Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-17
UEF0UNDED FORECASTS.

\ number of journals Of apparent Wis
dom. have for month past aired their
brains and exposed their lack Of wisdom,
b- iteratcd prophecies to the effect that the
open but undeclared war between China
and France would and must involve the
Powers of Europe We have been unable
to discover any basis for these forecasts, and
have concluded that the contemporary
press INDUCING in them have simply made
rough euesseS. with a view Of impressing
the public with the belief that they are
Gun" on the issues involved in the Franco
Chinese difficulty. If this criticism ap-
pears harsh. OF TO be the arrogant assUmp-
ton of superior knowledge and foresight,
its souudnoss viii be justified in the iudg-
ment Of every man who has kept pace with
the news reading Of everyday history
There is nothing complicated about the
matter France is Furnishing China for
understandable interference in her CONNER
ciaI concerns with a nation over which the
Child of the sun has set UP the mere
shadow of a hollow claim of suzcrainty.
The very latest reliable news is in accord
with an the seeming of the whole period
since the Tonquin trouble began. England
and Germany are cousinly allies in inter
est. and war between them is, at this day,
a; least, out of the question. Now,
ii is no secret. that at Berlin
The official temper is favorable in de-
ciIed manner. TO the position of France in
the Chinese matter. German statesmen are
too wise to throw serious obstacles in the
way of France in the prosecution Of her
foreign policy. To do SO would in the
words Of one recent semi-ofiicia! dispatch
recall her attention to the provinces Ger
many wrested from her France is pledged
TO give German commerce in the Orient
freedom. SO far as she is concerned and il
there IS one thing more than another Bis
niarck has set his heart upon. il is the ex.
tension Of the foreign trade of Germany
Some nighter cause than that involved in
French acquisitions in Asia viii be needed
TO move him TO any step that will for even
day. cripple the commerce of Germany
Ii makes very little difference 10 Germany
whether France or England command po-
sidans on the Chinese coast. SO long as She
secures the broadest opportunity to pro
mote her own trade Bismarck and tn,
statesmen Of Germany are not SO sense!ess
as TO believe that conquests of war are more
desirable than the victories of peace anC
commerce. They would far prefer to pos
sess n country by control cf trade than rui'
it bv force Of arms. Now, the position O
Germany is the key to the action Of the
Powers in this matter. She anchors III,
whole situation in Europe But beside
we have Austria warmly and loudly
approving the attitude assumed b!
France. Her motive is. Of cours
one of jealousy toward England. As in
crease of French influence is by the Aus
TRANS believed 10 be depreciatory OF En-
clsh power in the East, she fans the as
pirations of France, and is really annoye,
that the Republic does not make he
assault upon China one Of broad conquest
instead Of insisting that it is not war in
tended to wrcst Chinese territory from tn
Moa~oi. Italy. the enemy of France at al
zines. looks on with iIl-concealed hatred