Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-27
MOROCCO IN REVOLT.
Why it is Hard to subdue Its Wild
Tribesmen.

Why 1t 10 Hard to Subdue us Wto
Tribesmen.
Judging by its history and Its topo-
graphical features, Morocco where
the Moors recently broke out in rebel
lion, will give France and Spain. or, for
that matter. any Of the powers. as
much as they can do to subject her.
SAYS the New York Times. 1t is one
thing to shell few coast towns and
an entirely different matter to conquer
and hold down the wild tribes which
inhabit the mountain ranges that
make up the whole of Morocco.
The division Of northwest Africa In
to the civilized colonies OF France,
Algiers and Tunis and the semibar-
barous state of Morocco bears strik-
ing analogy to the political status OF
that region at the only period before
the last century during which Euro
pean powers obtained any foothold
Of importance there. The Romans
held what is now Tunis. with firm
grip for seven centuries; they owned
large portion of Algeria. but over Mo-
rocco not even the legionaries could
enforce the Roman rule. The wild
mountaineers, whose descendants now
own a nominal allegiance to the sui
tan. maintained their freedom and
barbarism at the very time that Car
thage was the most luxurious city In
the world and st. Augustine of Hippo,
in Algeria, was exerting an influence
over the whole Christian world.
So far indeed from really attempt
ing to conquer Morocco, the Romans
had the utmost difficulty in preserving
their settled provinces from the incur
sions of the Aoors. Punitive expedi-
tons were common. A strong legion
airy force would march through the
defiles Of the mountains and inflict
chastisement on what tribesmen they
might find, in much the same way as
England In modern days carries on
one Of her little wars on the north
west frontier Of India.
But they accomplished nothing. The
hillmen gave way before the legion
aries and closed in again as they re-
treated. Wherever the French troops
have penetrated they have found the
monuments Of the Romans comment
Grating the victorious march and the
Inevitable retirement Of flying force.
The real guards Of the Roman prov
inces were the legions, permanently
stationed at strategic points near the
frontiers They dwelt in armed camps,
and near them the DICTIONARIES as they
grew too old for service settled down
to spend their old age. They married
the women of the province. and their
children grew up in the traditions of
the legion. The ruins of some of these
stations have been discovered, and
their extent shows with what pains
the Romans maintained this admirable
militia rs an armed rampant on all
their frontiers.
But not only will any nation which
attempts to conquer the Moors find
difficulty from their love of freedom
and the mountainous nature of their
country, but also from peculiar char
actertistic Of the Moorish character.
It has always been intensely SECTIONAL
and its fanaticism centers not around
national objects and men, but upon
local heroes and causes.
The revolt of Raisuli against the sui
tan Of Morocco IS to the Moors the
most natural thing in the world. 1t IS
as normal politics in that wild land
as the summoning of national con-
vention to nominate presidential can
didate in opposition to the administra-
lion is in the United States.
Historically the Moors have carried
this sectionalism into their religion. In
Roman days the province was noted
for the number of its dioceses. Over
400 assembled at a general synod, and
when the great Donatist schism dlvld-
ed the Christians in the fifth century
the schismatics, who represented III
the main the Moorish element OF the
population. set up an equal number OF
unorthodox sees.
So. too even the Mohammedan In
yasion could not bring real uniformity
among the tribesmen. Chilly as they
would recite the Moslem formula and
make their Acknowledgements to the
prophet. their real zeal centered around
d local marabouts or saints, who were
venerated in single villages. So clear
ly was this sectionalism In religion
recognized that In the heart OF Moroc-
co. practically entirely cut of from
Christendom few Christian commu-
mites retained their faith for centuries.
The Roman power fell before the
Mohammedan onslaught at the very
beginning Of the eighth century. 1t
was not until the sixteenth that the
last of those who had received their
Christianity from the great Church Of
st. Augustine were put to the sword.
Even then it was only because they
obtruded themselves upon the Moham-
medans and excited their Jealousy:
Until then they had not only been per-
mittel to follow their own religion In
peace. but had received some pr1yl-
leges as the sultan's special guards.
Against such people. obeEing the
orders of no central authority. fanat-
fcal to extremes In their beliefs and
hatreds and scattered over a barren.
mountainous land. no power can make
war with a light heart. Heartbreak-
ing campaigns, occasional disasters
and useless victories are likely to be
it's lot. If 1t does drive the Moors
T. 4 %t..,