The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-03
The Morocco Affair.

The capturc OF Ton Perdlcaris, a citi-
zeY, OF the tinted states. by Ralsolli, a
tribal chief OF North Morocco, is giving
President Roosevelt an interesting ex-
perience. The Associated Press dis
patches refer to RAisouli as a bandit
chief, but this is not strictly true. lie
Is the lawful ruler, as laws go IN Mo-
rocco. OF a very considerable district not
far from Tangier. his tribo being within
n few days travel OF the coast. He has
for years been accepted and recognized
by tne Morocco government as the head
~ tho mountain district which he con-.
trolls, He is more or less under the SUI
pervlson OF the general government and
pays tribute to the Sultan.
Morocco is Mohatnmedan empire IN
Northwestern Africa, the capital Of
which Is FEE Its territory covers an
area Of about 2l9,ooo square miles, and
tho population Is estimated at 100000 or
5.oopooo. Morocco Is On absolute mons
archy, the Sultan being the supreme
authority in matters both civil and re-
.l,gious. But the subjects Of the Sultan
arc not always obedient and time and
again there have been rprlsings IN dit-
fercnt sections. In 1902 q new sultan
assembled tho throne and inaugurated
moro liberal and progressive policy lie
introduced various reforms, among then
n. more lust system OF taxation and bet
ter prison regulations. He took an ac-
tive interest In various articles Of Euro
mann manufacture, such as bicycles. au-
tomoblles and the like, and showed
dispositlon to put his country IN tho Inc
Of modern progress. But his SUBJECTS
did not like the change, and when ne
violated Musselnan tradition by pro-
,ceedng to protect Christians and to
place foreigners on an equal footing or
safety with Moors, his subjects rebelled.
In October. 1902, DR.. David ]. Cooper, an
English missionary, was murdered by
Moor In Fez. The culprit took refuge
in n mosque, but was arrested and snot
by order OF the Sultan. This brought
On q crisis, and about tho same time
there was an uprising in North Morocco.
Conditions were ripe for rebellion and a
leader was at hand, one Omar Aarahun'
who was popularity known as Blu fla-
mara, tho Father Of tho She ASS me
resurrection was formidable. and 1t was
NOT nut down without considerable blood
shed.
Raisouli is one Of the discontinued.
and is seeking independence One re-
port says that he is demanding ran
som Of $40, COO. But he Is not after money
alone. The seizure OF the American cit
izen by the insurgont chief was designed
to bring pressure upon the Sultan to
secure the demands Of tho tribe. It Is
said that he requires the Sultan to give
him a subordinate Kingdom with the
right to levy taxes throughout a region
embracing thirty-elght kilometers lying
directly along the main route from Tan
gler to Fee. In that event. he would
become one OF the dominant political
factors in Morocco. It Ia bold game
he is playing. He knew that the United
States would hold tho Sultan RESPONSE
Bile, and while pressure Is being brought
to bear upon that ruler from foreign
source, he proposes to make with the
Sultan teens to suit himself conditioned
upon his release Of the hostage. Bu'
however that may be. our government
will exert Its full power to save Mr
Perd!caris from harm. and II he is
harmed somebody will have to pay dear
Is for the outrage.