New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-18
RrJ1rAL or FRENCH PRESTIGE.

The conquest OF petty prh'lpdHty ny one
of the most powerful and prosperous States in
Europe is not great achievement. That a
wcll-cquippcd army, advancing With superior
numbers against n horde of ill-armel undis-
ciplined Arab tribes, shonld have overcome all
resistance within few weeks is not sur
prising feat oe arms. That military cNpcdl-
ton. whose real purposes had been studiUsly
concealed an systematically mS'cprcscntcd,
should have suddenly shifted its ground and.
surrounding q dcfencclcSs capital, have crammcd
n treaty down the throat of n feeble sovereign,
is not a brilliant feat of craftsmanship. W that
might have been done openly and without
Iii, guisn has been done secretly and In
the dark, and whether by foul uIcan-
or fair. it was easily done. Yet the
things of the downfall of Tunis seem t.
have kindcd glow of enthusiasm in every
Frcnchman's face. The acton OF the Ministry
has been Sustained by the Chambers and hy
the Press with unbrokcn nanimity.
II cannot be that the French people look
upon Tunis as great Prize. 1t hats, what
Cyprus has not, good harbors and its COM
mere and trade are not To be dc~pised; but
like Algeria il will have to hc heavily gar
risoncd and besides being nm expensive luxury
in time of peace it will bc "A serious incOn-
vCnicnce aud source Of danger III time Of war.
Nor does it seem possible that a nation Whose
interest in its own affairs is 30 absorbing
should have suddenly set its heart upon
foreign conquests and colonial enterprises.
There is "a simpler and more natural cyplana-
ton OF the universal favor with which the
TnuiSan expedition has been regarded in
France. The Nation is not unwilling 10 have
its power demonstrated in Europe Ten year
of inaci0n have followed Sedan The Army
has been reOrganzcd, financial stability restored
and "A new order Of government established.
These have been years of ccaS,lcSs activity and
uninterrupted progress. But France has done
nothing to regain its old place in DIPLOMACY.
The Foreign Ministers have been discreet and
cautions, and the Chambers have taken only a
languid interest in what was going on
in the great capitals. Foreigners have
shrugged their shoulders and lamcntcd the
disappearance of France "a n European Power.
Republican institutions have brought back
pro -pcrity, these cavaliers have said. but it is a
vulgar prosperity of the til-somahing that
can bc counted in francs. Under criticism like
this Republicans have WINGED. They have
craved an opportunity of proving that the
Ndllun WAS hlIouk, hERIfNHlNt anu lOIlllltlillt,
as well rs united and prosperous, and that the
prestige which once set the Continent ailamc
had not burned out. For this reason the ac-
Gvity displayed by NJ. Waddngton at certain
stages of the Berlin Congress sent thrill of
delight through France, and this feeling of
satisfaction has been renewed 10y the snowy
triumph achieved in Northern Africa.
The Gallo traits remain in the blood.
Frepckmcn iii becoming Republicans have not
ceased to be Frcnchmcn. Under the new in
stitutions the follies of the Empire have been
outgrown, scf-posse ssion and s"lf-rcspect have
been rcgaihed, and steadincss of conduct and
sobcrncss of judgment have been acquired
But a nation that has played great part in
European history is unwilling to have the cur
tain rung down and the lights extinguished
The bare suspicion that the Republic il no
longer powerful as member Of the state
system is intolcrable. The new institutions
must command respect abroad or they will bc
unpopular at home. II is this constituencies
under captous criticism that is momcntarily
relieved by the rapid movement of the TROOPS
and the energy of the Government. A En-
rOpean question has been settled az if il were
French question, and two of the great States
have been duped. A tOnch of old time yipor
and audacity pleases public that has grown
weary Of decade of inaction and on-inter-
ventioh