Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1893-12-14

NULEI HASSAN, SULTAN O6 HOROCCO.
s'the first efforts of Ferdinand the
Catholic were crowned with glory
chiefly because the Arabs, divided
among themselves, were unable to pre-
sent a steady front to enemies far
more mercilcss than themselves" The
history of the Inquisition teaches how
the poor fellows who refused to become
tho slaves OF their conquerors were ex-
terminated by fire, sword and torture;
and when, in this Columbian year, we
hear that the warlike Riffans have
again taken up arms against their he
reditary and cruel foe, the Spaniard,
we cannot but lose little Of that en-
thusiasm for Queen Isabella which the
board of lady managers Of the world S
fair tried SO hard to make general.
The Moors. who had established a
kingdom in northern Africa long be-
fore tllei1: expulsion from the Iberian
peninsula, were progressive race, but
in the course of time they had degen-
Grated into lazy, lascivious and
criminal nation. They intermarried
with Philippians, renegades from Eu-
rope, nomadic Arabs, Jews and Der.
bers. But through it all they kept
alive their hatred Of Spain. The Riff
fans, who are responsible for the re-
| cent attack on the Spanish fortress of
Melilla, located not far from the Alge-
rian border, are the most aggressive and
lawlcss tribe in northern Africa. They
are brave, well armed and supplied
| with excellent horses. Although nomi-
nally subjects of the sultan Of Morocco,
they pay no attention to his commands
and do as they please.
That Spain is afraid Of these hardy
mountain fighters cannot be denied.
Instead Of repulsing them, the Riffs
is worse, refuse to do the bidding OF
poor Mulcy Hassan, who trembles on
his throne. The fact of the matter is,
the sultan knows that his words of
command fall on rebellious ears and
that no amount Of entreaty can pacify
the maddcned Mussulman warriors.
The government at Madrid is well
aware Of this, but it does not relax its
grip on the Moorish ruler. That tile
Spaniards will ultimately whip the
Ri1fans is certain, and that it will de-
fnand q territorial indemnity after the
close Of hostilitics is equally patent.
Such a demand will reopen the Moorish
question which was, apparently, set
tied a year ago by Sir Euan Smith,
British commissioner extraordinary.
SPANS claims for territorial inde1n.
nifty will be seconded by France which,
as is well known, desires to extend its
Algerian possessions. Great Britain
would not object to a partition of the
empire, provided she could secure a
slice Of the pie in the shape Of the rich
province and city Of Tangier, popular.
~ known as the ''l1ey" to the Mediter-
rancan sea. With Gibraltar and Tan.
gier in her possession, England could
snap her fingers at France and Spain
as far as the control of that great
inland ocean is concerned. But Spain
and France will mover consent to See
Tangier in possession of the British
The government at Paris especially
would rather plunge into war than
give up to John Bull what she consid.
ers her own or her weaker neighbours.
For this reason the trouble at Melilla
is watched with intense interest in
every capital Of the old world. A year
ago it was thought that the great Eu'
ropean war might originate in Tangier.
For awhile these fears were allayed by
slSillful diplomacy. Now, however