The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-12-30
A GLANCE AT MOROCCO.
THE WORLDS MOST COMPLETES
DESPOTISM.
One of the Mandates of Its Ruler Is
That His Subjects Shall Obey All
Eoreicners-Atrocious Cruelties.

IL has been often remarked OF late that
the Emperor of Morocco is about the
most absolutely despoiic monarch of
whom the world knows anything in
these days. He has Ministers, but they
are merely his favorites for the time being,
and subject TO his within. He has no
laws 10 bother him save his will, and no
presidents TO respect or unpopular rep
resentatives TO fear. He, himself, is law
and Justice, and 5000, 600 people hold
their lives and property subject TO his
nod.
And yet his power is in many direc-
tions very narrowly circumscribed The
representatives. of foreign nations have
very diligently cut his claws. They have
taken the natives under consular protec-
tion so freely that Emperor Muley Hassan
must frequently have wondered whether
or no he has any subjects 70 punish in
that portion of his domains occu-
pied by the foreigners. That is a good
thing in its way, but a few years ago
there was an angry dispute when il was
found that, though there were only three
Americans in Morocco, our consul there
had made $50 American citizens out of
the natives, that he himself insisted
bPOh uNiuS eucai JubSos ahu bhas hS was
in the habit of thrusting into prison any,
body against whom they made COM
plant. The Emperor has been fright
ened out Of his wits 10y these proceed
ings. fearing that they might lead TO the
d~ismemberment OF his empire; and q
few years ago he ordered his subjects
implicitly to obey all foreigners aud all
people protected by them. Dark crimes
against person and property have been
committed under this sanction, and many
Of these shrewd proteges, and not a few
consuls as well have grown rich from it.
Though the Moors nave been nominal
rulers of Morocco for 400 years they have
never really been rulers of the whole
country. The native Berbers we're
driven TO the mountains, and there they
have ever STAGE remained, defiant and I'M
conquered, and the emperors of Morocco
have been glad enough 10 LIT them alone.
The kabyles Of the Riff coast, who re-
Gently opposed the Spaniards at Melilla,
belong to his stock, and Muley Hasssn
can in no way control them. They are
a far superior lace to the Moors, who
are in fact largely Arabs diluted with
Spanish and other blood.
Human slavery fourishes openly and
without hindrance there. even in the ac-
ccssible cities, and almost within eight
Of Gibraltar; while the poor Jews, al
most the only thrifty and peaceful ele-
ment OF the urban populations, are bled
most numerically. Morocco is a fertile
country, and rich in copper and other
minerals. But the government will
neither develop these resources itself, nor
Ullou, nuhn1 alca 70 do CO Tho Annrc
lack the. foresight necdful for agricul-
%tuiists, and they never plant or gather
enough 10 carry them through till the
succeeding season, so that one bad har-
vest means great suffering.
The spirit of the Arabs is inherently
antdgonistic to Christian civilization, and
were il not 20 the Government Of Moroc-
co would make thrift and industry i'm
possible. Fez might readily be brought
into direct steam communication with
the world by means of the Sebou River.
Instead, ii was until very recent years
almos. an unknown city. There is not
a highway worthy Of the name
leading from it. Indeed. there are said
10 be only two wagons in all Morocco.
One is the coach presented by Queen
Victoria TO Muley Hassan a few years
ago. He uses it, though he makes the
driver walk, since no man must sit above
the Emperor. The young Hessian prince,
who fifty years ago took the first carriage
to Tangiers. was only permitted TO use it
after he had taken off its wheels.
There is no regular means for the dis
tribution of Justice and none for the col
lection OF taxes When the Emperor
needs money he directs the pashas to
collect the tenth prescribed 10y the
Koran. The pashas add a tenth for
themselves. and The actual collectors
put on another tenth for their trouble.
II there is any suspicion that the man is
not paying all he ought, the torture is a
prompt and efficacious way of increasing
the pile.
Justice is openly sold to the highest
bidder, and to be accused OF an offense
against the government is to entail con-
fscatioR of all visible property, whether
found guilty or not. 1t IS not to be
wondered at, then, that the inhabitants
Of Morocco live in squalor; that they
bury their money whenever they think
they can safely do so: that they wear
diispidated clothes and let their houses
20 to decay. To show any evidence OF
wealth Is to invite misery and perhaps
death.
Roasting, stretching, pinching, whip
ping. branding and mutilating are ia
miliar forms Of punishment in Morocco.
Revolts are put down by wholesale mas.
sscres. Slow bcheading with butchers
knives and daggers in the public street
are of common occurrence. Theft is
punished Ivy cutting off the right hand
eyes are torn out. ears and noses are cut
off for various offenses, and the bodies
Of the poor are muiilated in still more
horrible ways. Nor does conviction al
ways preccdc punishment. 1t is ordina-
-rily quite sufficient 10 have been &C.
cused, if the prosecutor he a person Of
consequence.-lNew York Press.
A DIAMOND IN HIS FLESH.