New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-14
HIS FIGHT WITH CONSULS
TOOK SIDE OF NATIVES
HOsr Perdicaris Won His War
against Flag Protection Abuses

Ion Perdicsris. the American whose release nv
FaisuH, his bandit kidnapper in Morocco ts az
pected soon, IN 1886 warred. with the American
and other consuls. in behalf OF oppressed ma
tives. He won after going 10 Washington ana
laying the facts before the Secretary of State.
He wrote two books on this subject One was
& novel -'1Aohamraed Benani" published bv the
Appletons The other was a brief volume n,,h
ushed al his own expense in London. entitled
American Claims and the Protection OF Native
Subjects IN Morocco"
..Nohanlraed Benani" has disappeared rrorn +ba
shelves Of the public Libraries. nor can II he
found in circulating libraries. Even the pub
fishers are without copy, and 1t was not TO be
had yesterday al several old bookstores
The other was found at the Astor Library yes
terday. At the time Perdicaris wrote It he was
one OF three native born Americans living in
Morocco who were not IN government service
A number Of natives who had been imprisoned
because they aid not pay claims held against
them by the consulate. which they declare were
false. appealed TO him.
Per6icaris made their cause his, and declared
the manner IN which claims for inden1nities
were recovered for subjects Of the Sultan who
enjoyed the protection OF the foreign consulates
was disgrace TO America and American Ideas
OF Justice and liberty. Perdicaris protested to
Colonel T. A Matthews. then consul at Tangier.
and. not getting the satisfaction he desired. sent
his protests to Washington In the book which
he had published he thus explained the situa-
ton:
ina: offers no security either for property liberty
or life Il becomes the object Of every native 70
thirteen are represented Tangier, the diplomats
tslned the desired protection-thanks generally 70
The payment Of a sum OF money 10 the subordinate
BY az equivalent in commodities or personal ser
ycs tsP2F4Fy i5Tsst tee r to all ntea'S aaS
&c operates, becoming henceforLh, II he desires.
sxtort 10 secure the imprisonment Of foe or the
release OF q friend, provided always that the said
Il may sound inccsdi0le Rgf II is an actual fact
tnat y o Fr7 o5a 81 t5es rr re - 70 ne az
Of a legation 10 secure, not merely the imprison-
the application OF the lash
Another evil Is the difficulty OF securing the pun
ishment Of the offender II cases where crimes have
actually committed By natives thus protected,
Soli cs unt an order from the legation or COM
suate whose projection he accused enjoys be first
fired al IL the street Of the town. IN broad
daylight and pursued % the doors Of the French
perpetrators Of this murderous vendetta were never
.bsT enjoyed such state Of affairs is menace
70 The seegTy o. PoJh Je naye aRa roregn Popu
restricted Intervention OF Individual consulates ana
GSentiy occurs upon the punishment OF alleged
criminals without trial or examination. is evil
Of even darker hue
TIE case OF the punishment OF eight natives
for the theft OF the nu-isnatic collection OF
United States Consul Matthews AZ Tangier is
cited as follows IN the arraignment OF the
system:
There was no doubt Of the actual commission OF
The theft but OF eight victims who suffered FIVE
Es.sast absolutely innocent OF any completely
II the robbery. But the consul had demanded
considerable indemnity from the Moorish govern
nEL which indemnity was paid upon condition
that the United States Consul should not inter
tsre behalf % the prisoners. he could not 60
anything 70 modify the ferocity OF the punishment
q the alleged culprtts
One ~ these was a wealthy Moor, who had
solicited the intervention OF the United States
Consulate 20 protect him from the extortionate
attentions OF the native officials OF his district
where his wealth marked him out for persecu-
ton He was said 70 have received fifty lashes
day until be died 10 make him disclose the
hiding places Of his wealth. His mother was
imprisoned, heavily ironed and lost her reason.
Finally the State Department was persuaded
70 send M Ingram, then United States Consul
al Cediz, 70 Investigate the situation. He found
mat the claims Of protected Jews and Moors
tnen amounted 10 S9s 476 exclusive OF the S25.-
600 indemnity claimed by The American Consul
Tor the loss Of his coin collection Mr. Ingram
could not get detailed statement OF the claims
nor any figures 10 the mum Der of natives
the1 in prison
Fercicarls succeeded IN having necessary re-
sulcuons placed on the practice Of dealing orr
ne protection Of the flag He made MANY
l,ieAos among the natives and became a man
OF commence n Morocco.