The morning call., 1893-10-20
FRANCE AND RUSSIA.

The wild enthusiasm which the French
are exhibiting over their Russian visitors
merely proves that the French are as ex-
citable and as mercurial as ever. That is
all. There is nothing political in the incl
dent. 1t merely goes to show that French
enthusiasts who nurse hopes of the recov-
cry of Alsace and Lorraine through a war
with Germany would be glad TO have Russia
help them in the enterprise. But il Russia
did not see her way to take sides with
France when Alsace and Lorraine were
conquered. and when a word from ST.
Petersburg would have compelled Bis
marck to pause, it is hardly likely that the
Gear would do so now when the work Of
reconQuest would be SO difficult.
There must be statesmen at st. Peters
burg who realize that, with one single ex-
ception, the military history of Russia in
the nineteenth century has been a uniform
record of failure and humiliation. Russia
had nothing to boast of in the military
operations which led to the peace of
Tilsit. Paris was twice occupied and
France subjugated by confederacy. of
which Russia was leading member; but
the glory of the first success belongs to
Prussia and that OF the second to England.
Little fame was won by Russia when she
interfered on the side of Austria in her
quarrel with Hungary in 1S4S. How un-
wise the step was Austria's pusllanimous
attitude in the Crimean war demonstrated.
In 1870 Russia could have saved France
by moving a single army corps TO the
Vistula; she held her hand, and Bismarck
characteristically requited her by robbing
her Of the fruits of the campaign of 1878
at the congress at Berlin. Whether she
has taken up arms or refused 10 take them
up, the result has been the same story of
discontinue and disappointment. The ex-
pulsioD of the French from Russia after
the burning of Moscow is the only page in
the history of the nineteenth century TO
which a patriotic Russian can refer with
complacency.
The present French determination with
Russia is a mere ebullition of a craze
which will probably be transitory. There
is no thing in common between Russians
and Frenchmen. Their characteristics
differ as widely as their aims. They have
no affinity whatsoever. They are not even
neighbors. All through history it has been
the misfortune of the French to cherish
wild dreams of military glory which led
to unjustifiable projects of conquest; these
generally eliminated in the defeat of the
would-be conqueror, and the French. in-
stead of acquleseing gracefully in the de-
feat, nursed puerile schemes of revenge.
For forty years it was the hope of every
Frenchman to avenge the defeat of Water
loo, but when France did take up arms she
did so in concert with her hereditary foe.
During those forty years Fran ce loved Rus
sia and hated England; when she did
draw the sword il was against Russia and
by the side of England that the weapon
was drawn.
Now when the French populace go to bed
they pray that they may have chance Of
recovering Alsace and Lorraine. and they
fall on the necks of the Russians because
they see "a possibility OF Russia helping
them in the enterprise. But Russia would
have nothing to gain by such policy, and
the only chance of recOnquest by France
lies in a democratic uprising in Germany
and the overthrow of The empire, which
would be as hateful at st. Petersburg as al
Berlin.
NJ. Carnot, who is the most cool-headed
and clear-sighted Frenehman Of the day,
reelects no opportunity OF throwing cold
water on the military ardor of his country
men. 1t was not accident which prevented
N. Detaille from continuing his admirable
series of war pictures. But il is no easy
task to change the nature of people. The
French are individually the most genial
and good-natured people in the world.
But, as nation. their hand is always for
war. Like another race. whenever the
French see head their instinct is to hit il.
IT was from close observation of their
idiosyncrasy that the Italians described
this mania as furia francese.