Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-08-28
MONDAY, AUGUST IS. 1871.
a Rrench Colonining scheme.


Some of the French newspapers are urging
the people of Alsace and Lorraine to emigrate
10 Algeria. 1t is not likely they viii have very
great success, for only portion Of the people
in those provinces object to German rule on the
ground of nationality, while, at present, they
all have such protection and security as can not
be expected anywhere on French territory, i'm
mediately. And BESIDES there are many reasons
why they will be disinclined TO leave their
homes TO settle in Algeria, where the natives of
the country are in rebellion against French rule.
Very glowing descriptions of Algeria are given
10 induce them TO emigrate. The climate is said
TO be charming beyond the power of language
TO express, and the soil is the richest on the
globe. The whole country may be transformed
into vineyards; the ancient marvels of Maureta-
MAN agriculture may be renewed; magnificent
cotton may be grown there; in word, there
NAV be constructed gardens, granares, and
storehouses for the whole civilized world. The
French press in Algeria seconds this motion,
and points out that lands and welcome are
ready for those who may come, but says nothing
about what the native insurgents may have in
store for new settlers.
1t cannot be denied that North Africa, so far
as concerns the country apart from the people,
is one of the most beautiful and attractive re-
eions on the globe; and there was a time far
back in the past, when it had dense popula-
ton sufficiently enterprising, intelligent, and
well governed TO place it among the foremost of
prosperous countries. Even the "Moors" Of
later ages contributed much TO the civilization
of western Europe. 1t had declined in the time
of the Romans; but, even then, Tacitus eX-
claimed:-"Who would go away from Asia,
Africa, or Italy, to Germanyp In one notice of
this French effort to promote emigration, we find
this observation 1.-THE hand of intelligent in
dustry may yet make Northern Africa
what il was in the days of the Roman empire"
Why is it so difficult to get beyond the Greeks
and Romans? In the time of the Car thagin-
ians, and in the ages previous to their time,
Northern Africa was much more prosperous,
populous and enterprsing, than when the
Romans ruled there. 1t might become so again,
and probably will, whenever a civilized people
can go there and establish such cordial relations
with the Berbers as will bring them forward in
development and industrial enterprise. But the
civilization of western Europe is apt to show
that it is itself deficient, whenever it undertakes
to deal with semicivilized peoples.
The French have never yet succeeded well as
colonizers; and, with all their enlightenment,
it does not appear that they are able to deal in
the right way with the half civilized inhabitants
OF Northern Africa. Some thoughtful French
writers have pointed out, that any attempt to
regenerate that region should begin with the
BerberS, who read and write, have many of the
arts Of civilized life, and are not below Eu-
ropeans in natural capacity. They are not
ARABS" they are what remains of the old
Phoenician communities, so called, which, in
ancient times, filled the whole of North Africa,
from Egypt to the Atlantic. They can not be
displaced and exterminated, like our Indians
they may be won to a very high and lourishng
condition of civilized life. But this work of re-
generation cannot be done by those who meet
partially civilized peoples with lordly AFRO
gance of superiority, and assume that they have
no rights which civilized nations are bound tc
respect. The French must change their policy
and change themselves, before they will be abl
TO do properly the work that waits to be don
in that part of Africa.