The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-17

ing Turkey to eede TO Prince Dano 1.-THE black Prince
Of the Mountains) port in the Adriatic, nor have
| as yet been able to ascertain whether the French
lee IN the Adriatic has received orders to return to
| Toulon II Prince Danio We're to acquire port in
the Aoriatc, he might as the natural friend and ally
OF Russia, do as well by her Sardinia but recently
armed against Prussian pretensions in the East and
| from small Iodgment, such power Russia might
derive very large possessions in the course OF time
Austria, II must not be forgotten, is the only power
in the east Of Europe whose policy and interest are
parallel to those Of England and for British states
man on leading English journal to say it matters
not whether Russia become rival power OF Austria
in the Mediterranean and the Adriate, betoLens a
degree Of careessness which contrasts strangely with
| the extraordinary sooitude for the independence
and absolute sovereignty of Turkey.
On the other hand, the English press seems to he
| quite willing to ignore the preparation France is
now making for establishing her old claims to the
| island of Madagascar The French press talks very
plainly Of Oriental France and of the necessity Of
establishing another naval station the east coast
of Africa; but the spirit which so furiously
opposed The setiement Of Tahiti does not now in
terterc with the prospective conquest Of an island
with population Of five millions. Autyes temps au-
ties moeus, says the French proverb, which is more
| easily rendered into Latin than English The motto
of Louis Philippe in those days was peace at any
price, while under the regime peace is only the
result of constant warlike preparations. Peace un-
der Louis Philippe the result of ps aertia; un-
der the Emperor Napoleon it is in the nature of a
conquest WHICH III. MauagaSCar Is, as you
know, the third greatest island on the globe contain
ing an area in round nuhbers of 250, 900 square
| miles, with soil of extraordinary fertility and a
climate tit for the production of all tropical plants
though exceedingly healthy and temperate on the
high plateru . The two p incipa tribes which settled
the island divided into Houas and Betsieos The
former the mountaneers who in due time con-
quered the people of the plains and appropriated to
themselves the whole island The eastern inhabit-
ants Of the island are exhibiting the leading charac-
crff
can character seems to preponderate. Some Arabs
and Suadelis are also on the island Up to the com
mencement of the present century the different tribes
of the inhabitants were independent of but certainly
at with, each other, when Radama, of the tribe
of the Hovas, founded tho kingdom of Madagascar
by reducing all other tribes to subjection, or the
voluntary acknowledgment of his power. He then
built himself splendid palace after the European
models, in the town of Tananarva, the town Of thou
sand villages aud cndeayored TO ciyilize the island
by the introduction of Christianity. English mis-
| sonaries were soon introduced, who in the year
1928, had already over d hundred schools for chill
dren, with about 5000 pupils The army, composed
of 90 600 men, was organized and partly ofcered by
Frenchlnen, and thus fortified the King concluded
| treaty with England, in which, for an annuity OF
5000 pounds sterling he promised to abolish slavery
and the slave trade. This, however, proved the end
of his career. The Chiefs dissatisfied with the in.
novations, induced the Queen Ranavolo Mandjoka to
poison her husband, winch was done by an African
favorite, who afterwards was again despatched
by poison. The missionaries were then driven out,
their schools closed, and the Christians prosecuted
by poison or the torture. The Queen Ranavolo, who
has since enjoyed all the privileges Of absolute
monarch, and governed by "a reign Of terror, is
an old lady, and has son who, being suspected of
predictions in favor of reforms has been repeated
y threatened with assassination by the chiefs of the
kingdom In addition to all this, the Queen is now
on the point Of DEATH and the people on the coast
are said to sympat.,ize with the French The present
minister of marine, Admiral Hamein, distinguished
himself in his youth on the Island, and the piercing
Of of the Isthmus of Suez would open to the prod
ucts Of the island abundant European markets.
Judge whether the conjunction is favorable to
France and the development Of her maritime power.
..-..---.-.--. ID. j. q.