, 1894-10-17

the decision of the Court has not yet been
given and depends in part on the
important point whether the law was in
tended to strike buyers as we'll as Dealers
a question by no means simple. The excite
ment is natural not on account of the rank of
the accused, but because Of the direct conflict
East and West, the department demanding
that Mahommedans shall be punished for acts
distinctly permitted by the "Holy Law" We
do not see that the Department, with its
reading of the statute, had any option and
it is probably right in policy; but we
have always a lingering admiration for the
method by which the East India Company
originally struck Town slavery in British
India. 1t was desperately afraid of interior.
ing with religion. SC it would not make 81 we
buying a crime; bat it commanded its officers
not to recognise the stayus of slavery. Con-
sequently, i slave had every right in Court
of a free man or woman; and slavery, in the
European sense. became extinct. There are
TIA ties in India as they are in England, but if
a slave flies he cannot be retaken, and if he
sues for damages, he is Il valid plaintiff.
The new French Colonial Minister appears
disposed to conquer Madagascar. He has a
right to do it, as far as we are concerned, for
we have formally acknowledged that France
''protects'' Madagascar, and by universal
assent the protectorate of a dark State means
as much sovereignty as the protector chooses.
HI. le Myre de Vilers has accordingly been
sent TO the capital, Antananarivo, and will
formally demand concessions similar to those
made by the Bey of Tunis. They will be
refused, and the French will then aso their
Pacific squadron, strengthened by five small
men.otaawar, now under orders for Tamatave,
to compel submission by II blockade. They
will also land an expedition of considerable
strength. ten thousand ia the number sug-
gested, and probably push ON to the ctptial.
The fighting will be severe, for the Malaglsy
will care nothing about the blockade, and
will defend the forestsbelt which protects the
north Of the island with the desperate courage
of their, Malay blood. Of.courss the island
can be conquered if the French will expend
enough men on the Undertaking; but it is
doubtful if they will, and if they do, they
will gain nothing except possibly some mines.
nj. de Oassagnac tells the world that MAZDA.
gascar will be "the Australia of France but
he forgets to tell US whore the colonists are
to come from. "Recidivistes' alone will not
make a great colony.
4u6 4 IeuCu ~ I0C0uIuR III ClVlilSaLlOn.
They had abolished bull-fghts, but the enter.
tainment has re-established itself in the
South, and now a young millionaire, NJ.
Lebaudy, has given "a performance near Paris.
In the presence of a large body Of his friends.
including many la1les, three bulls were killed
on Saturday, under circumstances which
suggest, if not more brutality, at least more
vulgar brutality than in similar contests in
Spain. 1t is sad to be legally difficult to in
t~erfere with a scene of the kind on private
grounds; but the Society for the Protection of
Animals means to try the case, and must
nave some legal ground to go upon. 1t is
opinion, however, which should interfere.
Six months social Ooyootting for the million
aire would soon teach him to enjoy som sport
a little less revolving to humanity.
tSUsCtdtOr 22nd Sent