The evening times., 1898-05-31

Paris May 1.-THE struggle between
America and Spain is probably followed
with keener interest in France than in
any other country in Europe. In Paris
especially all the war news is closely
read. the passers by eagerly buying the
evening papers from the street venders
every time some new details are received
from the seat of war.
1t Is more especially among the laboring
classes that one hears the most sensible
comments on the events which brought
about the conflict between America and
Spain. And It is this class that accords
to Free America the most sympathy. We
have been able to convince ourselves OF
this fact by an investigation carried on
at the headquarters of the large work.
mems corporations in the Partisan fau-
bourgs. where is centralized the industrial
activity of the great city. An important
federation which has an added Importance
from the excellent moral influence OF its
members over other worktngmen's as
sociations is the Typographical Fedora
ton. NJ. Powrier, former member Of the
federation's committee, gives his opinion.
In substance. as follows:
umph of America. 1t is not with us a
question of affinity or race. but as the re-
suit of what Is. We think. intelligent rea-
soning, we affirm that to America belongs
the palm in the modern social movement.
by reason OF the number Of working
mems syndicates and associations. which
play an active role in the solution OF the
problems which have vital Importance for
us. All workers. therefore. no matter to
what form Of industry they belong. owe
IL to themselves to copy the model Of
fered by the New World. From this
point of view the Americans in the unity.
in the grouping. of the vital forces of all
corporations of manual labor have given
proof of veritable genius for solidarity
and for practical organization of solidar-
ity. All the, printers of France now have
their eyes fixel in sympathy on America.
because America Is marching with a
giants strides toward the socia,istic
ideal"
The furniture industry has its head
quarters in the Faubourg ST. Antoine.
where several thousand cabinet makers
are employed. There also are to be found
all the larger furniture houses which form
the syndicate chamber of furniture deal
ers of Paris. the office of which Is No. 10
Rue de Lancry. We found an old fore
man. who. in reply to our question.
" udI lue pTtNdklie OpiiilOu ASSdIu-
ing American said:
I'm a general way we all deplore the
war between Spain and America, because
the first consequence has been marked
decrease in orders and purchases which
has produced an increase in the stocks in
the shops and. consequently, fall In
prices both for the manufacturer and the
dealer. But this purely commercial side
of the question apart. the workmen of
fha oph ry INV a
tribute to the generous sentiment which
impelled America to intervene In the
struggle going on SO long between Spain
and Cuba.
why did not Spain give to the Cubans
the autonomy they demanded? Why, d.
rectly the iiisurrection assumed the char
acter of a general uprising. impossible to
quell. did the Spanish government per-
sist in its refusal to make political and
economical concessions? During the first
few months an agreement could easily
have been reached IL the Spanish and Gu
bans had each given way a little, but
the war went on, and the insurgents. at
first disposed to treat for peace on con-
sideration of receiving certain advantages
more moral than material. bAGlme obsti-
nate and made the absolute independence
of the island the sine qua non of the ces-
sation of hostilities.
Then 1t was that the Washington Gov
ernment stepped in. playing its role of a
republican government and lending Its
support to a dawning republic. to coun-
try rich enough and strong enough to fly
with its own wings. We all applauded
this energetic attitude, and there is not
one among us who has not hoped that
the conflict might result in the confusion
of Spain. Not that there is any marked
antipathy for the Spaniards on our part.
They do not love us much. it is true,
since the Spanish war. the siege of Sara
gossa. and what they call the dos de
May but we. on our part. have no rea-
son to dislike them. Spain has been
asleep for three centuries and has not yet
walked up. Democratic France ought to
march side by side with those peoples
who. like the American nation. have done
their share toward social emancipation.