilization is Numerically opposed t.
our own. After having carefully observed
} their habits and modes of life car
\ readily understand why you could easier
make a Chinaman or an Indian accep
1 our civilization than Moor. / will
, quote but o fow instances in daily life
! To honor person the European arise
d and removes his hat; the Mussulmar
remains seated with his head covered
s When entering place of worship, or
o house, instead of removing his hat
@ the Mussulman takes off his shoe
o and leaves them outside the door. w,
: consider the right side as the place o
s honor; the Moor tho left. When inviting
n friand 10 antar h,a hnusa tha No.. st n "a