The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-20
THE BYArrTrFuL ISLAND OF THE
INDIAN OCEAN.


The eonquering OF weak by strong na-
tons. carrying IN its wake heart-rendins
crueIties and the rankest injustice. has
formed prominent feature ~ the history
OF mankind. The invasion &C North Amer
Tea by Europeans and the consequent de-
spelling OF the natives has resulted in the
growth of a great nation and the extern.
sion o. civilization. There seems to be
no law IA the case except the cold-blood-
ed. selfish. inexorable law OF the survival
OF the flttest.
Madagascar fought for fifty years to
keep out a word from a treaty; she has
been beaten by the nation insisting upon
that word. and having acquired power &c
insert II has now no furta need OF IL
France desired to put the word ''protec-
torate' into the treaty; Madagascar re-
fused. and now the we'd conquest win
take it's place.
Three hundred years ago France larjeo
a few marines, and set up a tentative an-
thority, bat II was soon destroyed. Fee
male influence has been remarkably DOM
inant in Malagasy affairs. and 1t once
cos, France her colony. 1t was situated
IN the southeastern portion Of Madagascar.
and the settlement OF Fort Dauphin was
greatly assisted by Cardinal de R.cheheu,
who was wont TO call the great African
island an Oriental France" The colony
was successful and protected by the native
tribes adjoining it. for the ssyenty-hve
French adventures had the sagacity and
foresight OF marrying the beautiful girls
of the Countrywide girls OF a far-of ISL
and are always beautiful. But the men
lost their wisdom when a French vessel
bound to the neighboring island Of Bourbon
was wrecked on the coast near Fort
Dauphfn. That ship was conveying as
passengers about twenty-s.x girls destined
for the Bourbon colonists. The settlers at
Madagascar discarded their native wives
and married their countrywomen. On the
night OF the wedding ceremony. which
was performed for all at the same time.
the abandoned Malagasy girls sent their
relatives and their slaves. who killed the
greater part OF the French colonists.
thus ended the first attempt of French
colonization in Madagascar. But soon
other adventures arrived from France.
Fort Dauphin was rebuilt, and since then
the French have never lost their foothold
on the island.
During the wars OF the revolution and
the empire France managed TO keep her
aggrandized possessions In Madagascar.
despite the efforts of England TO GUST her.
The government OF Charles ", Louis
Philippe, Napoleon III. and the Third Re-
public continued the traditional policy OF
RicheTieu. but supported unimportant es-
adjustments I'm the island. Indeed, In ISIS.
when Sir r. Farquhar. the first English
governor of Mauritius. had the audacity
to claim Madagascar as an English de-
tendency. France had only historical
rights to defend. The British foreign office
recognized them gracefully enough. But
France found competitors in the island
itself.
The island had been chiefly peopled by
Sakalavs. but there came TO its shores
natives, formed the Hovas tribes. Until
the end OF the eighteenth century, I'M
known TO Europe, this nation remained
confined in the province OF Imerina. AT
this epoch a chief named Andrianam-
poulns reunited the various Hovas tribes
and declared their independence Of the Sa-
kalavs.
In 1910 his son. Radama l.. succeeded
him. and under his leadership the Hova
people became conquerors. Sir r.
Farquhar, anxious 20 take from the
island the French influence. favored
the ambition OF Radama by fur
nlshing arms and military instruct
ors 70 him. England has never ceased to
follow this diplomacy. The Hoyas accept
ed only too willingly this friendship, which
aided their plans. but they were always
distrustful even Of the English. At the
death OF Radama in 1S2S all reforms Of
European origin. including Christianity
and public instruction. were abandoned.
treaties were torn. missionaries were ex-
PEELED and merchants were insulted.
Madagascar was reopened 70 the Influence
OF the English missionaries only AZ the end
OF the reign OF Ranavalo l.. widow Of
Radama She died in 1851 In 1868 Queen
Ranavalo II. and her prime minister were
converted 70 Professionalism. which be-
came the state religion. and was rapidly
extended among the population OF Ime-
rina-
The second empire had other pre-occupa-
tons than Madagascar. yet luck almost
gave % France a privileged situation there.
Several Frenchmen who were influential
az the court Of Queen Rsnavalo had be-
come intimate friends OF Prince Rakout.
the heir 70 the throne. A. the death 81
the queen the prince. who assembled the
throne under the name - Radama IL.
signed a charter wh'ch accorded - A
French society some very important con-
cessiouS But this awakened the national
dist-lst Of the Hovas. Radana II. died
May H. $50. the victim CT a conspiracy. 81
which the English missionaries were per-
haps active The charter was denounced
an1 Ire Preach imperial government ac-
cep,e5 an indemnity. This sfa!r was only
A adventure, ana Yet It almost anniaI-
Lated Preach influence e. The ISLAND
After tAe war % $50 with Prussia Franc.
had lost a.! authority IN Madagascar In
ISS the Frerch imperial government had
signed a treaty % commerce En- which the
queen % the Hcvas recognized the right
OF the French 70 oVn al kinds % property
IN - dominion. bat the Hova government
-a~,sas ., ~ hrsrz - a Frpn.Arasn vs-,,s.s