The record-union., 1893-07-26
WHAT ACTUATES FRANCE.

The activity of France in Siam is the
activity of conquest. She claims that the
Siamese invaded Anamese territory-not
as nation, but some bands OF marauders
went over the line and killed some
Frenchmen. Then a ship, the Say, was
seized by the Siamese and used as an
the French attempted to ascend the
Menam River and conflict with Siamese
forts resulted-due undoubtedly to mis-
understanding. Thereupon France de-
manded indemnity for the killing of the
three or four men on the Anamese border,
for the destruction Of the ship Say and
for the insult to the flag in the conflict
with the forts.
Siam attempted to explain, all the time
promising to pay the indemnity, but
France trumped up a new claim, TO wit,
that the boundary between Anam and
Siam should come down to the Mekong
River and not stop at the mountain crests
The Siamese replied that this was not the
call of the treaty. But the French,
anxious for conquest, would hear no
more. ordered her representatives in
Siam's capital to withdraw and gave
notice of intention of war.
Thereupon Siam granted the claim of
France to territory along the Mekong to
the eighteenth parallel of latitude, upon
which France insisted on the concession
being extended to the Burmah boundary,
thus giving her all the land between the
lower bank of the river and the mount
aims separating Anam from Siam. This
outrageous claim Siam denies, and now
there is to be war.
If France is sincere in her claims and
honest and just in their preference, she
can compel arbitration. Indeed, she
would be anxious to submit them upon
their merits. But, if she preferred force,
she could compel Siam to make repara-
ton. That is not what she desires. She
wants to conquer the debatable territory,
to give herself title to it by right of con-
quest; to add a little more to the crimson
of the tricolor; to gain ringing renown as
a fighting nation, that her patriotic sons
may have enough to think of without
contemplating the outrages of the anarch-
lists and radical socialists at home. She
wants to acquire greater territory in the
Malay peninsula region, to thrust her
elbows into the ribs of England, which
squatted Just as unrighteously in Bur-
nah not ten years ago.
She is out for conquest, and, having a
weak victim at hand, she can proceed to
crunch his bones at leisure, test some OF
her new cruisers and give her middies
something to do besides rubbing up their
patent-leathers and reading sweethearts'
letters.
France is a republic, but she is actuated
by the traditions of monarchism. She
announces the right of men to govern
themselves, but excerpts Siam and any
other lot of mortals whose possessions
she covets. There is not claim France
prefers against Siam that. if it were the
case of the United States and Nicaragua
or Honduras, for which we would be
ashamed to go TO war, and would settle
without cost of blood and treasure and
still retain our dignity and sustain our
prestige.
The policy of the Republic Of America
is not one of conquest and foreign acqui-
sition; the policy of the Republic OF
France is one of the conquest of every
inch of Gods footstool she can steal; as
witness her grasp of many island groups
her seizure OF Anam and the setting VI
of puppet King to do her service; hel
assault upon Madagascar; her unsuecess
full attempt on the Red Sea; her grip
upon rich sections of Africa; her acqui
sition of Cambodia; her effort to wres
fertile bottom lands from China. No, pu
it as we may, the French need not go tf