The record-union., 1895-07-09
THE STORY OF THE TROUBLES
OF A FIGHTING QUEEN,


France continues at war with the Hovas
In Madagascar. The world at large ap-
pears to care very little about the conflict.
but who is there with love for his country
who can read the following declaration
of Queen Ranavanola III. and not feel
respect for the Hovas? The Queen is
said to be a Christian woman of gentle
disposition and indisposed to war. Here
is what she recently said:
We want peace with all the world. We love
peace and hate war, but we will fight until we
die to keep the land God gave and our
fathers preserved. The French are landing on
our coasts to efface our flag, to destroy our
Government, and TO make as merely part OF
themselves. Oh, the shame of it, We have
sought no war with France, but we will fight
till every home is burned and every man has
perished before we will submit to such a dis
grace. What Hova is there who cares to sur
Vive his country?
We submit that such expression de-
serves TO take place along with some of
the most eloquent and heroic protests Of
patriots. When the Queen made the
speech quoted from above the National
Assem- bly, of Madagascar was in session
with $4,000 people present, all clad in
white. and their Queen in their midst, as
the representative head of the form of
government with which the people are
above her head, and proffered to lead
the troops TO the field in person to secure
the independence of Madagascar.
Unquestionably the Madagescans are
in dead earnest. They mean to fight to
the last ditch, and appear to be as heroic
and devoted as any people. But they are
fighting against fearful odds. The French
have ships of war, all the modern arms
of death, we'll disciplined troops and
money in plenty to continue struggle
that must end with their triumph.
The story of the struggle begins with
the concession" of the rights of sover-
eighty over Madagascar to the French
Commercial Company by letters patent
issued by France under the famous Car
dinal Richslieu, and ever since then the
French have been attempting to make
themselves masters OF the island. French
merchants early ingratiated themselves
with the people and won their confidence.
and along with them went French mis-
sionaries. The Hova Government at
that time favored the invaders. Later
good many Americans got foothold in
the territory. and only recently an ap-
peal has been made to our Government
to protect the large American interests in
Madagascar, which are imperilsd in the
present strife.
With the scramble of European pow
ers for foothold in Africa the French be-
gan to look after their interests in
Madagascar and the adjacent islands, and
in 1888 sent naval force to maintain
treaty made with the Chief of Sakalavas
in lS4l and to punish the Hovas for al
legged crimes committed against French
citizens and the Sakalavas. Tamatave
was then occupied and some other coast
ports, but the Hovas held the uplands Of
the interior and were safe in those re-
treats. After q two years. campaign the
French concluded a treaty with the
Hovan Government by which the latter
agreed to pay an indemnity of 10000, 900
francs, to receive q French General as
resident with a small force of soldiers TO
escort him to the Capital, Antananarivo.
The Hovas agreed also to cede the dis
trict OF Diego Suarez for French colony.
Over all the rest of the Hova territory
the French acknowledged the supremacy
of the Hova Government. But there
upon rance declared q protectorate
over the whole land, and England and
Germany recognized it. But the Hovas
hotly resented it and declared that the
treaty contemplated nothing of the kind
and hence the new struggle.
The American Government, be it noted,
has not recognized the French claim of q
protsctorase. Americans have 80 per
cent. of the trade. English 40 per cent.
and the French but 10 per cent. The
Government Of the country of the Hovas,