Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-03
rHE FRENCH AND THE .ASAmEsE.

The French republic has embarked on
ssa Of troubles. 1t hes recently taken pos
session Of Tunis, il is now invading NADIA
gascsr, and it mas sent force to take posses
sion Of territory on the Congo in Africa.
Besides these, and one or two other similar
affairs, it has on hand the invasion of the
district of Tonquin, in the empire oil AnaLn,
Oh the China sea. This last invasion is be-
coming serious affair for France. The
leader of the invasion has recently been
killed by the natives, and France Is sending
further military aid 10 the troops already
there, and China, as the suzsrain of the couu-
try. is about 10 send military assistance in
aid Of the native army. Should war be-
tween France and China arise, it will dam
age the trade of Europe with the Chinese,
and thus awake the animosity OF
the neighbors Of France against her.
1t is already stated that, should
Frsuce find it necessary to declare block
ade agsinst the ports of China, that blockade
will not be recognized by the various Euro
Pean powers. Under these circumstances
We are likely 10 hear good deal about this
French Touquin affair, and the following
account of the origin Of the dispute between
the two peoples Will asset in making the
whole matter understood. The French For
eign Minister, mel-Lacour, some time
ago declared that France had been provoked
by the Emperor Of Anam, for he had yio-
lated the treaty of 1874, and had scknowl-
dyed The suzerainty of China; permitted the
persecution of French subjects, and en-
couraged brigGndage. The Chinese and
Ansmese had attacked the French forces
and the aggression must be repelled, 80 that
the assailants might be convinced that
France did not mean 10 Withdraw, but per-
manently TO occupy certain points in the
country. ToHquiu and other parts of the
Ansmese empire were dependencies of
China down TO the esrly part of he
fifteenth century, when they shook off the
foreign yoke and established their own
rulers. The Chistian religion ws1 sharply
perseculed when il was introduced by mis-
sionaries from japan. Nguyen.auh, person
of the reiguius family, had been educated in
The Cbri.lian religion, and was induced by
the Roman Catholic apostolic vicar there 10
appeal TO Louis XVI, of France. The re-
suit was treaty cediug to France the p
niusula of Turon and some islands, by the
management OF the apostolic vicar; war
followed at the end of which the Christian
Prince was placed on the throne. He be-
came master Of Tonquin and proclaimed
himself Emperor of Anam. The intrigues
aud trickery of the missionaries, as may be
expected, did net decrease the unpopularity
of the Christian religion among the pagaDs,
who very naturally judged the tree by its
iruitz, and the next emperor, who reigned
from 1920 to 1871, began a bitter per-
seoution Of its di-ciples, which his
successor continued. The French made re-
peated but unsuccessful efforts to stop
the persecution. In 1857 the present Empe-
ror, Tu-Duc, who had stolen the empire from
his brother, continued the prosecutions, and
put a Spanish bishop 10 death. This act
that pious man, Louis Napoleon, who stole
the empire by destroying the republic of
France, determined TO punish. He sent
forces aud conquered Turon in 1858, then
stormed Saigon, the capital Of Tonquin, and
other places, and IN 1862 Tu-Duc was COM
PEELED to cede most of the territory now pos
sessed by France-French Cochin China. !
Tu- Due was constrained to this by rising
IA Touquin, under the lead of Pedro |
Phuong, a woman Catholic defendant of |
one of the old families. The French con-
iinued their aggressions, extending the bor-
ders of their conquest, until Tu-Duc was ex-
into an attempt to gain the aid OF |
China by acknowledging lis old suzerain
rights, and sending presents and tri-
butte. Ia 1874 the French exlorted new
treaty, which made Tu-Duc its Vassal, while
nominally acknowledging his sovereignty,
biadipo him 10 surrender IN them the can. |