The Elbert County tribune., 1911-11-17

TrfpOf-except In q SOOn-to-De-lOr-
gotten geography lesson, in the
l(( history of-where did Tripol figure
WI IL that stupid old history We studied
W. In the grammar school?
At about this point in the average
mans series of mental gymnastics. the light be-
gins to dawn. That scrimmage with Tripoli, he
remembers. recorded in the United States
history, along between the chapters that treated
OF the revolution and those devoted to the war OF
1912. One by the names. Decatur, Prebie.
Somers. Bainhridge. Hunt Truxtun. Sterrett. come
focking back into his memory, and cold thrill
of patriotic emotion creeps slowly up his spine.
Ie was something great something spectacular
and heroic. the fine achievement of infant
navy Slowly out the mist OF forgotten things.
comes the glorious tragedy of the freship, In
trepid"; the thunderous retort of Ambassador
Pinckney, Millions for defense, but not cent
for tribute" and finally the storm-center of the
entire war. the American frigat@ philadelphia"
In the centuries preceding the Christian era 1t
was tossed from Carthage to Rome apd back
again, with many lesser nation taking whaca
at the oasis dotted desert. between times. After
the Arabs took possession in the seventh century
1t became the bone of contention among the ma
tons of the eastern end of the Mediterranean
until Its final capture by Turks, in the middle OF
the sixteenth century. However. this present
menace is not the first to challenge the authority
Of Turkey In that turbulent little Barbary state
In 1714 the Turkish yoke thrown of utterly.
and 1t not restored until 1885, several years
after the determination of the Barbary pirates
by the combined effort of all the Caucasian
tions of the world.
'Barbary pirates" "corsairs of the Mediter-
ranean," Millions for defense, but not one cent
for tribute" At last we have 1T. That was what
1t was all about. The bumptious little American
nation objected to paying ransoms for her citt
and sailors who had been captured and
slaved-a thing that Europe had been doing with.
out protest for centuries Indeed. it was tacitly
understood that the pirates of Tunis, Trtpoli Mo
rocco and Algers were countennnred by the great
powers of Europe for the sake OF the Injury they
could do to the weaker powers. England encour-
uUon fha, attoo .t,G.
nations, as part of her system of securing and
maintaining her Wanted Supremacy OF the sea-"
The consuls she sent to the Barbary states went
with instructions to make only surface show OF
opposition to the merciless treatment to which
the slaves subjected And there was
wonderful roster of those slaves. such as
Arago, the great astronomer; st. Vincent de Paul
and even Cervantes, having fallen into the
clutches of the pirates. The author OF Don
Quixote" probably acquired something of the ad-
venture that to figure in his later literary
works during the FIVE years of his slavery in
northern Africa. Coming closer to our own times
and interests. the station OF the western
hemisphere had not forgotten the indgnities that
had been heaped upon DIR. Daniel Mason. Har-
ward graduate. who died in captivity, when the
systematic capture of American brigs and schoon-
ers undertaken by all the Barbary states, fol-
lowing the close of the revolution. With the
nivance of England eleven American vessels
captured within two MONTHS the men being
stripped of their clothing attired in the flthiest
of rags and set to work at hard labor. Those
that attempted to escape subjected to the
most frightful torture. 1t this condition OF
affairs, less than the published pamphlet OF
Lord Sheffield, which announced, in part 1T
will not be to the interest of any of the great
maritime powers to protect them (the American
vesses) from the Barbary states. The Ameri-
cannot protect themselves from the latter
they cannot pretend to navy that spurred the
ambitious young republic until she not only
pretended to navy. but had given those
pirates such drubbing they had
ceived at the hands of any European power
Meanwhile 1t seemed wisest dig deep down
in the American stocking and produce tremen-
dous sums of money with which to appease the
marauders. Under the direction of greatest
statesmen, with the notable exception OF Thomas
Jefferson, had concluded treaties OF ''immu-
nifty from piratica capture with all the Barbary
states. the with Tripol being most cheapiy
purchased 1t was when that state awoke to
realization that she had received only $4,000.
while Tunis had extorted 100000 payment for
perpetual peace" that Tripo forgot all about
her treaty and began in earnest the capture and
enslavement Of Americans There is a touch OF
grim humor in the demand OF the hey" OF Al
giers for 10000 stands of arms. because fire in
the armory had destroyed 10000 stands. and he
considered It the duty of America to redeem one
fourth of the loss. Ambassador Eaton refused to
convey the insulting and altogether preposterous
demand to his home government not only be-
cause America had nothing to do with the fire.
but because she thought she had purchased i'm
munity from such demands. The insolence of
Tripou was more irritating to the newborn
national pride Of the republic. and when, IN Feb
ruary. 1901. the pasha repudiated the treaty alto
gether. demanding lump sum of quarter of
million. with $4,000 annually, which the
sum he had extorted from Sweden. there seemed
nothing left for the Americans but to fight 1t
Our commerce In the Mediterranean growing
at such pace that We could longer take the
attitude OF crnging vassals to set OF unprin
cipled cutthroats. whose honor bounded only
by their convenience
When the tribute refused the bey OF
Tripon cut down the American flag stan and
made formal declaration OF war. having been duly
informed that inevitable Already a lit
tie squadron had been assembled in Hampton