Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-08-05
WALLER AND MADAGASCAR.

NALLik AND hAbAhAntAh'
The appeal msde especially TO tho
c lufcd race In this country IN behalf
Of tho family Of eE-rofsul Waller,
now In prison In France, issure 10
meet with response. The sentiment 10
favor OF the unfortunate ex- filoial Ia
growing, Ia proportion a. the relnc-
lance Of the French government TO
shed full llg ht on the particulars Of the
case becomes more apparent
It's believed that the treatment &C.
corded MI. Waller by tho French
authorities 10 but n fair sample " their
general policy IN the iar.oii island.
| EufOl eau influence there dates back
to tho beginning OF this century. when
through tue Efforts Of missionaries
diplJmatic AID commercial relations
were established. Native rulers
Viewed this influence with alarm and
during the reign VI Queen RanAvAla
Manlska efforts were made TO rid the
country OF all foreigners. The schools
were closed, missionaries banishej and
nslivo Christians put to death. Thls
led to war French and English
naval troops wurs landed, but covered
themselves with but little glory 10 tbs
csmpaigu. Ia fact, tue soldiers Of the
allies were unable I, carry out their
purpose Of eulJugating the klHgiom.
Later, religious liberty was granted to
tho people and new tfostiss we're
entered ilto with England, while
those with France were publicly com.
United to thu flames.
II appears therefore that tho claims
Of the French government 10 dominate
the affairs Of Madagascar have always
been repudlAisd by the people CHIEFLY
Interested, but Ia 1880, whom European
powers were Iarlllioning out Africa
among Themselves, Engla nd, or rather
Lord salisbury, agreed that France
might 20 ahead and establish u "pru-
Icctorat," over the independent king.
dom, this being a concession granted
Ia return Tor iavors In other directions.
On this foundation tho French claims
nov rest. Madagascar looked to Eng.
land for protection against foreign
u'urrcn, but shc was much disar.
pointed. lhlt country battered her
away for Iauz.bat.
But the tue inwardnrss Of the az.
fair IL apparent only when II II
known that the chief purpose Of
Fro oh "ptoteclion" IL the securing Of
n considerable market fOt French prod.
uois and more especially for intoXl.
eating drinks. Time and again tbs
now roigDinR queen has underworld to
tsslricl the importation OF the deadly
poison, alter having witnessed with
alarm its destroying effects on her sub.
iec,s. hut France ssys there must be
no restriction. The natives must have
tho rum even u II decimates their
ranks. Once at lcnst the queen 81.
realed 10 the United States for protec.
ton against the powers that threaten
the Independence and the very cxis.
trnoe Of the nation. Thi, was during
President Arthuf's administration.
shs has given other proofs Of her con.
iiuonc" In this county.
The conclusion Ia therefore no. far
fetched that the arrest aud conviction
oi ex.Cou-ul Waller IL u shrowd move
on the part Of the Ftench, with
a double purpose. Ia the nrst place Il
would serve to check the commercial
competition Of citiEona OF tho United
States with France by denying the
right OF the MslagAssy government to
grant any concessions 10 the iormoi;
and Ia tho second place, the harsh
treatment Of Air. Waller, who Tor the
time being Is apparently left to tho
tea der meroies OF his oasmies, no him.
selt In jail anu his family destitute,
would tend TO impress on the natives,
unacqu intod with diplomatic rcd,tapc,
an IDEA OF the superiority OF France 10
tue country OF which tho prisoner was
a representative,
The United States may have but few
material interests on the other side OF
tue globe, but "a the chief representa-.
tive OF the principles OF human rights
and individual liberty, her banner
must be respected ANA her honor main.
tanned everywhere. Fur this reason,
II for no other, tho Waller case IA
worthy the grave attention Of our gov.
eminent, and measures should be
taken promptly 10 have 1t adjusted IN
accord with principle, OF justice anu
the international laws Involved.