, 1884-01-26

ing the State have temporarily lost
their heads, and are forgetting not
on'y political economy and common
justice, but the whole position Of
France in North Africa. Under
these circumstances, the feeling of
the French peasanlry becomes of the
last Importance, and is most difficult
to ascertain. That they are disposed
tor peace, we do not doubt. Indeed.
we agree with those who believe that
they always have been disposed for
peace, and that, except for a moment
during the Revolution, the aggres-
sive wars of France have been made
by her rulers and her upper classes.
The peasantry desire quiet, moderate
dem nnds on their children's lives.
and high quotations for their Bonds.
md, unless they can recover lost pro
y%Inces, regard war with aversion.
But then, slough this is undoubtedly
their permanent sentiment, and SO
strong that if China declares war
they may at any moment upset the
Ministry, and turn the vessels he ad
sharp round-as they compelled Nj.
lie Freycinet to do in Egypt-is it
permanent enough and strong enough
to induce them to put a stop to APP
parentIy successful expeditions? We
confess to some doubt about this,
She deputies should know France,
ard they are evidently doubtful. The
Church should know France, and il is
going the other way, The soldiers
should share the peasants feelings,
and they are voIunteeIingI in thouSan4S
for Touqnin. W. confess we doubt
whether tie peasants may NOT look on
and unless awakened by some shock,
like Il Chinese declaration Of war or
a great demand for money, may abb
stain from interference. Neither of
these events is at all certain. We our
selves believe that the great Council
which meets meet week in Pekin will
decide to defend Tonquin, but it
would nor be unlike Chinese statPmen
to defend it silently, by filing up the Ton
q~uineSe ranks, a process no French peasant
would perceive. lie does not, it must be
remembered, object to use the fleet or the
Colonial Army'-j.c., Marines and VOlun-
teerS-but only to waste soldiers who are
his children, and are wanted to carry on
life at home. AS to finance, money must,
Of course, be spent in quantities but the
Government is going to reduce the Floating
Debt by a loan, voted long since, though
net emitted, and will then possess the tull
power, just accorded by both Chambers to
NJ. Tirard, of borrowing up to Il limit OF
G25, 900, 600 from the Bank of France. No
doubt, the Senate cautioned M. Tirard that
ifhe used this power recklessly, a European
war might find France unable to collect
money suddenly ;but still M. Tirard insisted,
and the power was granted without a divi-
sion. 1t is almost disheartening to believe
that the Republic can enter on such a ca
reer-clearly opposed to the wishes of the
majority Of the ~peOple-and the peaSantry
still sit quiet but the French Ministry evil
IDENTIFY think she can, and we do not like
the signs. If the power of action temporarl.
~ belongs to the politicians, and the jOurn-
alists, and the Partisan upper classes, they
are in a most dangerous mood,-"freezing
for a fight" as the Americans say, with
somebody not too big. They may be re-
stored to their usual senses by events, by a
message from Pekin, by a rising in North
Africa, or even by . check in Tonquin but
at present they are burning with a passion
for territories, provinces, islands, anything
that is to be had. Reproof does not lie in
our mouths perhaps, whilewe are always &C.