Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-07-21

might also be rewarded IN the future
by her moral support, if not even by
material concessions.
Such are the positive reasons on
which are based the various circles Of
French sympathy with Spain. In view
of a general mistrust Of our actual at
titude in the war and distrust as TO
our ulterior motives, special import
ance is attached to them.
Over against the motives explained
are also certain strong, positive rea-
sons in our favor. France aided Us
in our own struggles for independence.
She thus acquired a sort Of paternal
interest in our government. She her
self has experienced many violent
struggles and has labored assiduously
to realize exalted ideas of liberty,
equality and fraternity. As the soli-
tary great sister Republic, she has
fostered in monarchical Europe kin
dred ideals to our own. Traditional
svmpathies are thus deep-rooted and
have remained to this day very strong
Again, cruel as the French have shown
themselves in theirimpetuousmo moments
of revolution, their sentiments are or
dinarily generous and humane. These
are unquestionably, ifquietly, in SYM
pathy with the Cubans against their
oppressors. Impotent as these human
itarian motives alone may be against
material interest, they still weigh
heavily in the general balance.
Finally, that practical cowmercal
spirit, which only too frequently finds
Justice on the side OF material interest,
is keenly appreciative Of the superiorl-
ty Of American over Spanish markets.
Without attempting further to e!ab-
crate the reasons that favor the United
States, it may be confidently asserted
that the sympathy of France is far
from universally favorable to Spain.
Indeed, there exists, especially among
the great middle and working. classes,
strong undercurrent Of sympathy for
the United States and the war, which
is nearly or quite as considerable as
that favorable to Spain, but which
does not so easily find modes Of ex-
preston. This sentiment would be
still stronger were it not for the con-
tinual Interpretations Of hostile,
perhaps subsidized, press. Unless,
therefore, the United States, in its con:
duct Of the war, should make such
glaring blunder or show such manifest
incapacity as to invite interference
from a hitherto disinterested power,
they certainly need not apprehend
from France any violation Of the
strictest neutrality. The France
which, more than century ago, aided
the American colonies to break down
the despotic pretensions Of George III,
will not be found fighting against those
same colonies, when, as great States,
they are defending Cuba against a
much harsher, more cruel and unjust
mother-country.
In the May number Of Co.nloPolls,
NJ. Francis De Pressense-editor Of
foreign news on the great French po-
litical journal lie Temps-gave an ex-
cellent review Of this subject. The |
closing sentences Of his article should |
interest Americans. A literal trans
lation Of them from the French is
therefore appended
1T would be deplorable to make Of
duel between two nations a war be-
tween two hemispheres, to transform a
political war into racial and religious |
war. Now this is what is attempted |
under pretext Of Latin fraternity. |
Latins are set against Anglo-Sa1ons,
without considering the fact that the
Germans are with the Latins. Prot
estantism and Catholicism are set in |
opposition. This is in itself a de-
plorable retrogression. 1t is, in the |
particular state Of opinion in France, !
a danger Of first order. From the in
ternational standpoint, it would be
fatal for US to esPouse the Spanish
cause to the extent Of making an ire
mediable breach with a sister Repub-
lie, that Is attached to us by so many |
traditions Of material and moral inter- |
est. From the point Of view Of national
politics, France has ererything 10 lose
in submitting to the play Of passions
or of intrigues Of a certain school which
aims to infict on the inheritors ofl789 |
the torture Of Megence by attaching |
them to the corpse Of a dead clrilisa-
tion.
u understand, I share certain IN
stinctiva svmrathies for Snain. NJ |