The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-12-21

4
\\bj In that stupid old history we studied
~ In the grammar schooi7
AT about this point In the average
mans series OF mental gymnastics, the light be-
gins to dawn. That scrimmage with TripoH he
remembers, recorded in the United States
history along between the chapters that treated
OF the revolution and those devoted to the war OF
1872. One by one the names, Decatur, Preble,
Somers. cambridge. Hunt, Truxtun, Sterrett come
Hooking back into his memory. ana a cold thrill
OF patriotic emotion creeps slowly up his spine.
1t was something great something spectacular
and heroic. the fine achievement Of an infant
navy. Slowly out OF the mist cf forgotten things
comes the glorious tragedy of the freship, In
repid"; the thunderous retort OF Ambassador
Pinckney. Millions for defense but not one cent
for tribute" and finally the stormcenter OF the
entire war. the American frigate philadelphia"
In the centuries preceding the Christian era II
was tossed from Carthage to Rome and back
again, with many q lesser nation taking a whack
at the oasis dotted desert, between times After
the Arabs took possession in the seventh century
1t became the bone of contention among the
uons 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 was thrown of utterly,
and II was not restored until 1885, several years
after the determination of the Barbary pirates.
by the combined effort OF all the Caucasian ma
tions OF the world.
"Barbary pirates" "corsairs OF the Mediter-
ranean," millions for defense, but not one cent
for tribute" At last we have It. That was what
It all about. The bumptious little American
nation objected to paying ransoms for her citt
and sailors who had been captured and en-
slaved-a thing that Europe had been doing with
out protest for centuries Indeed. It was tacitly
understood that the pirates OF Tunis Tripoli. Mo
rocco and Algiers were countenanced by the great
NJ Erron fOr ka nj tha In
could do to the weaker powers. England encour-
aged the piratcal attacks the shipping OF other
nations. as part OF her system OF securing and
maintaining her vaunted supremacy OF the sea-"
The consuls she sent to the Barbary states went
with Instructions to make only surface show OF
opposition to the mercess treatment to which
the slaves were subjected. And there was
wonderful roster OF those slaves. such men 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 was 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 new station OF the western
hemisphere had not forgotten the indignties that
had been heaped upon Dr. Daniel Mason. Har-
ward graduate who died In captivity, when the
systematic capture of American brigs and schoon-
ers was undertaken by all the Barbary states fol-
lowing the close of the revolution. With the con-
nivance of England, eleven American vessels
we're captured within two months, the men being
strpped of their clothing attired in the filthiest
of rags and set to work at hard labor. Those
that attempted to escape were subjected to the
most frightful torture It was this condition oil
affairs no 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 tthe American
yesses) from the Barbary states The Ameri-
cans cannot protect themselves from the latter;
they cannot pretend to a navy" that spurred the
ambitious young republic on until she not only
pretended to a navy. but had given those same
pirates such a drubbing they had never re-
ceiyed at the hands OF any European power.
Meanwhile It seemed wisest to dig deep down
in the American stocking and produce tremen
dous sums OF money with which to appease the
marauders. Under the direction OF our greates'
statesmen with the notable exception OF Thomas
Jefferson we had concluded treaties OF "immu
nifty from piratical capture" with all the BaroarS
states. the one with Tripon being most cheaplJ
purchased 1t was when that state awoke to
realization that she had received only S56OOO
while Tunis had extorted 100000 as payment to
perpetual peace" that Tripoli forgot all aoca
her treaty and began In earnest the capture an'
enslavement of Americans. There Is toucG
grim humor in the demand oil the pey OF A.
giers for 900 stands of arms, because nre II
the armory had destroyed 10000 stands ana III
considered It the duty OF America TO redeem one
fourth OF the loss. Ambassador Eaton reiuseu
convey the insulting and altogether preposterou
demand 10 his home government. not only be
cause America had nothing to do with tne nrf
but because she thought she had purcnaseu III
munity from such demands. The insolehce
Tripoli was even more irritating 10 the new'po' '
national pride of the republic. and wnen' IN fe'
ruary. 1901, the pasha repudated the treaty ait'
gether demanding a lump sum OF quarter Oh
million. with $4,000 annually, which was tn
sum he had extorted from Sweden tnere seeme l
nothing left for the Americans but TO nght II ou
Our commerce in the Mediterranean was grown
at such pace that we could no longer take "a
attitude Of crnging vassals to set oi unpri
, cipled cutthroats whose honor was bounced OH
by their convenience.
When the new tribute was refused the oey
Tripoli cut down the American nag stan al
made formal declaration of war. having been du
informed that war was inevitable AHeaay d =
tie squadron had been assembled u "p %lso
po.ds consisting of the President, the Esse
the Enterprise and the Philadelphia. the latter