Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-02
WHAT THE FUSS IS ABOUT.
Meaning Of the shOOting scrape I'm
Progress in

Progress I'm
There is something doing in Morocco.
Tangier and its temples generate excite
ment and the gates OF Fec are locked and
barred. Moor's the pity. The traditions
and smells Of unnumbered centuries are
being rudely jostled by modern ambition
and thirst for power. Shall Allah be
praised7 Not on your life. 1t is to pre-
serve tradition and antique sanitation
from the blighting touch Of European civil
lization that bloody war is being wagcd
against the sultan by a horde of rebels.
Dispatches report the rebels u~ncommonly
lively and shooting straight. At the last
meeting Of the rebels and the s~ultan's
troops the latter were Bull RUINED and fed
to Fee for shelter and breath.
The man who heads the rebels is reported
as saying that he has not the slightest in
tention Of selling the throne. His mission,
he says, is to wage a holy war against
Christians, keep Europeans out Of Morocco
and remove the present sultan from the
throne on account of his tendency to listen
to European advice end yield to foreign in
fuence.
He says that he and his followers will
nominate a sultan from some Shereefan
family who will promise to continue the
war against the Christians. According to
the correspondent Of the London Times at
Fec, the rebels are very strong in numbers
h rebellion is an expression OF total
dissent from and reprobation Of the sui
tan's recent scheme Of reforms, relates the
New York Sun. Waiter B.. Harris. who had
many interviews with Morocco's young
ruler last year, reported that he was wholly
unlike other Oriental potentates in
thoughts, habits and manner of life.
HE is keenly sensitive to public opinion
in Europe, is interested in educational sys-
TENS abroad and in the workings Of con-
stitutional government, and is anxious to
keep on good terms with the powers Mr.
Harris said.
The sultan told Mr.. Harris that as soor
as his government was better organized he
hoped to travel abroad and learn what hC
could for the benefit OF his country.
To reform Morocco, to introduce modern
and liberal ideas into its system of govern.
ment, may require genius and strength be.
yond the powers of the young ruler. II
1884 DR.. Oscar LEM, one OF the most acute
observers of affairs in Morocco, wrote thar
though the father Of the present sultan haC
liberal tendencies and was a man of indie.
pendent and energetic character, as we'll al
an autocrat, he was not in a position to in.
troduce revolutionary reforms against thu
will Of the Official class. The fanatical part!
was too strong both in the country and a
court to be forced to submit to drastic
measures Of reform.
When the late sultan's son came to the
throne in 1894 he was a mere boy of IA
during his minority Sid Ahmed, the grand
vizier of Morocco, ruled the country witt
the iron hand Of an absolute despot. Ht
held the country together, quelled rebel
lions and subdued disorderly tribes will
the utmost cruelty and at the same tim,
by the wholesale confiscation and enormou
exactions amassed a great fortune.
Two years ago the young sultan reached
the age Of 20 and Just as he assumed con
troll the stern old regent died. The repor
that the old man left his great fortune t
the new sultan is probably incorrect.
At any rate, it is known that the sultan
finances have been in a bad way and tina
since he came into actual power he hai
raised considerable money by the sale o
a part OF his jewels. 1t is not believed
that his government has today the none
tary resources necessary to equip a fore,
and maintain It in the field for the cup
preston Of a great and determined revolt
There are Moors OF progressive tenden
cies and they have hoped for great thing
from their sultan. But 1t is very hard I
change the old system. 1t has been tn
time honored practice for government Of
hcials, all Of whom receive only nomina
pay, to prey upon the officials below ther
till the local sheiks finally recoup them
selves by preying on the people. "Squeez
ing" is the main business Of the governin
class and these officials do not wish 70
any change.
Added to this policy of corruption is tn
blind prejudice OF ignorance which make
both the powerful and the lowly believ
that all foreigners are hereditary foes, VIII
cannot possibly wish them we'll and VIII
are most earnestly desired to leave tn
Moroccans to themselves. With such con
ditions as these firmly rooted in the coun
try, the small body OF progressive Moor
will be most fortunate II the present sui
tan is ever able to bring about a 1.-THE c
the reforms which they are expecting a
his hands.