New-York tribune., 1903-02-06
THE MOROCCO SETTLEMENT.

The hoped for If not the expected, has hap
pened in Morocco. Those who are tudicious
seldom really expect anything to happen IN that
land Of fmmeasurahle uncertainties. Indeed, the
chances for some time seemed decidedly 10
favor the success Of the fakir Blu Hamara
and to Dortend the downfall Of the ancient ruling
dynasty, in which occurrence there would nave
been strong probabilities Of the entire ext1nc-
ton of Morocco as an Independent State. That
menace has gone by. The young Sultan has
triumphed, through peculiarly Oriental means,
such as those which gave the Russians victory
over Charles of Sweden. What has become of
Bu Hamara is not certainly reported, and does
not greatly matter. juggler is Of little I'M
portance after the pockets in his sleeves have
been discovered by the spectators.
1t is gratifying that there Is to be no immed1-
ate extinction of partition Of Morocco for
the reason that thus danger Of unpleasant COM
plications among European powers is averted.
1t is difficult to conceive any disposition or
Morocco upon which all interested powers could
agree, and it is practically certain that any at
tempt at this time to alter radically the exist
ing status Of that empire would cause trouble
north of the strait. Nor is that the only con-
sideration or the only cause for pleasure at the
Sultan's triumph 1t is to be observed that the
Gus Bu Hamara is really victory of progress
over reaction. The young Sultan has some
grave faults. But he is, for Moor fairly en-
lightened and progressive. He has aimed at
the Improvement of the condition of his people
and at the opening of Morocco to modern civil
zation. That fact, we may say, the sole
cause of the late rebellion. The insurgents
were, or We're led by. fanatics who regarded
all inventions as inventions CT the devil and
who held that no one could be true follower
of the Prophet and look with the slightest de-
gree OF liberation upon the Giaours of Europe
and their devices. The Sultan has therefore
triumphed not only over rebellion, but also over
fanaticism He has saved his throne, and he
has vindicated progress.
That he has thus secured the lasting saliva
ton of Morocco is not so confidently to be de
clared. Indeed, it is probable that he has not
done so, but has merely postponed, and that not
so very far, the inevitable fall of that ancient
empire Iron pots and earthen pots cannot jostle
in this tumutuOus stream of time without the
latter getting smashed; and with all of Muai
Abdul Azizs good intentions and progressive in
clnations Morocco IS an earthen pot and one
made Of pretty brittle earth, too. The genius
of the age is against her. The example of other
lands clearly foreshadows her fate Madagas-
car and Siam were well disposed and progress
sive nations deserving encouragement. But
France spoiled them without hesitation or com
junction. Finland was exceptionally worthy of
maintenance in independent sovereignty But
Russia crushed her rs ruthlessly as though she
had been a tribe of Tartars There are ele-
ments of good in Egypt, but England will not
relinquish her control of that land So one of
these days Morocco will go the way of many
another weak power which has stood in the
way of the great powers All that is now gained
is a postponement Of the catastrophe until as
we may hope, a season when it will cause less
of disaster both to Morocco and to other powers
than it would at the present time.