New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-17
THE FRENCH WARS.
WHY THEY ARE WAGED AND HOW THEY
ARE REGARDED.
D.r A..e.n -

IFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.I
PARIS, August "a.
The article In The North German Gazette, to which
called attention in my last letter may be explained
by the situation of King Alfonso in relation to
France and to his own subjects. This contemplate
son of Isabella has elected, to have the Emperor OF
Germany for bis suzerain. That gallant old war;
rior therefore brstles up when no sees him pressed
upon by hostile French influences. 1t Is a case OF
love me, love my dog. Alfonso is too weak In
Spain to exist without foreign adS IL he felt GER
tain that he could rely on Grevy he would black
that statesmans boots with pleasure But IN THIS
country Governments come and go in the Same
rapid succession as the seasons We had Gam
betta, who was thought to have had the coun ~
behind him, from November, 1881, to the last week
In January In the following year, Then we mad
DE Freycinet, who WAS succeeded by Duclere, who
collapsed while laid up with sprained foot, and
who had for his successor Ferry, who was terribly
shaken by C6menceau at tho end of the last session.
NJ. Jules Ferry Is the prisoner of those Opportun'
ists who hemmed in Gambetta and helped to COM
nit him to the policy which destroyed bis popular
ity. They have been. since his death, able TO COM
bine with the worst Republican elements IN tho
Chamber. or, to put 1t moro clearly, with all the
pseudo Republicans. What therefore has char
actsri zed the actual Administration 7 Latent re-
action at home and restless sel-assertion abroad.
Gambetta told mo In the month of March, 1881,
that it was necessary to inure the French army 10
the hardships of war. little by little as the Car
thagcnians had done when they were nursing the
idea of avcnging tho losses they met with In the
a, at Punic war He therefore favored the plan for
n military occupation OF Tunis. : When he said this
he denied that France had anyintention OF annex
inEr that State But he thought that she should
establish protectorate" and enforce treaty tights
IN Madagascar, Cochin China. and elsewhere, by
which vague term he doubtless meant the Easter
and other Pacife islands. France would be OPP
po,ed by the natives tant mielr. Their hostility
would give the French soldiers sent against them
the opportunities which they needed TO learn the
art of war in real campaigns. q 40 --'==>---4--
Suoh was since 1879, when Waddington lent
too ready ear to the English eatls whom he met AT
Berlin. And to Prince Bismarck the policy OF Gam
betta. His idea was to take Germany in trap,
laid by her Chancellor and tho Tory lords for
France. Waddington is q coJton-spinner and Eng
lishman enough TO no seduced by the prospect or
fresh markets being opened for his manufactured
goods in tho barbarous places TO the ownership oil
vito France seeks treaty rights. So
There was patriotic idea at the bottom OF Gam'
bettas scheme. But those round him were chiefly
actuated by greed. Dupuis, who has a claim OF
five millions of francs on Tonqun, surrendered
more than a fourth OF il to Deputies WHO pronlseu
IN EGG ON the Government to enforce 1t. Jules
Ferry. on taking Office this year. was obliged tc
accent every condition imposed by the ruck Of the
Gnmbettists. He has therefore gone ahead on tho
Red River and ut Tamataye. 1t does not SEEM
however that tho experiment OF inurng French
troops 10 the hardshps of real campaigning does so
well in Cochin China as Tunis. For tho 500
whom Admiral Cuurbet brought 10 the scratch in
his attempt TO advance toward Hue. there were
$1,000 welI-aTmed natives.
Germans residing hero are seriously alarmed AZ
the article IN The North German Gazette. They
know that If 1t is followed up By others in the same
spirlt. Paris will he made too hot TO hold them.
The idea OF war Is rcpugnant to them. They con-
sole Themselves however with the hone that Bis
marck will. ~ the head OF monarchlcal cOahylon,
demand the disarmament of France. ana thcn all0W
tue Teutonic Empire 10 sleep upon IT'S ianIels ne
would first have To settle accounts Win RUSSIA ana
inc sub Danubian Slavs. mOnarchlca c"hIltlon
IA ike the image that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed OF:
Thcr, ar, few thrones IN the Old World that stand
on a solid basis Milan of Sbrvia u menaced by
Knragronaewlch. The House of Savoy Is falrly
solid bat the Italians are not monarchists. II II
wns NOT for that miserable TunisAn affair, King
Jiumbert would not ventura 60 enter into an al.
lance with Austria and Germany. The ground
shakes ia Spain under the feet ~ Don AlphOnso.
Austria il quiet. But her Say States hate the Ger
mans We're truly great statesman 10 mise In
France he could easily break down tho coalition
that Bismarck " forming.