The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-03-31
THE FRENCH DEFEAT.

Latterly the news from the seat of
war in China has been largely confined
to accounts OF disasters of greater
or less magnitude to the French, and of
corresponding successes for the Chinese
A few weeks ago the French gained
what was gloated over as a brilliant
victory, but it seems to have been one
of those victories that are in reality
defeats. The advanced position then
gained was one to which the Chinese
appear to have yielded cheerfulIy. for it
placed the invaders in a posi-
ton where they could be han
died with better purpose and
effect Now comes the intelligence that
the French have not only been inglor-
iously driven back, and their casualties
in killed and wounded are said to aggre-
gate 300. This is a fearful loss to
little army, invading a strangers coun-
try that is fairly swarming with sol
diers. It is casualty that is not only
terribly DISASTROUS in its immediate
losses, but is doubly disastrous in the
effect that it will have upon the invaded
and invaders. While the French were
winning steadily, capturing towns and
gaining favorable positions here and
there, they we're inspired by their success
to undertake greater achievements than
would have been Yentured upon. and
the Chinese we're depressed and intlmi-
dated in proportion as the enemy was
daring and iublant Last Fridays
fight will suddenly change all this, and
the position and condition of the OPP
ponents win be reversed. The Chinese
viii fight much better than they have
done.
The news of the disaster was not long
in bringing about 4 political revolution
in France, the ministry Immediately
resigning; in the sorrow, anger and ex-
element of the people, it will be mira
culous if nothing more serious occurs
than the compelling of incompetent
ministers to retire. The French
are peculiar. and they may
find in the incident cause for
changing the foreign policy of the
republic which has latterly been one of
greed, aggression and despotism. If so,
the French at home will be more pros
porous. and the nation may recover
some Of the respect that has been
forfeited during late years.
Civilized nations, and those that have
regard for the rights of other countries,
viii not grieve over this blow that has
fallen upon the French forces. France
has no business in Formosa or China;
she is audaciOusly trying to steal terri
tory and enslaye people who have
done her no wrong, and upon whose
country the French have as little claim
as upon any part of the United States.
Because the Chinese are behind the age in
the arts of war, because they cannot sue
cessfully combat more enlightened and
more warlike people, because they have
been plundered and despoiled by other
western races, the French pounee upon
them, and seem Mortified when the
heathens present a protest of force and
meet the invaders as they would any
other band of organized robbers and
thieves. We are not glad that SO many
brave French soldiers have been slain,
but we are heartily glad that the
Chinese have administered a severe blow
to the French army, and hope that the
the Mongolians viii be victorious in
every engagement with the enemy un-
til the French are driven from the
country. The moral, if not the material
support of the great western nations,
should 30 to the inoffensive Chinese in
this contest.