New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-20
FREyCH PERCEPTIONS AMAZING.

Signs appear Of dawning apprehension IN
France that the journals which are saying IN
pleasant things about the United States are not
serving France or the people OF that country to
any great extent. The French people have sense
and when they permit themselves to indulge IT
can detect the buttered side Of bread with rea-
sonalSe promptness. 1t was quite natural that
the bondholders and stockholders, and the mas
tcrs OF high finance who had loaded themselves
down with Spanish securities. should strive
nightly to create n public opinion adverse TO
the United States 1t was their one hope that
the European Powers might be induced to inter-
vene, which is another way of saying that they
would spend thousand millions or more In
pulling chestnuts out Of the fire for Spanish
bondholderb. In France, when masters Of high
finance want something, there are found news
papers to do and even to overdo their will
The result has been n deluge of unfrcndly
sayings about this country and it's part in the
controversy with Spain, which might have given
some umbrage even to friendly Americans did
they rot know where Spanish bonds were held.
But this country has never found itself mis-
taken in trusting to the natural instincts OF the
French people and to their kindly regard for the
great Republic which helped and was helped by
them years ago to liberation from dynastic bond
age So Americans have merely laughed ut the
labored articles inspired by bond and stock job
bers, and have trusted that the real France.
which does not Mt all times speak through It's
Journals, would arrive at a correct idea OF the
situation.
The suggestion Of an Anglo-Saxon alliance
started French common-sense into activity.
Truly that might mean something in the end IL
ever the rancorous and indecent utterances Of
some French journals should come to affect
American opinion, and it was reasoned swiftly.
after the French fashion, that Germany might
lean to the Saxon part Of the alliance, having
some seven million German born people in this
country. When France begins to think. 1t finds
no difficulty in distinguishing between the hired
expressions of the wishes Of high finance and
the real interest Of the people. Since France
has begun to think, perhaps the amazing idiots
who talk Of scizing and swiftly fortifying Nam
tucket unapproachable by any vessel of decent
draught. or else "some New England point like
Delaware Bay" Will presently be treated in
France also with contempt.
These two nations have nothing to quarrel
about unless it be that the free people Of
France lend themselves sometimes too careless
ly to the schemes Of the dynastc masters Of
Continental Europe. That Is largely their own
business and If they prefer to pull chestnuts out
Of the fire for any Of the autocratlc rulers the
people Of the United States may be permitted
to regret that government for the people has
gone no further in the fair land which helped
these Colonies across the sea to their freedom.
Should the dynasties wish to interfere In Amer
lean affairs, or to deny any American rights
the people Of France are quite well aware what
spirit such interference would enkindle here.
But when the stipendinres OF high finance have
vituperated enough the French people will