New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-05

course of legal proceedings begun before the
patent was issued. In like manner protection
had formally been granted to another Moham-
medan, FL Hihi, who was acting under power
of attorney for Leon Wahnish. citizen OF the
United States; and this protege was also ar
rested bis goods and camels were seized, his
estates plundcred. and his wives and children
publicly logged. In both cases American pro-
lection has not been recognized by the local
authorities as affordng immunity from civil
and criminal proceedings under native juris-
diction. One native is still imprisoned, and
no reparation or apology has been offered Tor
the indgnilics and outrages to which the other
has been subjected. Controversy has also
arisen over the list of persons under American
protection, the Sultan's Foreign Minister pro-
posing TO limit It to twelve names. Consul
Lewis also complains of insulting conduct on
the part of the Basba of Tangler. who resented
his action in appealing to the Sultan respecting
a legal question involved in tenancies OF mosque
property, and laid the case before the Diplo-
matte Corps.
So far as the Consuls personal grievances
are concerned his diplomatic associates can
probably be depended upon TO judge for them
selves whether the Basha has or has not COM
piled with the requirements Of official etiquette.
Presumably. three men of-war have not been
dispatched to Tangier for the sake of impress
ing the Sultan with the necessity OF scfup-
ulously regarding the amour propre OF the
American Consul. Probably the naval dem
onstration has been ordered for the purpose
of indicating the rights OF the Mohammedan
proteges OF the United States Government I'M
der the Madrid Convention Of 1880. Curious
" enough that convention was designed to
restrict the practice Of giving protection to
Moorish subjects by foreign consular officers
and Of exempting them from the payment OF
local taxes. Secretary Evarts, in instructing
General Fairchild, Minister to Spain. to attend
the Morocco Conference, called his attention to
the complaints which had been made Of undue
activity on the part of United States consular
officials in granting patents Of protection. and
affirmed that the Department was " cordially IN
favor of the adoption by common consent Of
an equitable rule which may do away with the
excessive and injurious exercise Of the pre-
rogatve OF foreign protection Of natives" The
conference had been preceded by a series OF
diplomatic councils at Tangier. at which the
United States Consul-GeneIal was shown to
have made a very large use Of this privilege OF
projecting natives. The resident diploma'ists
admitted that the practice which had grown
up under treaty stipulations was unjust to the
Moorish Government and burdensome to It's
cxchequer. The conference at Madrid under
took to remove abuses Of this privilege and to
restrict the number Of natives entitled to pro-
lection. In view OF these facts it is alike
singular and unfortunate that the first serious
controversy arising under the new convention
should be based upon the undue activity Of
United States officials in availing themselves
of their abridged privileges.
The diplomatic practice of guaranteeing the
safety of natives in semi-civilized countries is
one which is steadily declining, common sense
and morality alike condemning it. Political
refugees may be Justly entitled to the right of
asylum in foreign consulates; interpreters and
necessary native officials should also be pro-
tected; but the indiscTiminate use which Con-
sui Lewis seems to have made Of his privilege
Of adopting NIoors as favored proteges of the
United States Government seems both mis-
chevous and unnecessary, and almost certain
10 lead to barren controversy. lie certainly
fails in his dispatches to Justify his own med
dlesome activity in the Barhary States, and we
are utterly at loss to understand why three
vessels-of-war have been placed at his disposal
ostcnsibly for enforcing demands which evil
IDENTIFY have not been presented with much
Judgment or tact. Secretary Bayard appar-
emily has been impressed with the gravity of
the crisis and the urgent necessity for pro-
tecting tho rights of these American" Moors
A naval demonstration is token Of unwontcd
energy and interest. 1t is almost enough TO
encourage the poor fishermen Of the New
England Coast to turn Mohammedans in the
hope of securing substantial support from the
State Department.
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