A great part of the trade of Morocco is controlled by foreigners, and in consequence special laws have had to be made to protect the traders.
According to the treaty between the United States and the Sultan of Morocco, American traders are allowed to employ two natives as agents for the sale of their goods. These natives are given the same protection as Americans.
The trouble with Morocco arose from the fact that one of the native agents, while returning from his rounds, was assaulted and robbed of $1,200, the outrage occurring in broad daylight in front of the consulate.
The merchant for whom the agent was working reported the matter to the Moorish Government, and demanded that the thieves should be arrested and punished.
Notwithstanding that these robbers were well-known characters, the Moorish authorities made no attempt to bring them to justice, and paid no attention to the protests of the Consul.
The agent and the merchant immediately filed a claim for damages against the Moorish Government, and the Consul cabled to this country, asking that an American gunboat be sent to Tangier, to show the Moors that the United States proposes to protect her citizens.
The flag-ship San Francisco and the cruiser Raleigh immediately set out for Tangier, one of the principal seaports of Morocco.
The appearance of these vessels had a very healthy effect on the authorities. One of the robbers was immediately arrested, and the Moors agreed to search for the other and bring him to justice.
A story comes from Oklahoma that gophers have completely destroyed a canal which has recently been built at an expense of $40,000.