The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-12-01
French Invasion of Cochin China

French Invasion of Cochin China.
By the late foreign news, it appears that
the combined French and Spanish fleets had
taken Touran, one of the most important
points of Cochin China, without the loss of
a single man. They held the bay and river
of Touran under strict blockade, and the
French Admiral had avowed his determin-
alton to re-establish the possessions which
France once held in the country. He
avowed, however, that the dominion which
she now asserts is for the protection of
Christians and the propagation Of Christian
ity in this part of Asia.
The country known as Cochin China is
| one of the provinces Of the empire of An
nam, the others being Cambodia and Ton
kin. The Emperor of Annam-Tu-Duc, as
he is named-is, like nearly all the Asiatic
| sovereigns, and he is said to be both cruel
and tyranic. One of his predecessors, the
| Emperor Cha Long, who is said to have been
a protector of the arts and sciences, and
who was regarded as one of the most intel
| hgent monarchS that ever reigned on the
| throne OF AMMAN, made treaty with the
French by which they obtained possession
Of the territory along the borders of the
| Bay of Touran, which, rs has been stated,
| has now fallen into their hands. After the
death of Gia Long the French missionaries
who had established themselves in the coun-
try during his reign were expelled, and the
new Emperor, Mimi Mani, refused to see OF
TO receive a commander Of French vessel
who had been sent out by his government.
\ persecution was soon after commenced
against the Christians, and in 1857 an edict
was issued against every missionary who
should attempt to preach in the country
Six years after missionary was executed,
and the persecution of the Christians was
| carried on with extreme vigor. The death
of Mimi Manh brought about no change in
the condition of things for his SUCCESSOR
Thien-tri carried it on with still greater VIC
lence and cruelty. Notwithstanding thi:
persecution Christianity was making sucl
rapid progress among the people that it il
said as many as thirteen thousand persons
were baptized in the year 1850. The execu
ton of Bishop DiaZ, in 1857, called fo
prompt and decisive measures on the par
of the French government, and it was deter
mined to send ont such a force as woult
strike terror into the Emperor and enforc
the right of the missionaries to preach tb
Gospel, unmoested throughout the countr,
l under his rule. In this movement, us w
f have seen, France has secured the co-opera
, ton Of Spain, and the operations of thei
combined forces will hereafter afford man,
an interesting chapter in the history of tn
progress of the European Powers in tn
: East.
Cochin China is considered among til
most fertile and productive countries in Asis
and Touran, the principal port, is said to b
, one of the finest in the world So produc
tive is the land that in many places it give
three crops year, and yields rice and suga
in great abundance. The other divisions {
the Empire Of AMMAN, Tonkin and Cambc
dia, are no less fertile and productive, an
/ the population of the whole country is vari
ously estimated AT from FIVE to twenty mi
lions.