The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-02
FRENCH sANGFROID.

Inc aCLlluQe OF lne french government
relative to the Tonquin protectorate and
the compica tons with China is of char
acter that seldom finds parallel in diplomatic
business Usually in such matters the ag-
gressors have sought some plausible pretext,
beyond the mere acquisition ofrterritory.
In this instance, however the truth is
blandly admitted, and the righteousness of
the French Premier is very refreshing. In
reply to the speech of NJ. Clemenceau, in
terpellating the government for its irregular
procedure, NJ. Ferry declared that the gov
eminent had carried the practice of mod
Grafton and prudence to its furthest
limits. Warming up to his subject, he con-
tinued that France, as the second maritime
power of the world, had special duties to per-
form, and it was 1.-THE duty of the govern
ment to prepare fresh ground for the activity
of future generations" In accordance with
this idea. France had looked over the world
and decided to lay hold OF Tonquin and, in
cidentally, AMMAN. Now, of course, France
had no more right to do this than has the
United States to invade and assume control
of Brittany. AS an explanation of the act
in question, and not in any sense apologet-
ically, NJ. Ferry cited the fact that
''all working nations were marking out for
themselves part of the unexplored regions
of the world" why, therefore, SHOULD not
France draw near to China, which contains
400, 100000 consumers This drawing
near" is certainly a neat way of saying a
disagreeable thing. The head of the French
cabinet is polite enough to ignore the fact
that AMMAN is already inhabited, and was
populated probably several thousand years
before Lutetia (now Paris was even dreamed
of. The Premier intimates that it was no
other nations were freely laying hold of
everything in sight, France was little
more considerate. "The capture of Hue"
he says, had been brought about by the
death Of King Tudic, when an unlooked-for
opportunity presented itself and had to be
seized The death of the native king offered
an opportunity to steal the country, and this
had to be done. Now AMMAN is contiguous
to China on the south, and, naturally, the
government of China is directly interested in
the matter of who is intruding on her
boundary. But, fortunately for France, &C
cording to NJ. Ferry, China protests without
breaking diplomatic relations" and "she
will be more oonciliatory when we have cap
tured Sontay and Bacninh. When this object
us out" But the speaker reaches the climax
of ingenious frankness when he says: with
patience sang-froid and our forces we shall
be proof against everything"
The French republic has abundant pre-
cedent for Selling available territory in any
part of the world. The empire just across
the channel has carried this idea to all parts
OF the globe. But there is a common belief
in America, If moi in Europe,
that such unwarranted seizures
are incompatible with the idea
of republic. The central object of popu-
lar government is the good of its own poo
pie. 1t should aim 10 foster, protect and
better its own, ard not go ont of the way TO
despoil other peoples. The poison of terri
torial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. inculcated by the
Napoleon family, still permeates the French
people Thirst for what is popularity de-
nominated tue glory OF France is Unsuitable,
and the lesson taught in the loss OF Alsace
and Lorraine seems to have been
forgotten. Bnt the bold attempt to
acquire territory without reasonable pre-
text is not half so surprising as the con-
fession in public debate that no excuse was
sought, and none desired beyond the right
established by precedent In view of the
fact that suitable pretexts can be had for the
seeking, 1t is marvellous that the French
should have the candor to admit that their
object was exactly what it appeared to be
the spoliaton OF the Annamites and the sub
iugaton of their interests to those of France,
THE case of the Wisconsin woman who mar
ried one OF her own sex 10 matched by that of