Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-09-16
AllRRYlVc f7a0N NYrAHAEaQ-zQNE

H22RRYlVC ran DNrnENc1R.ZNh
II the troubles that beset Spain on
the Mediterranean coast Of Morocco
were not of her own making, there
would be a feeling of considerable
sympathy with a country almost the
last of whose foreign possessions ID
so seriously threatened. Unfortu'
nately, Spain has brought the Fou'
BILE upon her own head, or, to be more
accurate, the Ultramontane cabinet
that misgoverns the country has In
fiicted them upon her. Most people
outside the Spanish cabinet do not re-
quire to be told that the Rifians who
inhabit the Moroccan highlands over
looking the Mediterranean are
fierce, intractable, unconquered peo'
pie. Even Muza's Arabs could not re-
duce them to submission, and the
troops of Cardinal Cisneros were
equally unsuccessful. 1t MAJ be said
that the writ of the sultan himself
does not run far into the Riff coun-
try, where the people follow the life
that was theirs before civilization WIS.,
tied western Europe. having their own
code Of honor. their blood-feuds and
their internecine strife. Great pl-
rates in times past, they have long
given up piracy as profession, and
practice is now merely as a pastime.
But they have never ceased to exer-
else themselves In the profession Of
arms, and for many years the little
wealth they have acquired by their
labors on the land and in the field,
and by the sale of the herds and
fiocks they rear, has been devoted to
the purchase of guns.
Guns and guns, and still more guns,
some coming from England, France,
or Germany, many coming from Bel
GUM, large quantities from Spain, and
not few from the sultan's own
troops; for 1t is no secret that when
Moor is tired Of serving in the army
in return for pay that is always in
arrears, he deserts, carrying his be-
loved gun with him, and sells It to
the nearest tribe that does not &C.
knowledge the sultan's authority.
Even on the coast beyond Tangier Ind
raand Ceuta, Tetuan and Melilla, gun
running has been carried on openly,
more than once within view Of the
writer. The guards on the beach have
been squared or tricked, and conveys
have been waiting within mile Of the
landing-place to carry tAe precious
weapons into the mountains. So It
happens that the Riffians are we'll
armed, and they are fighting because
their territory has been violated. In.
deed, II they had white skins and a
code Of western morality, they would
be in serious danger Of being called
patriots instead of rebels.
The position in which Spain finds
herself is one of extreme difficulty.
Senior Maura, the premier, is an obsti-
nate reactionary. The country is in
censed against the war party. Span.
ish finances are in their chronic state
Of weakness. The cost Of subduing
the Riffs in money alone, to say moth
ing of blood, will be enormous. II the
government does not fall, II eastern
Spain can be paci1ied, II $4,000 troops
can be sent to MelIlla and the other
presidIos Of Spain in Morocco, II the
Riffs can be driven on and their noun
tain strongholds can be destroyed, It |
Is hard too see what Spain can hope |
% gain beyond a measure Of glory and |
! bill, that bear the same relation to |
one another as the bread to the sack
n Falstaff's famous tavern account.
There is not enough money in all the
country of the RIMS to pay the bill
that Spain has incurred already, and
though some attempt may be made
% saddle the sultan with responsible
ty, 1t is well known that Mulai Ell
Hand is no better able than Gen.
Marina to control the tribesmen. Nor
8 the country of the Rims calculated
o tempt sane men to conquer 1t. It
s wild, rugged, inhospitable. and can
scarcely yield a living even to those
Who have been brought up IN II II
,ould only be kept at the point OF the
,ayonet. for even if Spain had q sur
illus population. there would be no
emptation for emigrants to settle in
Iuch a wild and unproductive land.
Spain has no colonists. she needs
more population. and consequently 1