The sun., 1893-08-06

much stronger reasons for hating England
than for hating Germany. The Germans
have recovered Alsace and q portion o
Lorraine, countries which were wrested
from them by force: the so-called Three
Bishoprics about the middle Of the six.
teenth century, and n part Of Alsace as
late as the close Of the seventeenth. France
still keeps her grasp on districts that were
formerly included in the German empire; as.
| for instance. Franche Comte and q fraction
| OF Lorraine. But what do her recent losses
| In this quarter amount to, compared with
the splendid colonial empire OF which the
| foundations were skilfully laid in America
| and India, and OF which she has been bereft
by England? No wonder that patriotic
Frenchmen. looking back over the course
OF history, are filed with grief and wrath
as they recognize how their country's every
effort at colonial expansion and European
ascendancy has been blocked by their mex
orable island neighbor.
Such is the exasperating record OF the re-
lations between France and England ever
since the French people began to be con-
solidated and ambitious nation. Scarcely
less significant is the circumstance that.
amid the innumerable complications OF
European politics which have repeatedly
made friends to-day Of those who were enc
mics but yesterday, only twice In upward
of two centuries have the French and Eng
lsh been persuaded by so-called reasons OF
State. to become half-hearted and short
lived allies. Under CHARLES H., and through
the bribery Of that sovereign. English fleets
cooperated with French armies in the effort
to crush the Dutch republic; but the Eng
lish people soon revolted at what they
deemed an unnatural alliance. and COM
PEELED their King to renounce it before Its
purpose was attained. Again. in the Crimean
war. tho British Government undertook to
cooperate with NAPOLEON I'LL. but. through
out the siege OF Sebastopol. the English
and French Generals were continually
wranglng; and even after the fall Of tho
stronghold the French common col
diers used to taunt their English
comrades with the fact that. while the
former had taken the Malakotf. the latter
had failed to capture the Redan. The
transient coalition did not lessen the dislike
with which the French regarded the English.
but infused a dash Of contempt for the
military prowess OF their ancient enemies.
The comparatively recent attempt to exer-
else joint control Of the Nile country mis-
carried. owing to the ineradicable jealousy
and antipathy Of the two nations. 1t was
hatred and distrust OF England that led the
French Ministry and the French Chamber
Of Deputies to leave England In the lurch
after ARABI Pasha had refused to heed the
joint ultimatum. That England. after bom-
harding Alexandria and winning the battle
Of Tel-el-Kebir. should have become virtu-
ally the mistress Of Egypt and OF the Suez
Canal. is not the less calling to Frenchmen
because they have only themselves to blame
for their exclusion from their former place
Of auth ority at Cairo.
These are the causes Of the deep and SEEM
ngly inextinguishable suspicion and aver
sion with which England is regarded by the |
mass Of the French people. The existence
of such feelings rendered the task OF the |
DUPUY Cabinet In the Siamese affair one of !
delieacy and difficulty. The |
slightest encouragement on the part Of the |
French Government. or even the absence Of |
orders to observe the utmost
caution. might have led to conflict Of |
French and English war vessels in Siamese
waters: and we have seen that as it was, a |
collision was averted only through the SELF
control and prudence Of British officer.