The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-10-08
ALLIANCE
lgHAT pERTANDER THINKS ABOUT
 9lyE COMPACT.


 Paris, Sept, 8, 1897. To the Editor of the Journal and Courier:
 Paris has always something to talk about; the Franco Russian alliance; the king of Siam and the Oriental con- gress. Everybody is talking about the alliance; a great many are talking about the king; a select few are talk ing about the congress.
 One of the largest enof-war in the French navy is called the Pothuau. Where and how it got such an extraor- tinary name has not been told in any newspaper that falls under the eye of the ordinary reader. The Pothuau will hereafter be vessel of historic inter- est, for it bore the president of the French republic on his visit to Russia; and on it, just as the president was starting for home, the famous alliance was proclaimed. The proclaiming was not exactly proclain1ing and the alli- arlce may not be much of an alliance. The president gave the emperor a good bye lunch on board. At the lunch each drank the others health and each made a little speech. In the speeches each speaker referred to France and Russia as "allied' nations and so far as the public knows that is all there is to the alliance. On this most slight founda- ton France is building the widest hopes. From the intensity of the ebu- litions one would suppose that Russia had agreed to make war on Germany at once and that Germany, frightened out of her boots, had agreed to surren- der Alsace and Lorraine to avert the 1nl- pending disaster. A few wise heads are urging the people to restrain their frenzy until the text of the alliance has been made public. But France is not to be cheated of her joy. When Faure returned to Paris last week he was re- ceived as a general returning from a campaign of victories, and patriotic de- monstrations are being made all over the country Some papers are talking about new dynasty with Faure as the first emperor.
 An alliance implies a written treaty. 1t may be assumed that Russia and France have made some kind of trea- ty. That in itself is a great thing for France, for it restores to her a position among the nations of Europe she has not enjoyed since Prussia gave her her memorable trouncing in 1S7. France has been utterly ignored, has not been consulted in the council of nations. No nation has paid her attention; has regarded her friendship or enmity of no importance or value.
 To be allied to Russia, the only coun- try Germany really fears, is of vast moment for France, no matter how small or unimportant may be the actu- al import or wording of the treaty. Russia, the most powerful of all the nations of European civilization, recog- nizes France as an equal and invites her to an alliance on grounds of mutual respect and common interest. French enthusiasm is not excessive. One would almost expect louder and more sustained demonstrations. As to the wording of the treaty every French man is making his own guess. In a genuine republic the treaty would have to be made public. Will it be made known in the kind of republicanism possessed by France Is a question which is being energetically discussed in the extreme press. Rochefort takes the United States view, and says that no treaty can exist without the sanc- ton of the people through it's represen- tatives. The probabilities are that the treaty will not be made public and that ill all matters that concern it Faure will be quite as autocratic as Nicholas To publish a treaty is to kill it. That is of the essence of government and should be understood by republics. The confirming power of the United States senate should either be exercised In se- ,crecy or terminated
 The treaty undoubtedly provides that if Germany again attacks France Rus sia will protect her. France would make no treaty that did not include this proviso. Germany's threats are continued and insulting The German cnlperor's peaceful intentions are well known to be insincere. If absolutely sure that neither England nor Russia would Interfere, in a fortnight inc would find an excuse for declaring wal and inaugurating a campaign of exter- animation. Every one who has studied the condition of the two countries knows that the whole of Germany is g fortified camp: that all it's force and energies are turned into it's army and that no country it threatens can devote itself to the arts of peace France is inferior in extent of territory, in pupu- lation and in the effective strength ol it's army A war between the two, left to their own resources, could have but one termination. With Russia on the x side of France, France may have op. portunity to relax her military strain < to further develop her commercial and [ manufacturing interests, and perhaps to lift some of the enormous burdens oi taxation which suppress her people France has no thought for the present E at least of recovering her lost prov a inoes. Such thought would be mad. ness.
 H The King of Siam is g. little chan oi about the size and color of Jap. He has very coarse and very black hair ' and insignificant moustache; fine black x eyes and a pleasant, though weak. eS- X pression. His bad features are his nose VI and his upper lip. His nose seems 5 scooped out and his upper lip is toe long. These two defective features are # the features which impart to his face