AN EMPIRE FOR A PRESENT.

Evening Star, Issue 9531, 31 October 1894, Page 3

AN EMPIRE FOR A PRESENT.

The law of primogeniture, so rigidly followed in .most Western countries regarding succession to the throne, ia disregarded in Morocco. Sultan Mulcy Hassan, who died suddenly Juue 6, has been succeeded by Mulcy Abdul-Aziz, his younger and favorite son. The Sultan's elder son, Muley Ismael, fell into disfavor several years ago and was banished from court. In his place the Sultan appointed Muley Abdul-Aziz " Khalifa " that is, his representative and successor in case of death. The new Sultan is little more than eighteen years old. His mother was a Circassian, Leila Rekhia, whom the Sultan brought from Constantinople years ago, having paid 25,000fr, about 5,0'00d01, for her in that capital. The Circassian was one of the most beautiful women in Morocco, and, being clever, soon gained almost unbounded influence over her husband, who cared more for riding and hunting than he did for politics. Despite the fact that most of the court partly favored the elder son of Hie Sultan, she began early to lay her plans for the succession of her own heir. It was a matter of comparative ease for her, as the boy from the first became a great favorite of his father, who always wished to have the little fellow near him. He looked upon him, in fact, as his mascot, just as the Shah of Persia believed his fortunes to depend upon ihe presence of the little child who accompanied him all over Europe three years ago. The dead Sultan looked upon the late Emperor William I. of Germany as the greatest and most glorious man of his time. This opinion, however, was due to the fact that His Majesty remembered the Sultan's favorite son . when he sent his special embassy to Morocco a few years before his death. The German representative in Morocco had instructed the Emperor well as to the tastes of the father, and His Majesty sent the child a beautifully carved gun of the most modern make. This present pleased the Sultan more than the valuable gifts which he himself received: The present ruler is well educated, according to Mahomedan idea?, and is said to be a young man of excellent character.