Washington sentinel., 1898-03-19
OUR POsITGoN WITH THE FRENCH IN
WEST AFRICA,
Times-London, March ,

1imes-LOndon, March j.
We are accustomed in this country to
weigh as well as to count the utterances
OF our continental confer emporaries. and
to distinguish very sharply between
irresponsible and uninAuential papers
and those which, either from their official
connections or from the judgment and
information of those who conducted
them, can reasonably claim to speak
with authority. Amongst the latter
class the great French journals the
De6ats and the Temps deservedly stand
high. They differ from US, as is only
natural, on a great variety OF subjects
To the utmost OF their ability
they encourage their countrymen to
treat English resis tance to the prepos-
teross demands of France as a matter of
no consequence. Ministers have warned
them that this country considers the
dispute to be very serious. The leading
journals Of all shades OF opinion have
shown entire agreement on the main
issues involped. Sir Edward Grey, who
represented the Foreign Office in the
House Of Commons with ability and
success under the late administration,
has given his cordial support to the
policy laid down by Mr.. Chamberlain.
and has told the Government in so many
words that in this business they have
no choice but to be firm"
In the face OF these facts the French
newspapers we have named affect to
look upon the opposition to French ag-
gression upon the Niger as fictitious
sentiment got up by the intrigues Of the
Royal Niger Company. The De6aks so
far forgets what is due to itself as to
affirm that this journal is 1.-The orgaL -
the company" The Temps has not yet
stopped to this particular charge, but it
| indulges in methods of controversy
| which are equally futile and equally un.
worthy. The French think to
bluff England IN Nigeria as they have
done elsewhere, and to do so by seizing
the territory IN dispute. They argue
that no great nation, unless It were mad,
would enter upon a violent conflict for
pretensions such as ours, and lin these
conditions" the Temps acknowledges
with charming candor, intimidation is
without effect upon US" 1t impossible
to ignore the peril OF such an attitude.
DafH Zslsgyap6-London, Feb. 2S.
Misguided patriotism, transformed
into fanatical frenzy by inhammatory
newspaper srticles. is supposed to be the
motive for the terrible crime planned
and attempted, but thus fortunately
thwarted. This surmise is probable
enough, although it is permissible to
doubt whether tile press had even indi-
rectly any real influence upon the minds
Of the two criminals. In Greece every
cafe, every promenade. every street,
possesses its walking aud talking Jour
nails, of which tue gossip admits OF no
criticism. and the comments brook 40
restraint. The royal palace is a glass
house, through the transparent walls of
which every act OF the King is not only
seen out distorted, and popular imagin-
alton fills in the picture according to its
democratic taste. Every peasant claims
the right to be admitted to the palace,
and generally avails himself OF his
privilege to refuse to salute the King
IN the street. II would be a
grievous mistake to imagine that the
dastardly attempt to assassinate the
King is the upshot OF an nanti-monarchial
conspiracy. Despite the dangerous
amount Of friction which. especially
since the war, has accompanied the
relations between the monarch and the
political parties IN the kingdom, and
rendered reform impossible, not a single
Anarchist, Socialist or even Platonic
Republican is to be found from one end
Of the country TO the other. The people
to a man are decidedly in favor Of the
monarchial principle, and would resist
to the utmost any attempt to change ghe
form of government