The times., 1898-10-23
SUNDAY, OCTOBER %. 1883
A Curious Fashoda peveIopmeu

AS the matter stood yesterday, the
probabilities seemed to be that public
opinion in France would compel the
French cabinet to refuse Great Brit
aims demand for the recall of Major
Marchand from Fashoda, and that, in
consequence, he would be more or less
violently elected by the British forces,
With such international results as
might be expected under the circum-
stances. But the question of war or
peace as an outcome of the situation is
lot the point of these remarks.
1t is matter well worthy of notice
that for the first time in considerably
more than century. If hostilities were
to occur between Great Britain and
France. American sympathies would be
with the former and not with the lat
ter. That this fact represents one of
the most sudden and radical revolutions
in national sentiment to be found
in the history of mankind, cannot be
gainsaid. 1t could only have happened
as result of some deep and serious
cause. That cause was furnished by
the open and avowed sympathy for
Spain of the French army and populace
during the war.
From the day the heroic boy MARQUIS
de Lafayette lent his sword and his
purse to the cause of freedom in Ameri-
ca, down to the opening of hostilities in
May, the affection of the American peo-
pie for France and its people had been
preserved, surviving many strains and
reasons for offense. The turbulence of
the First Napoleon had not destroyed
it. The designs of Louis Napoleon up
on the soil and institutions of the West
ern Hemisphere had hardly shaken it.
of Americans would have wished
France godspeed in any difficulty with
England, without much reference to its
nature or circumstances.
But the American people went to war
with Spain, simply and solely because
that power had shown itself the COM
mon enemy of civilization and human
property. liberties. and lives of any of
Gods creatures. Our indictment against
that medieval organization of supersti-
ton, robbery, lust, and blood, had been
for years lying before the bar of world
opinion, written In the hellish deeds of
Weyler and other beasts and devils like
him in Cuba, and wherever the foul yell
low flag polluted the atmosphere. 1t
was presentment to which no possible
plea butthat of guilty" could be made.
and America felt and was bound to as
sumo the duty and responsibility of a
punitive war.
When that point was reached there
probably was not an intelligent man or
woman in this country who, if he or
she thought upon the matter at all. did
not count upon the nation that gave
birth to Lafayette and his revolution
ary companions of glorious memory. for
the heartiest appreciation and SYM
pathy for us in our war for humanity.
When it dawned upon us that, on the
contrary, our motives were misrepre-
sented and denounced, and that the
French press and military element, as
well as the people as far as could be
Judged, We're unitedly enthusiastic in
the hope that our enemy might defeat
us, and even talked seriously of an al
lance with Spain against us, the shock
was too great, and the friendship of
more than a hundred years was mur-
dered and put beyond any reasonable
hope of resurrection.
But what of Great Britain, In the
tight little island. the civilization. in
telligence. and culture of its citizenship
rose like a solid wall of moral support
and admiration for our crusade against
the fiendish oppressor and persecuter
OF helpless communities The British
government. for which previously there
had been but scant good Will in the
United States, showed its friendship by
warning on powers that otherwise