Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-10
Why France sympathizcs with Spain
ATLANTA Constitution)

atlanta COnStltutlOn)
The refusal of France to sympathiZe
with the United States in the present
grave international crisis, which threat
ems to eventuate i'm war with Spain, not
only savors of indifference on the part
of that country to the principles of free
government, but seemingly contradicts
the ancient friendship which is alleged
to have existed between France and the
United States in the time of Washing
ton.
Recent developments in France have
made IL clear to every one that while
the government of that country Is in
name republican, ii Is actually more ar
bitrary and tyrannical in character than
the Government of Russia. Since the idea
that France is anything else but one Of
the most diplomatic of European coun-
tries has turned out to be erroneous,
may not the idea that any real friendship
ever existed between France and the
United States also turn out to be erro-
neous? Such is the opinion which some
of our most eminent writers entertain.
Indeed, the statement is made by. seve-
raj commentators upon the subject of our
international relations that France was
induced to help this country in the time
of the Revolution less on account of the
friendship which she felt for us than on
dttOuHL Oh the HdtItu NlllNll silf AfAN ibl
Great Britain. 1t was through Great Bril-
tain that France lost most of her Ameri-
can possessions, and she merely planned
TO get even with her old adversary by
aiding the Colonists to throw off the yoke
of the mother country. So far as the IL
lustrious General Lafayette is concern
ed, there can be no doubt of the fact that
the motives which impelled him 10 offer
his sword to America were much purer
inGnirn1
France herself. Americans can never
cease to entertain the profoundest feel
ings of respect ard generation for Gene
raj LAFAYETTE.
The subject Of our international rela-
lions with France is discussed at some
length by well-informed writer in the
ST. Louis Globe Democrat. This writer
takes the position that France has never
in reality felt kindly toward the United
States, and that no surprise should be
occasioned by her attitude toward us at
the present time. He states that when
she agreed to sell us Louisiana in 1903,
it was partly for the reason that she
was urgently in need of money, and part
ly for the reason that she stood in dan
ger of sacrificing II TO the greed OF Great
Britain. This same authority states
that during the administration of Presi-
dent John Adams, France and the United
States several times came to blows on
the high seas over matters of interna-
tional commerce, and that more than
once since that time the two countries
have been on the eve of declaring war.
Such being the case, IL is evident that
what is so frequently spoken of as the
ancient friendship between the two coun-
tries Is, in reality, nothing more than
sounding brass, and that in the event Of
hostilites between the United States and
Spain, France would be sure 10 lend her
moral. if not her material, support to
the latter Power.
Between the United States and France
there is little in common, notwithstand-
ing the fact that France processes 10 be-
long to the sisterhood of republics; be-
tween France and Spain there is much
in common. since liberty and justice
have taken up their abiding places in
neither.