Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06
GOSSIP FROM EUROPE.

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GOSSIP FROM EUROPE.
Revival OF Piracy on the Barbary Coast
The French Elections.
Ell Pillar, Spanish war vessel cruising on the
coast Of Morocco, was last week fired on by
the Berbers. The captain thinking there might
be mistake somewhere, hoisted the Spanish
flag, but the rebels KEEP. up the hostiities even
in the face of this warning. Whereupon the
Pillar opened at once the fire of her guns and
routed them. This is evidently the beginning
of an action in which the European powers are
taking every day more interest. 1t is fact
now well established that the Moorish rebels
and pirates run the country of the sultan and
that his regular troops do not seem to be strong
enough to keep the country at peace. An
Arabian newspaper SAYS that in MAY the ship
San Antonio and the bark Goleta both Spanish
were captured b. pirates off the north coast of
Morocco, almost within sight of Europe. The
cargoes were Carried off to the mountain re-
treats Of the robbers. The captain of the Goleta
was taken inland. held for a ransom. beaten daily
and nearly starved for week 1t is probable
that the firing on the Pillar had the same OBJ
Ject In view. that is, to draw her near the coast
and then board her. The Sultan of Morocco
Will be called to answer for such an attack and
as there Ii only one way to get square with
him, viz, to submit him to a fine, Spain has
already announced her intention to call for an
indemnity. Vino are these outlaws whose &C.
casiOnal attacks on commerce the last ves-
tige Of the palmy days of piracy along the
Barbary coast? Among the Riff mount ins
stretching along the Mediterranean. live wild
bands OF Berbers, who recently defed the sultan
and his troops by putting to death the pasha
whom Muley Hassan undertook to place over
them rs a governor.
Their answer to him is characteristic of the
widest independence: 1--WE have no ruler ex-
cept our guns"
The Moorish armies have never been able to
get possession of the mountain areas where
they live. The Riff mountains almost overlook
Europe, yet they are among the least known
and the most inaccessible heights of Africa. A
lew travellers only, passing through them in
disguise, have been able within the last fifteen
years to collect information about these noun
taineers. But very little is known of them
They claim to be Of the pure Berber race the
descendants OF the aborigines of the country
who were dispossessed by the invasion Of Arabs
They live "a free air in walled towns that
often are perched high on the mountain sides.
as were medieval castles on the Rhine and on
the Alps. OF course they are bound to some
extent to cultivate the fertile soil Of their val
leys for the necessaries Of life, but they prefer
to be of on q fOray against Their peaceful Arab
neighbors south Of them. or to watch along the
coast for a chance to loot some small craft.
INDUSTRIOUS PIRATES.
Besides the recent attack on Ell Pillar, the
newspaper quoted above reports that six in
stances Of piracy have taken place within the
last fifteen months. and each time the Sultan of
Morocco has been called upon to Iay heavy
damages, though be is still turning his customs
duties into the Spanish treasury as indemnify
for the war of 1860. which precipitated in
part by the crimes Of the Berber outlaws. And
is vt,a,, 1air 1o.r
be broken, unless Morocco falls into the hands
Of either England or Spain. In fact a recent
cable from Paris SAYS that more and more it
becomes evident that in Morocco England is
desirous OF creating difficulties: that the rest
of Europe has a perfect right to refrain from
signing treaty with England, and that it is
impossible to consider this refusal as a 'casus
belh. " Such utterances coming from Paris
indicate that France ia on the "qui vive" The
cable continues: Fresh outbreaks against
Europeans are announced in Morocco and thus
Is seen the necessity for Intervention but
England should labor under no delusion.
France will never permit the Moorish question
to be settled unless she has something to say in
the adjustment. France has more rights in
Moorish affairs than England account of
the frontier of Morocco being that of Algiers."
Nevertheless, the English press expresses itself
In such firm way il the mission of Sir Smith,
the English plenipotentiary at Fee was the be-
ginning OF the execution of determined plan,
and the indications Of last week tend TO prove
that in the international meeting which will
be held at Madrid on the Moorish question and
on England's action and the probable Spanish
occupation of Morocco the triple sides with
England.
THE FRENCH ELECTIONS AND POLITICS
The report Of last weeks elections in France
shows great gain to the party Of the republic,
which is today that of the great majority of the
French people, both in towns and in the rural
districts. The ancient monarchic and Bona
partist parties have been losers for the past
twenty years in all the elections, but never has
an election proved more seriously the disap-
pearance OF the old parties and their waning
influence on the mind Of the French people.
The republic is established in France to live,
says radical newspaper and to live a life of
progress. Sectarianism cannot claim a hold in
France any more and this will come out in due
time, when our people will be called to pro-
nounce between the principle of the revolution
and the Vatican.
1t has been announced that France will send
her naval squadron Of the Mediterranean to
Genoa at the opening of the Columbian EXPOSE
ton as o mark of courtesy. This will take place
on the arrival Of King Humbert there in order
to repay similar courtesy shown by the italian
government when Signor Crispi, then president
OF the ministry, sent the Italian squadron to
Toulon on the arrival Of President Carnot.
Nevertheless the French press Of the sensational
character deny the possibility of such an event,
and the Ldnterne has burning paragraphs on
the subject. While exaggerated Journalism con-
tinue a campaign Of representations on the
coming war general period OF calm has sue
ceeded to the uncertainties of last spring. A
French daily says: Neither the speeches Of
Prince Bismarck nor the lamentations of the
papal nuncio can just now be taken in serious
consideration. The claims of the iron chancellor
to the right Of criticism upon Chancellor Won
Caprivi or on the manner he has been bounced
from his position do not interest us, and it
seems to us that it does not stir up Germany"
Fireman Stewart OF Alexandria Killed.
While standing on the step Of his engine,
watching for south-bound train on the Phila-
delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore railroad at