The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-22
FRANCE AND CHINA.

magnitude fearful In It's proportions. french
statesmen may well deliberate before enter
ing upon SO grave matter, and one freghted
with such serious consequences. II the
French republic were harmonious in itself,
particularly unit IN favor of popular gov
ernment the declaration OF war even then
would be something to be postponed to the
last moment But with popular sentiment
divided in France, with very strong feeling
in favor of i'm erialsm, and other schsms of
various beliefs, and all hostile to the re-
PUBLIC it is very unpropitous time to I'M
dertake war against a people thousands
of miles distant and the greatest in popula-
ton in the world. A disastrous campaign,
which would seem well-nigh unavoidable,
might precipitate civil war. The denizens
of Montmartre, Belleville and Grenelle-
the eruption of the crater OF France
need but the opportunity to again swarm
behind barricades, as they did in 1871. The
spirit of communism is checked, not killed.
and the Petroleuses and Louise Michels are
only awaiting the signal from the men.
The pretenders to the throne will be quick
to take advantage of the general dissatisfac-
ton and clamor.. 1t might, under the adj
vantage of the chaos of anarchy, be the
work of but moment to erase
the Republican motto, "Liberte, fraternite
egalite," and substitute "Vive lie rof' or
give rempereur,"
Il II. i l,
an advantage to French commerce, to have
foothold on the confines of tine great ORR
entail empire. But it is not plain that such
an ambition can be gratifed, either by
diplomacy or force of arms. The territory
of Tonquin is i'm mediately adjacent to the
Chinese empire, and for that reason the
Chinese government is very solicitous con-
corning the status of affairs there as affecting
its own concerns. 1t is plain that the
French have incurred the hostility of
that people, but whether to the
degree of being compelled to defend what
it has seized, remains to be seen.
A comparison of the relative strength of
the two peoples may reveal facts that ought
to tend toward making the end plain from
the beginning. The French republic has a
population of 81 600, 900; the Chinese empire
is credited with 4o4, GAG, 000 These figures
are of necessity largely speculative, but it is
conceded that the population of that country
greatly exceeds that OF any other in the
world. The nearest part of France to the
scene of operations is Marseilles, nearly or
quite 1000 miles away. China is contiguous.
The nearest source of supplies and
men for France is quarter way
round the world. French vessels and sol
diers must traverse the Mediterranean II, pass
| through the Suez canal and the Red sea.
cross the Indian ocean, sail through the
Strait of Malacca and thence northward
through the China sea. The furthest large
city of China-Pekin-is but ], 200 miles
away, while Canton, with a population OF
1, 236, 900, and Immediately on the sea- is but
about 400 miles from the scene of operations.
Chang Choo, 200 miles further on, has 1,OOO,-
900 inhabitants and is also practically a
port on the China sea. The fact that a
great per cent. of the inhabitants of China
that by sheer force Of overwhelming
numbers they could Withstand the strongest
force that the French, by any possibility,
| could send against them. The military
strength of the empire has been greatly in
creased during the past few years. Some of
the finest and heaviest iron-clads afoat be-
long to China. Chinese troops are now armed
with the latest improved arms, and have been
drilled to their use. They are no longer
tyros in the science of war, and on
their own soil and in their own
waters and to defend the integrity of their
own empire, they are formidable enemy
that may not easily be successfully antago-
nized. The impact of such a body
of troops as could be marched
into Tonquin would be well-nigh
irresistible. Their courage is equal to that
of any people in the world, and in the
frenzy of conflict their desperation knows
no bounds.
France is handicapped in every direction
The French people are restless, revolution
airy and dissatisfied. A spark might set fire
to the inflammable material with which
Paris abounds. Tie experience of the early
months of 1871 may be repeated any time.
In addition to a divided people, France has
an enormous public debt, the largest in the
world, being more than twice that
of the United States, while its
accumulated wealth is less than
ours by 1925, 100000 The French debt per
capita is $126; that of the United States was