Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-01-03
SisftH Hansu,ls ng.
MoRocco,s HEnnLLIos.

s. ~ e. !. ~ V sl:ssirt 81, sse,S4
MOROCC0's HEHEILIOE.
Its: Purpose to Prevent the YouhE
Sultan From IntroducfnE. Rec
forms. -
The man who heads the. present at
tempt to overthrow the government Of
the Sultan Of Morocco is reported to
say that he has not the slightest inten-
tion Of seizing the throne. His mis-
sion, he says, Is to wage q 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 adj
vice and yield Ito foreign influence.
He says that he and his followers will
nominate a sultan from some sheree-
fan family who will promise to con:
tinue the war against the Christians.
According to the correspondent OF the
london Times at Fec, the rebels are
very strong In numbers.
y The rebellion is an expression of to-
tai dissent from and reprobation Of the
sultan's recent. scheme Of reforms.
Walter b. Harris, Nna had many In
terviews with Morocco's young ruler
last year, reported that he was wholly
unlike other Oriental, potentates In
thoughts. habits and manner of life. Z
.tHe Is keenly sensitive. to public
opinion In Europe. is interested In edu-
cational systems abroad and In the
workings of constitutional government,
and is anxious to keep on good terms
with the Powers" Mr.. Harris said.
The sultan told Mr.. Harris that as
soon as his government was, better or
ganized he hoped to travel abroad and
learn what he could for the benefit OF
his country. u ~ /, .,g.:s.s}
To reform Morocco. to fntroduce
modern and liberal ideas into its sys-
tenn of government, may require gen-
ius and strength beyond the powers
of the young ruler. In 1884 DR.. Oscar
Lenz, one Of the most acute observers
of affairs in Morocco; wrote that
though the father of the present sultan
had liberal tendencies and was a man
Of independent and energetic charac-
ter, as well as an autocrat, he was not
In position to introduce revolution
ary reforms against the will of the
official class. The fanatical party was
too strong both in the country and at
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 Il. During his minority Sid Ahmed.
the Grand vizier Of Morocco, ruled the
country with the iron hand Of an abso-
lutte despot. He held the country TO-. to-
gether, quelled 'rebellions and sublued
disorderly trfeee-w.th -.haaafpnoat cz1,el=
ty and at the same time by wholesale
confiscation and enormous exactions
amassed a great fortune.
Two years ago the young sultan
reached the age of 20 and just as ne
assumed control the stern old regent
died. The report that the old man left
his great fortune to the new sultan
Is probably incorrect.
At any rate, 1t is known that the
sultan's finances have been In bad
way, and that since he came into ac-
tual power he has raised considerable
money by the sale Of part Of his
Jewels. It is not believed that Ills
government has today the monetary
resources necessary. to equip q force
and maintain it in the field for the
suppression of great and detertatnei
revolt.
There are Moors of progressive ten
dencies, and they have hoped for great
things from their sultan. BUTT is very
hard to change the old system. It mas
been the time-honored practice Tor
government officials, all Of whom re-
ceive only nominal pay, to prey upon
the officials below them till the local
sheiks finally recoup themselves by
preying on the people. Squeezing is
the main business Of the governing
class, and these officials do not wish
for any change. -
Added to this policy Of corruption is
the blind prejudice of ignorance which
makes both the powerful and the low
" believe that all foreigners are hered-
itary foes, who cannot possibly wish
them we'll, and who are most earnest
" desired to leave the Moroccans to
themselves. With such conditions as
these firmly rooted in the country, the
small body of progressive Moors Will
be most fortunate If the present sui;
tan is ever able to bring about tithe
of the reforms which they are expect
ing at his hands.