The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-07-20

France and Germany.
That NJ. FERRY should succeed whore
GAMBErrA failed, although the programmes
Of the two Primo Ministers are substantially
identical. Is commonly explained by saying
that tho former Is more lucky. and that In
equally propitous circumstances the great
tribune would nave done % much or more.
How much M. FERRY has owed to accident
will soon be known. for his luck evidently
turned on July IA, tho outbreak OF French
IN awkward situation.
Tho insult offered to the German flag by q
lot Of harcbrained students and excited work.
mon would not, indeed, have much siRnia-
cameo but for the infammablo condition OF
public feeling on both sides OF the Rhine. Az
things are, oven an incident 30 trivial as this
is likely to weaken the FERRY Cabinet both
at homo and abroad. The Premier's enemies
and rivals In the Legislature and the press
will denounce his apology to Prince HoHEN-
Lobe as needlessly grovelllng In tone; and,
although Prince BISMARCK cannot re-
ject the proiuse and humble excuses
offered. no Ii not q person to for
get tho offence or to overlook Its warning.
This, moreover, Is the second time that M.
FERRY has had to beg tho German Chancellor
to pardon tho excuses Of . Paris mob. which.
II wo may judge from tho prowess 1t exhib-
itcd during the last war. has much keener
relish for rloting than for fighting. It ID
only few months since the light-headed
Parlsians presumed to rebuke ALFONSO XII.
for accepting the Coloneloy OF Uhlan regi-
ment, and BISMARCK may think 1t well to
avert o third impertlnence by letting the
French people see how swiftly cold blast
from Berlin would nip their budding schemes
OF colonial ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
We call the French demonstration against
the German flag trivial incident, and 30 no
doubt 1t would be II good sense could always
be trusted to control bad temper. 1t turns
out, however. that the outrage was more
wanton and CALLING than was at first sup
posed. There seems to have been no founda-
ton for the report that the attack on the
Continental Hotel was species Of reprisals
provoked by the insulting treatment OF
the French flag by an Individual Cor
mana report which on its face
would no incredible unless coupled
with the explanation that tho German was
insane. This story bore all the ear marks Of
lle invented with the purpose Of evading
the penalty which indulgence In At Of spite
was likely to incur. The German whose un-
welcome presence on the Place de Ia Obncorde
exasperated tho Paris roughs proves to havo
been a harmless Bavarian professor, who,
far from wishing to desecrate the national
colors, was engaged In studying the manners
Of the impressionable Gaul. II this were to
DO the normal effect produced by the appear
ance OF peaceable Teuton In the streets Of
Paris, We could not marvel at the Berlin
newspapers preferring war to such state
Of things. and suggesting tho expedlency Of
administering second lesson to France.
An open rupture, however, would be
superfuous. when the mere frown Of Bis
MARcK would suffice to reveal to France her
deplorable isolation. At the present juno
ture very serious consequences would follow
the withdrawal Of tho good-natured toler-
ance with which the German Chancellor has
surveyed the French endeavors to acquire
prestige in Asia and regain influence In
Egypt. BISMARCK needs but to Lift his
finger to paralyze the demonstration
against China and to dictate to the
Egyptian conference decision fatal to
the hopes OF France. The British For
eign Office. yielding to the clamor of
OEltlSu IuuuuIhCtuTcI6 buu NneTCubuCS WOulu
have long since admonished tho French
Government not to imperil the property Of
neutrals by attacking the Chinese treaty
ports, had not the German Chancellor. who
detests Mr.. GLADSTONE lent his coun-
tenance to the foreign adventures OF the
FERRY Cabinet. So too the French attempt
to annex part Of Madagascar, after the
island had been converted and civilized by
British missionaries would have been op-
posed by Lord GRANVILLE but for the good
understanding which has recently subsisted
between Paris and Berlin.
As long as M. FERRY retains power he may
be able to keep up the friendly relations with
BISMARCK which he has been at great pains
to establish, and with unmistakable advan-
tage to France. But tho role OF apologist to
which no has been condemned by tho Al
FoNso incident, and again by last Mondays
unfortunate performance. Is by no means
popular role In France. and the danger Is
that he may be made the scapegoat Of the
national humiliation.
A