Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-16
gEINA, FRANCE AND ToNQUIH-CAUsE
OF THE WAR.

We are told by the dispatches that IN
less France abandons her pretensions war
is inevitable between the republic and
China, and in that event the latter pro,
poses to do some terribly earnest fighting.
Unquestionsbly if China engages herself in
the Tonquin affair France viii have great
difficulty in opposing her. China can
Throw hundreds Of thousands of men and
4 very formidable navy against the Frank
Bat for all this we cannot entertain the
belief that China Will be able to resist
French encroaehment, or that the King OF
AMMAN can successfully contend with his
late ally. There seems to be wide mis-.
apprehension on this subject. Some days
ego we sketched the origin of the difficulty
between France and AMMAN. Since the
war promises to be one Of vastly greater
Importance than was anticipated, and as
its cause is misapprehended by many, it is
necessary to review the situation, that
there may be clear understanding of the
whole matter The location, boundaries,
productl, population, characteristics of the
people, wealth of the country, style of
government in Tonquin, etc, we nave al.
ready made clear. At present, then, we
consider the political situation and its his.
tory Tonquin and Cochin China form
the kingdom OF AMMAN. But Ton
quin was at one time recognized
As partial independently, subject,
however, to the ultimate control
of the Annamese Emperor. Up to the if
teenth century the whole kingdom of
AMMAN was a dependency of China. Sub
sequently series of wars between rival fac.
lions for control kept the country in tur-
moil. Something like eighty.fve years
ago house succeeded in establishing itself,
with sufficient firmness to command recog-
milton of the right to rule. But China
never relaxed her claim that AMMAN should
do her honor as her vassal, and upon Ton
Quin she especially made claims CT propri.
etorship, since she is upon the border-laud
and separated from China by great wall
That was the result of the necessities of a
nation which few hundred years ago
acted uniformly upon the defensive. In
She last century an heir of one of the
royal houses of Cochin China, became
= Christian, and, setting up his claim
to the throne, secured French recog-
milton and aid, through the influence
Of French missionary bishop. With the
aid of France the reigning heather power
Tyas overthrow and the new ruler formally
seated, whe soon after brought Tonquln
also under subsection. This King was
Nguyn-anh, and the date of his accession
was about 1880. It matters very little
now whether he WAS the rightful heir or
not, or Of the house entitled to the sue
cession. That is a matter which no power
can settle, and concerning which the testi-
rnony on either side is valueless. All that
civilized nations can do is to recognize the
lie fAoto government which made the COM
pact with France under which it won its
way to power. This King Of Cochin China,
on subduing Tonquin, took on the title OF
Emperor Of AMMAN. He was known as
Gyalong. He was succeeded in 1920, and
The Christians in the country from that
sims were presented with great severity,
the French frequently interfering to protect
zzz. As late as 1857 the present ruler