The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-25

sea; this rs far south rs the junction OF
the Sesong river with the Mekong,
whore the line turns to the south west
and cuts across the gulf OF Siam. Thus
the entire MekonG valley north OF the
Sesong up to China, belongs to siam;
and all south oft to that part Of Anam
known as Cambogia. Concerning these
facts there ia no dispute.
A few years ago, however, the French
took possession Of Anam, including
both Ionuuin at the north and Cam
bogia at tho south. This was a good
beginning for q colonial empire. But
the ambitious and enterprising gentle.
man who is now governor general Of the
whole territory was not satisfied there.
with. Seeing that the lower reaches Of
tho Mekong, already in French posses
sion, were important and valuable, he
determined TO secure for France the
upper reaches of the same stream, and
all Its enormous basin, rs far as tho
Chinese boundary. No claim was put
forward that this vast region over be-
longed to Anam. Hc was too honest
to make any such shifty and baseless
excuse. He simply said that the Me-
kong basin was u good region to have,
and therefore France should have it;
and that q now boundary, Of his own
marking, was more scientific than the
old one, which had been accepted on
both sides for centuries, and therefore
it should be adopted. France wants
moro land, and she proposes to get 1t
by %annexiug iorCibly about one-third OF
Siam. That is all.
OF Siam itself and the Siamese little
need DO SAID, since 80 much has al
ready been said in recent years. II Is
acurious country, with the most nd
vanced civilization aud the most print
tive barbarian jogging elbows At every
step. Emphatically tho god OF things
as they arc Is the god Of Siam. The
amiable, indolent, happy.go.Iucky pco-
pie ask nothing better than to 90 on
living as their fathers lived before
them. But not, therefore, would they
oppose the introduction OF modern i'm
provements. Assuredly not. The news.
paper, the railroad, the telegraph, the
telephone. have all boon welcomed, and
vastly wondered at, and have taken
their place in Siamoso social economy
along with the white elephant, the UNI
brella PROFESSIONS aud the interminable
compilation Of magic squares. II may
not DO true, rs limited on a time, that
tho stable Of the sacred white elephant
islighted with electricity, but there arc,
in fact, many mixtures equally gro
tesquo to DO found on every hand.
The present king Is u wise, liberal
and progressive ruler. yet as absolute
an autocrat aa the Russian car. His
father used to pride himself on being q
constitutional monarch, subject in all
affairs Of state to tho decisions OF the
council OF ministers. But this king
\ claima the right Of absolute authority,
and he exercises It without dispute.
There Ia no thought OF agitating for
constitutional forms or for limiting tho
royal %prerogative. Nor docs any ono
think OF conspiring against tho stabll.
ity Of tho throne or the personal safety
OF its occupant. Tho king may 10
where ho will, about Bangkok or In the
romotest villages OF his realm, absolute.
~ alone and unguarded, with perfect
safety. There 10 not a hand In all the
kingdom that would DO turned against
him. Nor does any ono think Of ask
ing him to change tho form Of govern.
ment In any respect Tho people arc
too faithful worshippurs OF tho god Of
things az thoY aro, Besides that, they
arc q courteous folk, and asBuredly Il
would be "bhd form" to aug.
gest 10 their monarch that every.
thing Ia not Just as right as right Gun
be. Undoubtedly tho king would DO
ulad to make various reforms II no were
asked TO do so, or II tho mood Of
Thorn ware brought 10 his attention.
But no ono will perform this service for
him, aud go he can only mako changes
when lle finds out by personal invest.
CATION that thoy nro needed. Ho makes
such Investigations whenever hO can.
But II 10 impossible for ono man TO aC.
quaint himself with everything that Is
going on and end out everything that Ia
needed by tho people llla majesty
lAs on many OCCASIONS Of late followed
tho t%lmO.honorOd example OF tho Gu.
llph Of Iagdad, aud has wandered
shout tho streets OF the city, by night
and by day, disguised now and then rs
an ordinary CitizOn and now and thOn
na q workingman. making observations
and taklnp notes. In this work ho has
met with many curious experiences aud
has learned much VI tho lIio aud tie