The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-01
f|G9I FOR
PROGRESS
Sultan ofMorocco Is Christian
Fighting Heather.
IS REFORMED SATAN
Story ofThrone and UnrivaIed
fortunes of NinetieS.

New York, Jan. 31.-The New York
World says:
Somewhere today on the banks of the
Zelu river the twenty three ear-old Sui
tan of Morocco is encamped with 10000
men. waiting 10 give battle to the army
OF the Pretender.
1t will be a battle to the death.
Upon it will depend the fate OF dy-
nasty-the Ahdes-that ruled Morocco
for 500 years.
The Sultan has made his throne the
stake.
Why?
Because of his progressiveness. Be-
cause of his Unsuitable demand for the
modern. Because he has cast traditions
to the winds in his efforts to make Moroc-
co a twentieth century country.
He has introduced new ideas of re-
form.
New ideas are not popular in Nor
Deco. The fierce Berbers in the mountain
Gus regions of the North and the super
stitious hordes on the lowlands of the
South see in new ideas only infidel asom-
inations-the accursed frivolities of the
dogs of unbelievers.
So three years ago when Abdul Aziz
began to promulgate his reform principles
in Fee his capital there were many NUT
teringsi OF discomfort These became omi-
nous when his subjects saw him on the
public streets astride a bicycle. They
would have killed him had they dared
but the person of the Prince of True
Believers is sacred. and his blood may
not BE shed.
His next innovation was a railroad.
Fanatics saw in it an attack on the iso-
latioE of their country. They tore up
the survey flags that marked the line as
enablems of foreign suzerainty. They
killed. too. eight engineers and twenty
laborers, beheaded them and cast their
bodies to the vultures.
But though the complaints grew loud
er though holy men proclaimed in the
mosques far north in the mountains that
the chosen one of the prophets was be-
witched by some dog of an infidel. the
young Sultan persisted in his course.
The narrow-gauge railroad was built.
Then came an automobile motor cars,
tho acknowledgements breech-loading shot
guns, the telegraph and the telephone
But by this time he had incurred the
emnity of thousands of his sullen, war
like, fanatic subjects.
Let him hear the stern Mohametan
life they cried. and forsake these abom-
nations of the infidels.'
And then as if TO madden his followers
the young chieftain did an unheard or
thing He began to show some signs
of humanity. Before he took up these
new inventions, when at the head OF ms
fierce horsemen, he could devise tor
lures that were the refinement OF cruelty
But even that phase of his character
was changing. anu ne could be merclfui
to, a foreign dog, they said. Note the
er,ormity of his offense
Mr.. Cooper, a resident of Fee, was
shot and killed in the main street with
out any provocation whatever. The muir
derer. hunted high and low. took re-
fuge in the tomb of Mulai Idris, the pa
tron saint of Fee, According TO all prece-
dentA the murderer could have been safe
there bur the sultan ordered the man
arrested within the sanctuary. This rais-
ed 4 cry of indignation from one END OF
Morocco TO the other. Then at the Sui
tanfs order the man was shot In the
public square.
The populace could hear no more. The
cnun.rv was in a frenzy. 1t only needed
a leader to incite rebellion, and that
leader in the person of Blu Hamara the
Pretender. stood forth.
That was two years ago. Since then
the rebellion-an armed protest against
lchange-has with varying fortune TO
either side gone on. And now for de-
cisive conflict the armies are about to
come together. However il results. the
hattie will not be a new experiences for
the youthful chieftain. From the mo-
uent of his accession he has lived in an
atmosphere OF rebellion
His father. Muley Hassan. died suddenly
on June 9. 1924. in his camp at Tadia,
on his way from Fee to Casablanca-
Previously he has appointed Abdul Aziz.
his Youngest son. "Khalifa"-that is sue
cessor in case of death. But the ma
ioritv Of the court openly favored the
SuItan's Oldest son. Muley Mohammed.
and there was much discord as the great
ceremony in the chief mosque when ABB
6ul Aziz. then only fourteen years OF
age. proclaimed as Sultan. had the i'm
perial umbrella raised above him.
The next day the muttering became
rebellion. and these events within the
twenty-four hours followed.
The Grand Zizier or Prime Minister was
poisoned.
The Minister Of War, brother OF the
Grand Vizier. was stabbed to death.
The Minister Of Finance was deposed
because OF an intrigue against the Sui
tan.
Muley Oman. the twenty two-year-oid
brother of the Sultan. attempted 10 have
himself proclaimed Sultan of Fee. but
failed. Then ne tried to bride artifcers
&c counterfeit an imperial seal. but they
were not to be tempted.
Each of his four uncles declared HIM
self the rightful successor TO the throne.
The Governor OF Rehamma. one Of the
most powerful tribes Of Southern Noroc-
Co, an adherent Of Muiey Mohammed,
declared war against the Sultan. Four
months later ne was surrounded by the
eultan,s forces. Finding escape impossi-
&1e he summoned his family L. his pres
fence. deliberately killed his wife. brother
I and brather-in-law. and then shot him
self
A week later the insurgents besieGed
Morocco City. where Muley was impris
oned. s.Depart," was the command sent
by the two governors OF the city 10 the
rsbe9 leaders 'or the head of Muley Mo-
hnnmed VIII be cast from the city