New-York tribune., 1891-08-29
FOREIGN CoURTESIES TO FRANCE.

No true American can regard unmoyed the
cordiality with which French official visitors
are lust now greeted in other countries. There
is nothing like personal acquaintance to slim
ulate mutual respect, and the present fashion
of travel for great State functiOnaries is emf
nently effective in opening the eyes OF preju-
dice. In no case has this been more notable
than in the reception this week of the French
fleet in England. 1t is far cry to the days
of the first Napoleon, when the traditional ami
mostly of the two neighbors was strengthened
by bitter and prolonged opposition. At lnker-
man and SebastOpo the Union Jack and the
Gallo eagle hoated together over the trenches,
and Queen VictOria'S friendship for Louis Napo-
leon outlasted his hour of disaster. Neither
of these instances. however, was specially sig
nifcant as showing tendency to intentional
determination. French infrmities have indeed
formed continual staple of satire among BIit-
ish critics, and it is only fair to add that French
writer's and caricaturstS have industriously re-
taliated.
Admiral Gervais, his officers and men, how
ever have been welcomed with a spontaneous
helrtiness quite unprecedented in the history
of the two countries and unparalleled by the
evoked. When the Emperor William was
escorted to England by his national fleet the
British authorit es and the British populace were
moved by the irresistible glamor of royalty to
a certain formal effusivcness. In this case that
influence was lacking. But the French officers
we're overwhelmed with private and official at
tentions. They were conducted through dock
YARDS and gunnery-Ships, entertained by the
Duke OF COnnaught and the Duke of Cam
bridge, and received by the Queen, whose yacht
was afterward taken out Of its way to pass
through the lines of the combined squadrOns
and VINO has exchanged polite messages with
President Carnot. But more than this, the
French sailors, on their way to municipal
banquet in their honor at the Portsmouth Town
Hall, met with what the dispatches call "pOp-
uar ovation" The police, it is said were
powerless to control the exu6erance Of the
cheering crowds, and the ranks OF the visitors
were broken up and mixed with enthusiastic
townspeople, who accompanied them to tho
town hall while the English bands played the
Marseillaise.
To us, blessed with the most amable for
oign relations, all this may seem natural enough
BUT il indicates measure of international good
feeling unfortunately not so common in Eu-
rope where too many nations are wont to pa
rade with chip on their shoulder t. the en-
during discomfort of their neighbOrs. 1t i'm
plies, moreover, tact homage to the solidity
and dignity of the great republic reared twenty
years ago on the ruins of a usurped empire
Queen Victorias civility to Napoleon III and
his kin was everywhere felt to proceed primarily
from personal liking for the Emperor and In
perial institutions. 1t is no small honor to the
present rulers Of France that they have so sue
cesSfully overcome the antipathy of foreign
monarchies and compelled respect for the dem
ocratic theories to which we, Oh this side of
the Atlantic, are indissoubly welded. The
Gland OF sunshine and of song" was indeed
never more entitled to our sympathy and ad-
mration, and in sauting her merit we celebrate
only what we are most proud of in ourselves.
When one reflects on Napoleon HIS readiness
to join other potentatcs in desiring the over
throw of our own Union, in marked contrast
with the warm helpfulness of the present French
Republic, one realizes the depth of our common
interest On this continent we have seen ma
ton after nation convert its government into
the image OF our own, until now solitary relic