The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1904-06-15
Must Not Harm Our Subjects.

GS lCOlCaLeU EJ MI. Ray, Is tUdt lNe
time has come to Prove to Moham-
medan countries that prosecuting
American citizens and destroying
their lives and property mus cease.
This proof is 20 be presented aa
forcibly as necessary without ary
regard to what tbs powers of Europe
may think about it. The Uaited
Sta es is interested in Morocco only
as far as the lives and property Of
American citizens are concerned.
Not until Mr.. Perdicaris has been
released, or, if he is killed L" his
bandit captors, not until this murder
has been avenged will the American
warships be withdrawn from Tapgier.
The administration. it is officially
stated, will adhere strictly to this
policy without regard to whom it
may effect.
That the Sultan of Morocco appre-
cistes the gravity Of the situation is
indicated by a dispatch received to.
day from Admira! Chadwick, who
reports that the Sultan is expected at
Tangier. Only the most potent rea-
sons could force the Sultan to leave
the sacred capital Of Fez to visit
Tangier, and this fact has convinced
Mr.. Hay that he has taken the mat
tor out of the hands CT his represen-
tative there and that an early settle
ment of the affair is possible.
The state department has received
unofficial assurance that the sultan
of Morocco will accede to all of
Raisull's terms.N It is stated posi-
lively that under no conditions can
the United States government guar
antee the execution of the sultans
promises. The sultan has not yet
complied with all of Raisuli's de-
mands and there is no likelihood that
the captives will be released speedily.
A Washington special to The
State says there that strikingly sim
liar in some respects to the capture
by Bulgarian bandits, several years
ago, Of Miss Ellen stone, an Ameri-
can missionary in Turkey, is the
recent kidnapping by band of
Moorish brigands of Ion Perdicsris,
8 wealthy American resident Of Tan
gier, Morocco, which promises inter
pationl results Of far reaching i'm
portance which did not follow in the
case of Miss Stone.
The prompt dispatch of seven
American warabips to Tangier, fol.
lowed by the ultimatum of the
Washington government to the sui
tan of Morocco informing him that
should Perdicaris be harmed no
nation in the world could prevent
the prompt avenging ct the wrong
by the United States, has given to
Europe another forceful illustration
of straitforwsrd American diplomacy
which will not be soon forgotten.
There can be no doubt that Pres
ident Roosevelt and Secretary Hay
propose to rescue Perdicaris from
the brigands alive, if that be posi-
Bile. II Perdicaris is murdered they
propose to see to it that Raisuli, the
leader of the brigand band who kid
mapped him, and his followers, are
punished with death. They will
look to the sultan of Morocco first to
punish the kidnappers and if he fail
recourse must be had to an armed
expedition. It is not expected that
the government will be forced to 90
to the latter extreme.
For the present this government
will await the result of the efforts CT
France to secure the release Of Per-
dicaris and his step-sop, Mr.. Varley,
a British subject. As soon as this
government was informed last week
of the capture of Perdicaris. orders
were promptly cabled to the Cararies
directing Rear Admiral Chadwick
upon his arrival there to send ship
at full speed to Targier, and to fol-